A good setup is one where everything needed is in front of you and quickly reachable. Some swear two is the minimum while others only use one.
How many monitors do you use when programming?
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Latest comments (89)
1 and ctrl+tab. Your neck would appreciate it 😰
Well, form me it works having 2 monitors, in one i had the console and come code, an in the other y have the browse.
Three.
One for a browser (including chat, calendar, and reference materials).
The other two are for code, or for SSH sessions with test boxes or VMs.
I also use virtual workspaces a lot. There are times when I need to spread actual work (code, test target servers, more code) across all three screens. In those cases I'll move all the terminals down one level in the virtual workspaces and leave the browser, chat, etc. behind. Finally, my bottom tier of virtual workspaces is where I keep things like keepassx and other software that I just need going in the background.
When I travel I use a USB-powered monitor alongside my laptop. It's not as nice as a full workstation setup, but works well enough for temporary use.
I really don't care for the two-monitors-plus-laptop approach. The vastly different screen size between the laptop and the external monitors is hard on my eyes. So my laptop is usually closed, plugged into a dock that drives the three externals.
Legitimately use 5 currently. Looking to get a 6th one.
Have 5 monitors, 27 inches each, 1440p.
Here's the breakdown:
Bottom left:
Terminal, split into 4 (or 5):
Top left is the server, including things like linting errors.
Top right is Cypress tests (I do TDD with E2E tests).
Bottom left is Jest tests (I do TDD).
Bottom right is a free terminal.
I use Storybook too, so sometimes that requires a tab.
Bottom middle:
VSCode, split into 2. Left is code, right is tests.
Bottom right:
Web browser showing what I'm working on.
Also used for Cypress tests, which I want to move to a separate screen in the future (the 6th monitor).
Top left:
Programming notes and plans about what I'm currently working on.
E.g. architecture and TODOs for the current story, as well as my personal programming notes.
Top middle:
Browser for research. E.g. documentation, stack overflow, etc.
Also used for music and the board (like Jira).
Also used for the file system (which has tabs), for if I need some random file from my computer.
Looking to get 1 more monitor for:
Cypress tests, visible at all times.
I can live without them, as I use 2 monitors at work + laptop, but it's so much more efficient for me to have everything visible at all times, particularly the tests.
One and laptop. I think I'll get hurt by using more than two.
Two. My main monitor is in a good location to stare at for a long time, while the other one is reference (docs, production code I am writing tests for, etc.).
Same setup. I like it a lot.
Only one 27" monitor along with extremely fast and subconscious Alt-Tab is all that I need. No neck and back pain if you adjust your chair, keyboard and monitor properly.
Minimum 2
I used to have 4 monitors:
However lately I got neck and back pain from staying a bit "twisted" after looking for a longer period at one of the side monitors, without moving my keyboard and mouse.
Now I keep only one monitor on the side and a big one in front of me and try to avoid looking at the side one for longer time. That + a sit-stand desk and more exercise sort of helps...
I always try to center the two bezels of my screen so I alternate between the monitors without pain. And I alternate between sitting, standing or bean bags. Helps a lot
Everything was fine - I could torture my body as much as I want..... until I got over 40... then some parts of it reminded about "the credit" and "asked for interest" :)
That's definitely why I want to do it right, right now. So I won't pay later
I'd say taking a rest once in a while and going for a swim helps even more.
My point is, that if you have multiple monitors - try NOT to twist yourself, while looking at a monitor on the side, and while your hands are on the keyboard, which is in front of the center one (basically don't repeat my mistake).
Yes. It's good advice and I try to implement that as best as I can.
I do mostly web and mobile development, and I use 3 monitors:
4K left for previewing different resolutions at once
5K center for coding and browser developer tools
1080p right in portrait mode for messaging, reference and other tools.
Best setup I've come up after a lot of test and improved over the years.
Two. One for programming on and the other for knowing I have two monitors 😂
Honestly though, two can be useful to juggling things around and always keeping some dashboards open. I'm currently working on an additional piece of hardware these days as well that has its own monitor and my laptop is often open so it adds up (Synergy FTW though)
One and the laptop's.
I have a T470 and eventually I want to get (build in Lego) a stand for it.
i have an old dell at home and as 2015 mbp at the office. t470 is amazing.
Yes. The only downside is the screen brightness maxed out is very low, but at least it's modable.
Always one.
When I'm in the office, I work on a 24" or 27" (not sure) monitor and the MacBook lies closed next to it, so I can appreciate the stickers. At home I only use the MacBook since I don't have a desk anyways, so there's that.
I got used to quitting apps I don't use, like any Chat/Mail-Apps, since they are just a distraction most of the time. The terminal is mostly minimized to a few lines so I can see when Webpack has finished rebuilding. So it's mostly just Code and Safari / Code and Terminal, depending on the kind of work.
In general I like to keep as few apps open as possible. The title-bar and dock hide automatically so I have a bit more space. Get used to opening apps via Spotlight-Search, and quitting them after use. Most things shouldn't be in front of me. I am not here to service the apps. Apps should service me.
The only time I would wish for another screen is when I do video-courses or learn with e-books. I'm looking forward to using the iPad as second screen for this purpose.
I use one ultrawide monitor. I’ve gone through phases of two, three, and four monitors and I ultimately found that I am not more productive, just more distracted.
Being a backend only dev means I don’t need to check my work in the browser 90% of the time so I can just go full-screen terminal with a few panes for different things.
I tend to use three macOS Spaces. Left one is Slack, Twitter, email, notes, personal browsing, etc. Middle is terminal. Right is all work-related browsing (Jira, Github, our site, Google/Stackoverflow, etc) and Postman. My idea here is I segregate all distractions into one Space that is only visible when I actively use it. If it’s a separate display, I’ll always get distracted by things in the corner of my eye.
Five. Two 4k 32” 60p, two 2.7k 27” 60p and build in mbp 15”
Left monitor is a standing 2.7k which I use for multiple terminals, then a 4k where I run browsers and devtools, the 4k for vscode, then 2.7 standing for ”communications” (jira, slack, mail etc)
Built in screen is for notes, finder etc
Looks stressful, one screen is all I need.
Each to his own. I find this setup is optimal for my workflow and it maximizes my productivity, which makes me relaxed :-)
Ive tried both fewer and more screens, but this is the sweetspot.
I'm not sure how you sit and how long you look at the monitors on the side, but basically this is how I got my neck and back pain - keeping my hands on the keyboard, while twisting my neck and body to look at the leftmost (or rightmost) monitor. Just my .02c :)
Thanks for the heads up. I have had this setup a couple of years now without any trouble with my neck though. (Actually I had 6th monitor on the right two years ago, before I settled on this setup.)
I think it depends on how you organize the applications you work with. I use Moom for mac, which makes it easy to rearrange my work space and have different presets.
I had my setup for nearly 10 years without problems :) When I was in my early 30s, I could torture my body as much as I want and everything went away in a matter of minutes, after finished working... Fast forward another 12 years and some parts of my body came back to present a bill... with interest... :)
:-O
Oh snap! I will take heed and be sure to rotate with the keyboard more.
Once again, thanks for the heads up! Im about to turn 40 and I do notice I have to work out more for the body to keep up. I really cant imagine working with less screens though since it brings me into the intoxicating flow super easy, so will have to make sure to rotate chair and keyboard (aka mbp) more often. Its easier now since I only need one cable in the computer nowadays.
This setup is rad. No compromise, pure optimisation.
When Im mobile I use 3-4 screens using Packed pixels and sometimes the ipad pro as a side screen
I plan on doing the same with the Lepow Z1-Gamut 15 inch monitors and the Ten One Design Mountie+ for Portable Monitors.
Wow! Never seen such screens you put on your laptop screen. I might have a new need...
I think you can still grab their generation 2 (3?) at a discount on indiegogo.
Search for ”packed pixels”
That is awesome! I was thinking of attaching two ipads to my laptop using Duet Display, but each iPad costs a lot more than "packed pixels" here...
If I could only have one iPad that would be nice 😂