Thread: How long can you keep it up (nudge, nudge)?

I'm just wondering how long people can maintain coding in an average day? I find if I have client calls, backups/maintenance, e-mail correspondence, and other stuff mixed in I can put down an average working day or longer with no problem.

If all I'm doing is coding (html/css/php) I find I have mini-burnouts every few hours and a total brain shutdown after about 6 hours. This despite the fact that I really enjoy the work. It's very annoying when a deadline is looming and I'm semi-comatose.

Just wondering about other peoples experience and tips (not seeking epic tales of maverick 36 hour coding sessions fuelled by Jolt and Pizza alone!).

Originally Posted by squibs

Just wondering about other peoples experience and tips (not seeking epic tales of maverick 36 hour coding sessions fuelled by Jolt and Pizza alone!).

Best value option is actually Kick or Red Rooster ... from either Tesco or Dunnes ...

6 pack of kick costs around 2.80 I think ...

You can get Red Rooster in 1 litre bottles ... for around 2 quid .. and its good as well ...

What you don't want to do .. is to do this too often ... or you'll find you burn yourself out ...

On big coding sessions I find its similar to big gaming sessions ... I just don't eat ..

These days I'm finding I'm lucky if I get 2 hours straight coding though ... phone calls / support / emails / marketing / replying to silly irish web master forum posts :P

Best time to do your Maverick coding sessions ... is actually the middle of the night ... if you start in around 10 .. have a nap before ... you'll find its so peaceful and quiet at night ... not to mention if the heat is off you'll type faster while trying to stay warm

Its a good idea though to have 2 pizzas stored in the fridge at all times ... and a bottle of water can actually have the same effect as red bull .. and keep the mind alert ... take small sips of water constantly over the course of the day ...


Hmm... that is all ( I've cut out the red bull / kick / coke / red rooster / that czech one who's name I can never remember .. tiger ? .. its my new years resolution )

Best time to do your Maverick coding sessions ... is actually the middle of the night ... if you start in around 10 .. have a nap before ... you'll find its so peaceful and quiet at night ... not to mention if the heat is off you'll type faster while trying to stay warm

Nightime coding is not really a longterm option for me - the missus would not be pleased

Originally Posted by squibs

Nightime coding is not really a longterm option for me - the missus would not be pleased

In the same boat fortunately / unfortunately

Another option can be to turn off all phones / internet access though I think your problem is more your brain going to a state of mushy peas

I go dark sometimes [no net / no phones / headphones with loud music] when I've really really got pressing deadlines

I also find Scooter .. to be great music to code to (and thats probably why no one has the same music taste as me on last.fm )

Wow - you can successfully go dark?

What do you tell custards who can't reach you for customer support?

OOPS ? :P

I've 1 biggish support contract ... which has a turn around time of a few hours / 24 hours on issues .. which is quite cool (rare I'd say as well)

For other customers .. They drop me a mail and I fit them in ... it can't always be a case of giving them priority all the time or I'd end up getting nothing done.

Maybe if I end up expanding the business ... but for the moment its ok

Its kinda like ... what do you do on holidays ? Customers can leave a message and I'll get back to them. For the most part though things work *prays*

Holidays - what are they?

Seriously though, I take your point. We tend to drop everything when a customer has a problem, because we want to be known good service above and beyond the call of duty. It's kinda how we get our referrals.

Of course, as you say, most things can wait for a couple of hours. We'd do well to remember that.

It is based on the complexity of the code I'm writing. Sometimes it can be about seven or eight hours. Other times it can come closer to the full twenty four hours. However my CSS and html is still crap.

Regards...jmcc

Originally Posted by jmcc

It is based on the complexity of the code I'm writing. Sometimes it can be about seven or eight hours. Other times it can come closer to the full twenty four hours. However my CSS and html is still crap.

Regards...jmcc

Some of us would never know... especially given that nice large 403 we get if we're in the wrong country

Originally Posted by jmcc

However my CSS and html is still crap.

Maybe you could barter skills?

http://www.irishwebmasterforum.com/barter-services/