5 Items Every Programmer SHOULD Have

So having been in the world of programming for quite a good time, I have found out that there are some items that you can’t just miss in this field. Not only does having these items make your technical work easy as a programmer. It also helps boost your overall productivity, which in the long run makes you happy and healthy as a person. Even as you dive into the challenging and demanding world of programming. So in this article, I am going over 5 items that I believe every programmer should have. Starting with the first and the most vital one:

1. A Working Laptop

Or probably a working desktop computer. I will go with the laptop. If you want to be productive as a programmer, you definitely need one. And the reason is simple: Your laptop first of all helps you do your work effectively. You can’t do coding on your handset. So you need your laptop. Your laptop makes your learning easy. Another reason why I prefer every programmer to have a laptop is because it is just portable. If you have something that is a burden to move around with, then I recommend getting something easily portable. The thing is you always have to be flexible.

Now you must have noticed that I said a working laptop. This basically means you need to get something that is functioning enough to do your programming and coding tasks. When it comes to coding and programming, you want a computer that can do big things than just ‘playing music’. Because the truth is: Coding and programming involve big and huge computations. It’s always a huge task to the computer. Therefore you need something that is powerful and up to the task.

So what exactly are we looking at in terms of a working laptop for programming? Out of my own experience, I recommend a laptop that has at least 8GB RAM, 500GB Storage and latest generation processor (Intel core i5 upwards). A 4GB RAM can also work if boosted with enough storage (like 1TB) and a high speed processor. You just don’t want something that takes a lot of time loading, or hangs for one hour when you open Visual Studio. Programming is already hard and you want to save yourself some unnecessary headaches. So, get something that makes your work efficient. Speaking of efficiency, let’s look at the second most vital item on the list…

2. A Portable Lightweight Backpack

Yes, exactly. You want to put yourself in the flexibility mode. Out of my own experience learning and doing the actual programming, I found out that sometimes you just want your space. You want to find the ‘perfect’ place to concentrate and build your craft. So regardless of whichever place you are in, you want to have your tools in place. And that is where you want a portable lightweight backpack. The backpack most of the times helps you to carry your laptop around. So that you can always look at that incomplete task at whatever time you like, from whichever place.

Not only about your laptop. As a programmer, you always have a toolkit to walk around with. Your laptop charger, your water bottle, your headsets, et cetera et cetera. The list is endless. Heck, you know what you want to walk around with. Your daily carry items. That’s exactly what I am talking about. You therefore need a good portable lightweight backpack that will make things easy for you.

3. Headsets

Alright. Let’s now focus on your headsets and why it’s important for you as a programmer. This, apart from the laptop, is one of my most favorite items. If I have my laptop and my headsets with me, it’s the perfect combination. The field of programming just takes and puts you into a different world altogether. A world of continuous learning. It puts you into a world of connecting with people around the world. So when you want to follow some Python tutorials from the web, you want to put your headsets on. When you want to join an online workshop, you definitely want your headsets on.

Having headsets boost your productivity whether you are working from home or at office. If you are working from the coffee cafes for example and there’s some noise, you can just put on your headsets. If you are in the library and you don’t want your online instructor to be a nuisance to the surrounding, you can put your headsets on. And go on well with your work. Even when you just want some entertainment while working on your craft, you can put your headsets on and play some music. Which now brings me to the next important item on the list…

4. A Good Music Playlist

When I put my headsets on and play Westlife while working on a coding task, magic happens. Everything just moves on smoothly (if not soothingly) and I get work done. It’s a game changer. Every programmer should get a good music playlist. It’s your charm.

Now when it comes to the exact type of music, everybody has their taste. For my case however, I like something classic and simple. Not super freaky and definitely not boring. I want something that cannot take away my attention. I want to focus on my task but also at the same time I want something charming going on in the background.

Good music has always helped me achieve a lot in almost every situation. When I was in my beginner years of coding, I would find myself doing late nights of fixing and getting hooked to codes. And with help of good music, this always seemed nothing. It was fun. It still works even today. When I want to work on a project I am passionate about, I just put my headsets on, play Westlife, and get lost in my own world.

PS: Don’t focus on the ‘Westlife’ thing. It’s NOT a promo. 🙂

5. Computer Glasses

Alright. To finish this list, let’s focus on something that not only touches on your productivity but more importantly your health. Every programmer should have computer glasses. When you are spending a lot of time in front of your computer, you are also exposing your eyes to UV rays for the longest time possible. The blue light from the screens is medically and health-wise definitely not good for your eyes. You have to protect your eyes because if you do not, you gonna face the consequences. And if the consequences don’t come now, they will catch up in the near future.

Back in the days as I have told you, I was obsessed with coding. And most of the times I spent late nights and long hours in front of my computer. Now at first I wasn’t seeing any effect. But the more time I spent in front of the screens, the more I realized how the blue light was affecting me (not just my eyes). I would get itchy eyes the next morning. And this also affected my overall productivity. I was feeling unmotivated a lot of the times.

So because I didn’t want these kind of ‘side effects’ in future, I went to the stores and got myself some nice computer glasses. And that was probably was one of the biggest justices I have done to myself. These days I rarely do late nights but when I do, I don’t get itchy eyes. Thanks to my computer glasses. You definitely ought to get one if you are a programmer.

That wraps up my list on the most vital items that I believe every programmer should have. I’m curious to hear about you. Let me know in the comment section below. What’s your favorite item from the list?