Ask HN: What essential tools do you use as a remote developer?
What tools do you consider absolutely essential to be effective at your remote job (apart from the usual Slack, MS Teams...)?
I use Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) to record. We bought Steelseries headsets. I use them in a wireless mode. I had major problems with Bluetooth headsets in Linux in that I couldn't use their microphones. The Steelcase have a sort of USB Type-C dongle and they work seamlessly. They're great, plus their microphone is pluggable in the headset, so I can take it off.
We also have a Blue Yeti microphone and a Jabra speakerphone, but we haven't used them yet.
We use GitLab for repository management, etc.
A table and chair on my balcony
Spotify
Honestly synchronisation was quite easy for me. Making my workspace comfortable required more thought.
* Code formatting. A decision is made and everyone follows (by force from the formatter) a single formatting methodology. In JavaScript land, Prettier is great. Python has Black, which is alright. The biggest benefit is making code reviews easier.
* A standing desk raiser. I would prefer a walking desk, but I haven't made time to set it up.
In other teams, I also implemented similar filters for commit messages, enforcing ticket numbers in messages (or tags like "hotfix").
I learned the latter from refactoring a lot of code with seemingly unexplained business logic. At least now I could trace it to a business requirement. It also made reviews easier.
All of these can be added to git hooks.
I have two 24" displays and a comfy but not expensive IKEA office chair. You don't have to spend a lot, just make sure it has ergonomic features (rise/lower the sit, arm rests etc).
Bluetooth headset is a must. I have a fairly old pair of Sony (mdr-zx770bn iirc) that are slowly dying, but they're fine.
Also, a big monitor to work on.
I'm thinking of building some structure that would hold some sheets to sort of create a mini ... cube type environment as my desk is in the basement where the kids play and OMG is it messy.
- An ergonomic workstation. I will skip the details, but basically I have spared no expense to make my workstation healthy and comfortable.
- A good webcam/microphone. I purchased a knock-off of a premium webcam and it has been great. The most important thing is to have excellent audio quality. Make sure people can hear you clearly, with NO FEEDBACK. Even a slight feedback is completely unacceptable. With a good setup, you can use speakers and have no feedback. If you don't have a good setup, wear headphones. Ask your colleagues for an honest assessment of your audio. You may think your audio is good, but it actually is poor, and your colleagues have just been too polite to tell you. As for video, I dislike being on video, but I think it's important as a remote worker to be seen. People will be more likely to think of you as a real person when they see your face regularly. My webcam has a built-in light, so I avoid appearing as a silhouette.
- An exception to the above: I like to use my phone or a bluetooth headset with a long range while listening to a dull conference call where I am not expected to speak much. That way I am able to walk around and listen while doing somethting else. Gardening, making lunch, washing clothing, etc.
- Unlimited high speed data plan, a smartphone with hotspot capability, and USB battery banks. This lets me work from almost anywhere, affording me a lot of flexibility in my life and schedule. For example, I would use this capability to meet my friends after work. I would take a mid-day break to travel to where we were going to meet, finish my workday from the hotspot (or from wifi), and then sign off. This way, I avoid travelling during peak travel times and we could beat the after work crowds. This hasn't been used much during the pandemic, unfortunately. An important counterpart to this is arranging your dev setup such that you can work as offline as possible. For example, keep local copies of any documentation or library source code you might need. Be able to setup a development environment without a network connection.