According to Steve Jobs, a programmer may be recognized by the equipment they tote about. Intended to be humorous, but he didn’t actually say that. Possibly he did, however. The truth is, I have no idea. A developer simply needs a computer with an IDE installed and access to the internet to get started.
That’s what the general public thinks, anyhow. However, we are well aware of the fact that we still lack a lot of necessary resources. Consequently, I’ll list certain tools that every programmer should have at their disposal.
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Noise Cancelling Headphones
They’re essential for every programmer. Period. Keep them nearby even if you don’t use them often. In case you are wondering what to do with them, the answer is that you will. At any moment, a group of businesspeople in suits may emerge from the conference room and resume their discussion in the hallway.
A friendly debate on the topic of the “greatest programming language” amongst your peers might easily escalate into an all-out battle at any moment. And if that doesn’t work, at least you’ll seem busy when others ask if you need any help.
Sticker On the Back of a Laptop
How will others in your field learn that you specialize in a particular technology? Or, let’s say you’re on the metro. The question is how to get the word out that you’re a top-tier programmer in your area. Alternatively, they may not have any idea that you live a great life thanks to your high-paying work, beautiful home, and expensive vehicle.
Stick a ton of stickers onto the side of your notebook, and you’ll be set. If you want to shout, “I am a terrific programmer focusing on A, B, and C technologies,” it does the trick. That serves as a miniature fake profile on LinkedIn.
A Great Linkedin Profile
To acquire more opportunities, Joey (from Friends) lies on his CV by claiming to speak French, tap dance, hunt, and do horse racing. To answer your question, yes, Linkedin serves this purpose for computer programmers. You should include something like, “I am fluent in Go with more than 3 years of experience programming on Go” on your profile if you’ve ever coded “Hello World” in Go. Increase to 5 years if you have completed a lesson on Udemy. Now you see what I mean.
Stress Ball
Giving up your software engineering career is the greatest option if you want to escape the pressures of your work environment. The miraculous stress ball comes up at a close second. Stress balls have received medical, government, and professional endorsement as an effective means of managing stress. Whether you’re having trouble with your software, your boss is being unreasonable, or you’re having trouble keeping your cool in conferences, the stress ball is here to help.
A Big Monitor, and a Vertical Monitor
Get an extra screen if you can afford it, or if your employer is willing to compensate you for it. One for vertical viewing and one for viewing at a 27.35o angle from the vertical. Apparently, this is the optimal viewing position for your eyes.
As a programmer in the modern day, the quantity of displays you keep on your workstation directly reflects the variety of concurrent projects you are working on. More screens indicate greater work and more expertise. Don’t pass up this opportunity.
