Ask HN: Coding music playlist to increase code throughput

I have a bunch.

Usually when I’m architecting infrastructure(I’m an infrastructure architect/SRE), I like listening to this: [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ELbFgXjDLVd3pB6DYcEXF?si=...

When I’m working on live production infrastructure, I dunno why but metal seems more like what keeps me going: [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Goz8XUN3ZHlx7t8CuNdbt?si=...

Mine mostly consists of video game soundtracks.

Here my Ambient Coding playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5t0alvBh9VAXu20mUExFCE?si=...

I can also highly recommend Ace Combat and Project Wingman soundtrack.

Some random advice would be to listen to Mr. Robot's soundtrack found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1xDNuLHKQHghKR9SmkR9pD?si=... – since the soundtrack is solely made to get people to understand the "hacker" POV, maybe it'll help you to become a hacker as well.

If I need to I usually listen to the same two hour track by Ernesto Cortazar [1]. He has this great style where all his pieces seem simple and use a lot of repetition but at the same time are rich and have entrancing melodies. It’s great for keeping focus and not being too distracted by the music.

1: https://vimeo.com/257293198

I like to listen to soundscapes by Endel

They have a bunch of free 45 minute long tracks on YouTube.

1 : https://endel.io/ 2 : https://www.youtube.com/c/EndelSound

This is great!

I've been jamming to Mind Amend on Youtube/Spotify - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wELOA2U7FPQ&t=2384s

I find that the Infinite Time playlist gives me some real productive time: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZvNq3JmijsIDOfFKeYmWg?si=...

Breakcore has been my go-to for background noise, and I found the "This will break you" mixes to be good when not listening to albums from my collection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2cPmxxyhEY

There is no magical playlist that will let you focus more on your code. For some people it can cause less focus when listening to music. (I can't listen to any english hiphop while coding because I get distracted by it)

This might be what you are looking for: https://musicforprogramming.net/

I've tried that site many times over the years and while I kinda like the music, my conclusion is that's it's not at all helpful for me when I need to concentrate. The beats and song changes are often too erratic and distract me.

I know they have a lot of music so maybe I've just been unlucky but I think it's not for me.

I built most of my business to Daft Punk's Alive 2007 album, combined with a double espresso - every morning.

Just play the whole album Damage Done by Dark Tranquillity on repeat and the code writes itself.

SomaFM Groovesalad or Defcon Radio

I believe 40 Hz binaural beats on headphones, or white noise on speakers, is optimal

I prefer silence, the less noise the better.

Like @koenvdb says, there is no "magic playlist". What works for you will probably be different from everyone else. But FWIW, you can do worse than including this track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViN2bRGrBx8 ("Chase" by Giorgio Moroder)

Outside of that, you might try something like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hsXW--NLE8 (horrorsynth)

https://youtu.be/cZRj9Sk0IPc (synthwave)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7tpVaGSk-4 (synthwave)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpaPWuDQUcc (Rachmaninoff)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyknBTm_YyM (Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCPM8DEsvmc (Bach - Brandenburg Concertos)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isic2Z2e2xs (Holst - The Planets)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFT9gwocT_o&list=PLUr55OCtC9... (Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqM9d4VzBzY (blues)

https://youtu.be/NtqRjGP3uoY ("Epic battle music")

https://youtu.be/ZTidn2dBYbY (David Hasselhoff - True Survivor)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYNAEzgKNec (Amon Amarth - Put Your Back Into The Oar)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnC4-WtWivI (AC/DC - Greatest Hits)

https://youtu.be/gkRnRs_8Mx8 (Motley Crue - Keep Your Eye on the Money)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1IOJs6H9qg (Winger - Madalaine)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNVZzXgMdXs (John Farnham - Thunder in your Heart)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npVellnR6D8 ("Twin Peaks Double R Diner Ambience - 8 Hours of Smooth Jazz Music, Rain Sounds, & Cozy Cafe Ambience")