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

[jimgardener]

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)

[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 :).

[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.

[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.

[stevejalim]

I'm a big fan of two screens, but do make sure they're positioned well and have windows sensibly arranged to minimise repeated small corrections of your head/neck. I'm no occupational therapist/ergonomist (if that's even the correct term), but anecodatally, if I have a busy IM day on my 'side' screen, I can feel it when by the end of the day.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[hatchoo]

On a laptop I can never work efficiently on anything with less than FHD resolution.

[ibudiallo]

Use two monitors and you will never go back