Ask HN: Music while coding?

It depends on my mood and the day. Sometimes I need silence to focus. Other times I want driving hard rock to get my blood pumping. Sometimes I like traditional Irish fiddling and ballads. Other times pop-rock or folk. Really it varies as much as my general music listening does. As long as I know the music well enough, it will fade into the background -- lyrics or no. So it all depends on mood.

I don't generally listen classical music but when it comes to coding/hacking; post classical romantic era (1815–1910) European art music is the magical ingredient of productivity for me.

Action: Tune in to `Frédéric Chopin' or `Franz Schubert' channels on Pandora/Last.fm

Result: at least 2X productivity compared to sans music environment.

Techno. The repetition gets me into a rhythm. I can listen to the same song on loop for hours. Each time finding some little nuance that I missed before. I suppose the same effect can happen with anything without vocals. But techno (for me) drives concentration.

I listen to http://www.stereomood.com - pretty useful app. Songs are tagged by "moods" (happy, relaxed, sleepy, ...) which make it easier, for me, to choose which kind of music I want to listen to.

First, we put the Russian Anthem in the office to motivate everyone (it really works ahah) Then, everyone listens to their own stuff on PC. I'm now fan of Chinese pop songs! The lyrics are super-lame but it makes me full of joy ahah

I don't like to listen to music while coding because I'm not smart enough to think of two things at once.

But when I'm done, I'll pop in some Bone Thugs & Harmony.

This is good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jw31Howgqg

I would think that instrumental is a bit more conducive rather than music with lyrics which could be distracting. Yes? No?

Biosphere, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Piana, Kobol

Pink Floyd, Megaherz, Eisbrecher.

Bassdrive.com smooth liquid dnb!

Rinkadink or Infected Mushroom

Absolutely none. I need to get my shit done, dude! :p