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AskHN:Does monitor size influence your performance when you code?

4 points by jimgardener ↗ HN
I use Eclipse as IDE.On my Dell Inspiron laptop computer,I often have to hide some windows to see the debug information properly..I have heard that many programmers use multiple monitors -one to code and another to view docs while coding.Sometimes I think I should use a bigger screen.. but this is less practical when you move from one place to another.How do you guys deal with this?(ie,if you think this affects your performance)

9 comments

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ibudiallo
Use two monitors and you will never go back
brotchie
Night and day. Vim on one screen and a multitude of things on the other: Matlab, a Windows VM, Web Browser, Terminal, etc. Combine dual screens with a tiling window manager (XMonad, Awesome) and you're laughing.

As far as physically managing two screens: I have a laptop dock at my desk which has a display port. Drop my laptop in and instant additional screen. Come home and sit on my couch, plug in HDMI and use my TV as a monitor, really great for web development.

jlengrand
Using Eclipse, having a second screen is almost a requirement. You get surrounded by so many windows! So I use my laptop screen for all those windows, and my 24' is dedicated to the actual code.

I always work with two tabs of code, simply because a class is rarely interacting with itself so you want both sides of the pipe :).

Without Eclipse, It's a linux, terminator with 4 terminals in there and a two-paneled sublime text. I don't need my second screen for that, alt tab does the job. :)

I tried to work on Eclipse with a 9' laptop in an airport once, thought I would die before the plane take off :).

rajahafify
Not having to Alt-Tab to see code and browser really improve my workflow. I have set the tilde key to show terminal so that's to my benefit as well. I just hope tilde (the terminal that I use) can have multiple viewport in it like terminator.
meerita
I absolutely recommend it. A big screen or double monitor is a must. And much better if you use live refresh stuff while coding.
eip
If you get paid to code then invest in your tools.

I use a 50" 4k monitor and a 42" 1080p monitor.

The time it saves easily covers the cost.

daven11
A 50"? How close do you sit to that? I have a 27" Dell which is a beautiful monitor and a couple of 24" monitors - but I'd probably just get 2 or 3 x 24" next time, I find the 27 a bit big, 50" I'd find overwhelming.
eip
About 4ft.

I wouldn't use less then 2 x 30" monitors.

stevoo
Two screen increase performance dramaticaly.

At work i use a laptop with a 24 inch display. I have the laptop to display Eclipse debug and other info that i might need and have Eclipse mainly on my 24inch.

At home, doing web dev i have a 27 and a 22. It is a lot more usefull there as i have my eclipse on the larger screen and have the browser and shell on the 22 inch. No need to switch between windows and tabs.

It safes a lot of time and increases performance drastically.