So… you want to code the next big app or make the next gaming phenomenon — but your hardware isn’t exactly cutting edge?

That’s less of a problem than you may think!

Because upgrading your components is often a simple, painless process.

As long as you know what needs to be swapped out.

That leads to the obvious question:

[pullquote align=”normal”]What hardware specs do programmers really need? [/pullquote]

More speed and bigger hard drives for storing code assets are pretty obvious answers.

But there’s more to this story than you might expect.

Let’s see what it’s all about:

Take a Hint From Coding Program Requirements

Students entering a coding program can typically find minimum laptop spec requirements in their course material.

While your specific needs may change depending on what OS and coding language you’re using, these spec guidelines offer an excellent baseline idea of the sort of hardware resources you need to work effectively as a computer programmer.

Most programming courses recommend these basic specs:

• Intel i5 CPU, with an i7 recommended.
• 8GB RAM, with 16GB recommended.
• 1920 x 1080 resolution display.

Those are a great starting point for seeing what to upgrade, and we’ll examine each of those specs in detail below. But first, don’t forget about something that might not be immediately obvious:

Periphery!

Some components can be an absolute necessity for a coding-work laptop, like a USB hub, a card reader, or HDMI ports for connecting extra devices or transferring data in different ways.

Let’s now dive into all the components you could upgrade:

1. Upgrade Your Monitor Setup

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Let’s start with the hardware component that can make or break your coding experience:

[pullquote align=”center”]Why do college programming courses want you to have at least 1920 x 1080 display? [/pullquote]

They’re not telling you to get a high-res screen because you need to stream 1080p video.

It’s because a higher resolution gives you more viewing area for multiple applications at the same time.

For your desktop PC, buying a better monitor is a snap — but for your laptop, upgrading your display isn’t really an option. Unless you’ve broken the display, replacing the screen and video cables on a laptop is too much trouble.

As a laptop user, you DO have another option:

Use those extra HDMI and USB-C ports to connect an external monitor (or even two).

A multiple-monitor setup is a great idea. It makes it so you can easily switch back and forth between your code and the running program — without having to Alt/Tab all over the place.

The Best Coding Monitor in Our Eyes: Dell 27″ 4k Monitor

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We recommend the Dell S2722QC as a high-end coding monitor.

• • • Its 27″ screen size at 4k resolution gives you endless “real estate” to open your coding environment, documentation, and browser windows all at the same time — while still keeping complete overview.[blank_space height=’0.5em’]
    • Dell is know for building high quality hardware. And this monitor is no exception. You’ll be able to enjoy it for many many years without having to worry that stuff stops working.[blank_space height=’0.5em’]
    • You have the ability to create a dual-monitor setup with it. In case you’re a professional programmer who wants even higher coding productivity. Check out the Dell S2722QC on amazon.

2. Upgrade Your Hard Drive/SSD

Before we get into the components like the processor and physical memory, it can’t be overstated how much switching from a hard disk drive to a solid-state drive (SSD) will boost your PC’s speed.

While that’s great for the average user who wants quick boot ups and fast data retrieval, it’s absolutely crucial for programmers, especially if coding is how you plan on making your income.

With an SSD, you’ll spend a lot less time waiting during the many Windows updates and restarts.

Solid state drives are simple to install, especially with laptops these days, as there’s typically only a single screw to remove to pull out the old drive.

While SSDs are the way to go for whatever drive your OS has installed, don’t forget you can add a cheap secondary hard disk drive (HDD) for extra storage of files that don’t particularly need to be accessed immediately.

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Whether you go with the faster SSD or slower but larger HDD, keep in mind you may end up needing a drive large enough to run a dual boot system if you plan on coding in multiple environments.

Virtualization of other operating systems is another option, but that requires a fast CPU and a large amount of RAM to work well.

Finally, don’t forget there’s a cheaper and easier “upgrade” option here that doesn’t involve swapping out components.

Simple cloud storage solutions can alleviate your PC speed problem so long as you have reliable internet speeds in your area and a hardware combo capable of quickly transferring files around.

Which SSD Drive Should You Get?

[one_half_first]Our pick for the best SSD hard drive for coding is the Western Digital 4TB SSD. It’s fast, reliable, and offers enough space for most projects — even if they’re space-intensive like game development.

Check out the WD 4TB SSD on amazon.[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

3. Upgrade Your RAM

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Here we arrive at the most obvious (and most helpful) upgrade.

Coding requires a lot of memory because your programs will eat up every last available megabyte while compiling.

If you find you get a lot of stutters, lag, and crashing while debugging or compiling, a quick and easy option is just to slap in some extra RAM.

At this point, 16GB is basically the bottom line for any sort of advanced user applications, but if your motherboard can handle it, I’d recommend upgrading to one or more 32GB modules.

The Best PC RAM Recommended for Coding

[one_half_first]The OLOy Hairline Gaming RAM is the fastest memory you can get — perfect if your gig is programming memory-intensive software. If you have the funds, get the 2x32GB bundle. You’ll never have to worry about anything lagging or running out of memory ever again. Check out the OLOy PC RAM on amazon.

[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

4. Upgrade Your CPU

Still getting slow speeds, even with more RAM?

The culprit is going to be your processor, as older CPUs have trouble compiling programs or using other tools you may need as a programmer—like video and image editing apps.

Unfortunately, upgrading the CPU isn’t particularly an option for the laptop crowd, short of buying an entirely new machine with a better processor altogether.

However, since the average budget laptop typically only lasts about 3 years, that may not be a bad idea.

Whether upgrading your desktop PC’s processor or just flat out buying a new laptop, going with one of the later-generation Intel iX core CPUs is a surefire way to get great speed now and future-proof against updates.

The Fastest CPU for Coding Recommended by Simple Programmer

[one_half_first]

For ultimate coding performance, get the Intel i9 12900K 8+8 Core CPU. It’s the absolute high end in computer processors. But, first make sure your mainboard is compatible with it! If you’re a bit more budget-minded, the i7 is still a great choice for a CPU.

Check out the Intel i9 12900K 8+8 Core on amazon.

[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

5. Upgrade Your Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

This is really only necessary for programmers working with graphics-intensive apps, like Windows games or video editing tools.

Unfortunately, this also isn’t typically an option for the laptop crowd, but there’s a workaround now.

External GPUs are becoming more prevalent and are incredibly easy to hook up.

Although they reduce your portability, connecting to an external graphics card can quickly and easily give you advanced performance when coding graphics-intensive programs.

While the new RTX series cards are available now from NVIDIA, in most cases, a GTX 1070 or 1080 will be all you need for any programming application.

Recommended GPU for Game Development

[one_half_first]

The overall best GPU for developing games we’ve found is the Geforce RTX 3060.

You get high performance at a medium price. 

Check out the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce 3060 on amazon.

[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

Don’t Throw Out Your Old Components!

After going through all those upgrades, you’re probably left wondering what to do with the old hardware.

I mean, who really needs a sad 4GB stick of RAM?

As it turns out, you do!

Keeping older tech on hand is an excellent way to test your programs on a variety of hardware setups.

Not every user is going to have a high-end machine with cutting edge specs, so you need to know your programs will work on everyday hardware.

Upgrade Your Hardware, Upgrade Your Coding

Now that we’ve got that last tidbit of info out of the way, let’s take a quick recap of the best hardware to upgrade for programmers:

1. Upgrade your display, or switch to a multimonitor setup.
2. Switch to an SSD, or add a secondary HDD.
3. Add additional RAM up to your motherboard’s maximum.
4. Upgrade to a better CPU, or get a new laptop.
5. Install a newer GPU.

With these upgrade-friendly components in mind, you should be well on your way to whipping up the next Tinder or Angry Birds.

Good luck with your coding career or personal programming project!

The post 5 CRUCIAL PC Hardware Components Programmers NEED to Upgrade appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Dive into our hand-picked list and choose your favorites.

The computer science student in your life is guaranteed to love these gifts.

To a great experience at university!

1. Bullet Journal for Productive Computer Science Studies – $25

As a computer science student, you have to track a lot of details.If you note something down by hand, you remember it better than if you type it. (Source)

• Bullet Journaling is a framework for managing notes, tasks, and appointments.
• Everything is divided into three modules: The Daily Log, Monthly Log, Future Log, and the Index.
• It’s a great system that keeps it all in one place

The original black Bullet Journal looks slick and oozes quality.

2. The Book that Gets Geeks Excited to Explore the Art of Cooking – $35

Most tech students don’t love cooking. They like to geek out on science-y topics – and cooking doesn’t seem to fit the bill.

So they end up viewing food merely as fuel: Not taking time to prepare meals (which would be healthier) and opting to order fast food every other day.

Let’s turn that around. This book dives into the biochemistry of food, a precise, methodical approach to cooking, and educative scientific background information – it’ll lure any science major into starting to care about healthy food prep.

3. Back & Shoulder Massager to Alleviate ‘Comp-Sci Neck Syndrome’ – $54

Sitting at university. More sitting at your computer after-hours. Hunched over, cranking your neck.

The result is chronic tightness, neck and back pain, and possible structural damage down the road.

Getting a deep-tissue massage is a great way to counter the negative impact a computer science major’s lifestyle has on your body.

But, as a student, your budget is limited and you might not be able to afford those massages multiple times per week. So why not have your own personal massager, ready to use whenever you need it?

This one’s great to relax after a long study session and start off the next day at university fresh and pain-free.

4. Whiteboard to Become a Super-Organized Computer Scientist – $49

Having your goals in front of you makes you three times more likely to succeed. (Source)

This whiteboard lets you write down your goals for your studies, organize your days and weeks, and visually work out study problems. It signals to yourself and others:

This is where a professional goes to work.

A great way to build the mindset and productive habits to become a successful software engineer after graduation.

5. Home Fitness Kit – Sound Body, Sound Mind – $49

To encourage a computer science major to stay fit isn’t easy, because the intense study required to make it in this field already takes a lot out of you.

Who has time and energy to go to the gym when you’re drained from racking your brain all day?

That’s why it makes sense to have a little gym in your own room. It removes friction: Whenever you have a little break, you can go straight into working out your body.

A fit body is created by consistency – and your own little home gym helps you build it. To do that, it doesn’t have to be expensive either:

6. Laptop Stand to put Your Work at Eye Level – $65

You said you were going to watch your posture. But a few hours later, you again catch yourself hunching over like a caveman.

It’s not your fault – it’s inevitable when you’re working on just a laptop. You automatically go into bad posture because you’re forced to look down at the screen.

This is where a dedicated laptop stand is a godsend. It turns your makeshift studying situation into a proper workstation. If you have a great Computer Science laptop, why not work at it like a professional.

7. Spotify Premium Subscription for Listening to Developer Podcasts or Ambient Music while Studying – $99

Spotify is a great place to have both your podcast subscriptions and music playlists in one place. All the best developer podcasts are on there, so you can learn even more computer science in your free time.

You’ll also stay up to date on the latest developments in programming languages and career options. Plus, you’ll have access to millions of songs – all without pesky ad interruptions.

8. My First Book to Polish Your Soft Skills – $9.99

This is my first best-selling book. I’ve even recorded an audio version with some bonus content.

It teaches you the non-technical skills that aren’t emphasized in a traditional education – but they’re vital for becoming the most valuable programmer you can be.

9. Software Developer’s Career Guide to Plan for Your Life After College – $9.99

This is my best selling book of all time, #1 best-seller in enter Amazon store for computer and technology books.

It packs about 800 pages of the best career advice I’ve ever given out. Anything from the job hunt, how to create a great resume, to salary negotiation.

10. Computer Speaker to Play It – $149

Most computer science majors are using a laptop for their studies. Unfortunately, those have terrible speakers.

To create the right atmosphere with some nice tunes in the background, a quality pair of desktop speakers will do wonders.

These are an often overlooked gift for computer science students!

11. Messenger Bag to Be Organized & Chic – $229

Pack everything you need for your computer science classes (laptop up to 13.3″, notepad, textbooks..) AND look great at the same time.

Just because you’re a STEM student doesn’t mean you can’t have a sense of style.

An attractive messenger bag conveys just that.

12. Book to Know All About Algorithms (Before Everyone Else) – $98

This book by T. Cormen is the leading text on algorithms worldwide.

It’ll teach you all types of algorithms in depth.

But it doesn’t just have you read about them – you’ll also be doing hundreds of exercises and solving problems.

Work through this comprehensive book and gain a leg up on the other students.

13. Blue Light Blocking Glasses to Relax at Night & Save Your Eyes – $79

Computer science students like to look at screens until late at night, whether it be working on coding problems or watching their favorite developer channels on YouTube.

Unfortunately the screen’s blue light disrupts your body’s rhythm and makes it harder to fall into restful sleep at night. These wavelengths could even have worse health effects on your body (Source).

You can protect yourself by starting to wear blue light blocking glasses as it gets late.

They make it easy to relax and take the strain off your eyes. You can wear these over your prescription glasses, too.

14. External Hard Drive to Store Any Computer Science Project – $109

Programming projects at university can take up a lot of space.

Especially when we’re talking about video game development, a single project can take up 1TB or more of disk space. But even for daily applications, it’s nice to not have to worry about your laptop’s capacity running out.

This is where an external hard drive comes in handy. These are getting bigger and bigger (in terms of capacity – they’re only the size of a large wallet) at not-too-expensive prices.

15. Course Platform Subscription to Individualize Your Learning or Get a Head Start – $120

In college, you’re learning computer science concepts from the ground up. You’ll also start learning one or two programming languages in your first year.

But, they might not be using the exact language you want to learn right now. On a good online platform, you can pick and choose which language you want to learn, and start mastering it in a fun way. You can do this to be better prepared for future computer science classes, or to acquire additional skills.

I like Edabit for learning a new programming language. They’ve gamified the learning process – you earn points and level up while you work through up to 10,000 coding challenges.

16. Mini Fridge So You Can Stay at Your Desk in the Heat of a Coding Session – $148

When you’re hard at work solving a tricky computer science problem, you don’t want to have to get up in the middle of it just to re-hydrate – breaking your focus.

Having everything within reach can prevent that, and make life a lot easier when you’re studying at home.

Also, in any co-living situation it’s nice to be able to keep your supply of snacks and drinks separate, so they haven’t magically disappeared right when you need them.

17. Smart Watch to Monitor Your Health & Sleep – $229

A perfect gift for geeks: A smart watch that allows you to check notifications or access your calendar and to-do list at a glance.

But more importantly, it tracks important health markers, such as your heart beat, sleep quality, steps taken and calories burned.

A great way to mind your health while also looking cool

18. Noise-Canceling Headphones for Full Focus – $379

Sometimes you’re working in a public space at university, or your roommates are having a loud conversation while you’re trying to progress on your computer science projects.

That’s when it’s time to shut off the noise so you can zero in on your studies.

Thankfully nowadays you have noise-canceling technology doing an amazing job at that.

19. The Art of Programming Book Series to Gain Sage-Level Computer Science Knowledge – $239

This is a masterpiece about the art of programming, written by the prestigious Professor of Computer Science, Donald E. Knuth.

Working through these voluminous books and solving the many problems presented (which are well-explained, and fully answered in the back of the book) will take time, but you’ll come out of it with deep computer programming knowledge.

A gift for those serious about mastering their craft.

20. Ergonomic Keyboard for Efficient Coding – $339

As a programmer, your keyboard is your direct connection to your coding program. If you can type faster, you can more quickly put your ideas into code. This keeps you in the flow, instead of having to wait for your fingers to catch up with your brain.

Even if it wasn’t a gift, investing in a professional keyboard is something no computer scientist will regret.

21. Quality Mouse for Complete Control at Your Computer – $99

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a real threat for computer science students who spend endless hours each day clicking away on their PC.

But even more important than the sheer time spent using a mouse is the positions your equipment places you in.

An ergonomic mouse like the Logitech MX Master reduces the strain on your wrists and fingers. It also performs smoothly and reliably. It’s nice to have a feeling of quality every time you’re using your mouse.

22. High-End Monitor for the Best Coding Experience – $375

You can choose to code only on your laptop screen, or using any old LCD monitor you already own.

The other option is to give yourself more “real estate” and a better user experience by upgrading to a larger, high-end monitor.

For programmers who like to have their coding environment, documentation, and browser windows open at the same time, that can make their life a lot easier.

23. Professional Desk to Create Your Ultimate Workstation – $499

The work a computer science major does on their own time, at their desk, can make or break their studies. If you create a professional setup, it will pay off in increased productivity and comfort over the thousands of hours spent at their desk.

The criteria for the perfect desk for learning and working on computer science projects:

• Big enough for multiple screens, devices, notes & sketches
• High-quality, solid workmanship
• Beautiful optics
• Electronically controlled sit/stand option to allow your body a break

24. Ergonomic Chair to Be Comfortable and Save Your Body While Studying – $805

Prolonged sitting is never good for you. But you can minimize the impact of long hours worked at your computer – by getting the best chair money can buy (the Herman Miller Aeron).

Again, this is an investment in your long-term health as a computer science major who spends a lot of their time at university glued to a chair.

Make it the most ergonomic and comfortable one and you’ll even be more productive because of it.

25. A Good Laptop for All University Projects: HP Spectre – $1299

Your main tool as a computer science student is your laptop.

You want it to be able to perform all tasks with ease: Writing, coding, compiling – no matter the size of the project.

The HP Spectre is a great all-around machine for programming.

26. Luxurious Macbook Pro – to Effortlessly Finish Your Studies… in Style – $2199

For those Apple geeks who want to go one step beyond, the latest Macbook Pro offers incredible performance – coupled with the unmatched design and quality the brand is famous for.

27. Powerhouse Laptop to Crush the Most Demanding Development Projects: Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon – $2699

The cream of the crop when it comes to high-performance coding laptops is the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon.

It comes with the heftiest price tag – but it delivers on its promise to handle anything a computer scientist could ever throw at it.

Be it compiling complicated code, editing large video files, or developing video games from start to finish, it’s up to any task.

The post 27 Gifts for Computer Science Majors (Successful Studies) appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Unlike our other articles, this one is not just for our Simple Programmers. 

It is for their friends, family, and loved ones who have a hard time choosing the perfect present for the tech enthusiasts in their life.

Worry not, as this is your holiday gift guide! As a person who works in a Java software development company, surrounded by programmers, I have prepared some options for you that can fit in your budget, regardless of what it is. This should help to minimize the stress of the last-minute holiday shopping rush.

Feel free to use this article as a part of the brainstorming process, taking it a step further and customizing your gift as much as you like! The suggested presents are organized by type and cost, so you can find options for a great gift, while staying within your budget.

Programmer Books

For the Programmer Intrigued by New Technologies

Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning by Christopher M. Bishop (used MIT)

Machine learning has gained a lot of traction over the last year, and it seems it is a technology that is here to stay. So, to help stay relevant and up-to-date with their knowledge, this book will give any programmer further insight on the methods of machine learning.

For the Programmer Who Develops Graphical Software

Physically Based Rendering: From Theory to Implementation, Third Edition by Matt Pharr, Wenzel Jakob, and Greg Humphreys

Graphical software is more and more widespread, and it is adapted in different types of software development, in addition to being implemented in other areas of professional competence, from medicine, to interior design, to architecture. Many developers have been enjoying this book, so you should consider it!

For the Programmer Who Plays Games

Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition by Tomas Akenine-Möller, Eric Haines, Naty Hoffman, Angelo Pesce, Michał Iwanicki, and Sébastien Hillaire

Game Engine Architecture, Second Edition by Jason Gregory

​

Graphical software is more and more widespread, and it is adapted in different types of software development, in addition to being implemented in other areas of professional competence, from medicine, to interior design, to architecture. Many developers have been enjoying this book, so you should consider it!

For the Programmer Who Values C​onvention and Good Practices

Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin

​

Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code, Second Edition by Martin Fowler

​

It is not rare to come across discussions of what way is the better way to do things in software development. There are many different angles to what should be prioritized in terms of good developer practices; however, the books above showcase some of the principles that programmers agree upon to be worthwhile. These books are relevant for nearly all developer niches and competencies, and are genuinely worth taking a look at.

For the Programmer Who Studies Object-Oriented Programming

Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software by Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, and John Vlissides

Object-oriented programming is a widespread method of software development, and it is generally well-perceived to be knowledgeable to a certain degree. This is one of the best books to become well-versed on the topic.

For the Programmer Who Loves Math

Good Math: A Geek’s Guide to the Beauty of Numbers, Logic, and Computation (The Pragmatic Programmers) by Mark C. Chu-Carroll

Math is often the backbone of algorithms and software development foundation. Depending on their work, or simply, their interests, consider getting them one of the best books in the field. 

For the Programmer Who Plays With Algorithms

Introduction to Algorithms, 3rd Edition (MIT Press) by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, and Clifford Stein

And speaking of algorithms, this book has been widely recognized to provide valuable knowledge on the topic. On its third edition, the book is relevant and up-to-date, for anyone who wishes to consume its knowledge.

For the Programmer Who Likes to Read the Classics

If Hemingway Wrote JavaScript by Angus Croll

 This one playfully bridges the worlds of programming and literature in an interesting and hilarious take on how different JS programs would read if they were written by famous writers throughout history.

For the Programmer Looking to Build or Improve Their Career

The Complete Software Developer’s Career Guide: How to Learn Programming Languages Quickly, Ace Your Programming Interview, and Land Your Software Developer Dream Job by John Sonmez

Sure, this one is a little biased, but almost 500 reviews and a 4.7 rating on Amazon goes to show that we aren’t the only ones who think so. This is the book to buy for anyone looking to level up in the new year.

Of course, when it comes to getting a book for a programmer, you should try to find one that fits their general field of work. Even if you go a little bit outside of it, it could still be beneficial; you want to get them something they will get a lot of use out of.

But don’t worry. If you don’t know what field of programming they are into, or if the person is simply not into reading, we have many more options for you below!

Gifts and Apparel

Perhaps there is a programmer in your life who would like to say, loud and proud to the world, that they have a love for code and other perceived geekery. Even (especially!) if they aren’t geeks themselves.

These holiday gifts are broken out by type, and then some different options are provided for you to choose the perfect one.

Coffee Mugs

If you know developers closely, then you know they love their coffee! They use it as a mental cue to start their workday and an association with taking a break. Why not add a smile on their face by getting a fun mug just for them? 

You can buy one that is ready to go—there are plenty of cheeky mugs on the market! 

Eat, Sleep, Code, Repeat Mug

Coffee++ Program Ceramic Mug

Magic Heat Changing Mug – Battery Meter

​Debugging Definition Mug

You win the added bonus of being the person they think of whenever they sip their favorite beverage.

Notebooks

Some developers can still be somewhat old-fashioned in how they take notes. Consider grabbing them a cool notebook to put their thoughts in.

Grid Paper Notebook – Lemome Hardcover

AmazonBasics Classic Grid Notebook

​Moleskine Classic Notebook

Circuit Board A6 Notebook

A Rubber Duck

Yes, a rubber duck. Have you heard of the rubber duck debugging method? It originates from the book The Pragmatic Programmer by David Thomas and Andrew Hunt, and it requires the developer to attempt explaining the code’s method to the duck as if teaching a person who knows nothing about programming. 

A programmer may develop the solution further while getting into the details of how the method works. Being forced to evaluate it from different perspectives can provide a deeper understanding altogether.

By giving them a rubber duck, aside from sharing a joke, you might end up introducing them to a helpful working method they can use to their success.

Munchkin Bath Ducky

50-Pack Mini Rubber Ducky

Cute Ducks Battery Operated 10 LED String Lights

Apparel

Life isn’t all sweatpants and activewear when you are a programmer, though those outfits are certainly comfy for long coding sessions. But as it’s been mentioned in multiple posts here on Simple Programmer, how you present yourself professionally is important to your career.

If you aren’t in a workplace that requires ties and dresses, or business casual wear, a sharp tee or hoodie letting coworkers know what you do in the company might just do the trick.

T-Shirts

6 Stages of Debugging Tee

Binary Code Tee

The Code Doesn’t Work…WHY? Meme Tee

Evolution of Monkey to Computer Programmer Tee

Hoodies

Bug Hunter Hoodie

Eat, Sleep, Code Pullover Hoodie

Java Programmer Hoodie

Sports Band and Fitness Tracker

As people who spend a considerable amount of time sitting down, adding a constant reminder to be active and moving is a must for developers. Sports bands are mobile accessories that have gained a lot of traction, and it is easy to see why. 

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

Bozlun Fitness Tracker

Fitbit Inspire Fitness Tracker

Smartwatch

The smartwatch is a definite upgrade from the sports band. It has many more functionalities. Notifications are more visible with the added bonus that you can respond to texts and messages from the watch itself. You can connect wireless headphones to your phone, and only use your watch even if your phone is not nearby for things like tracking steps while jogging, listening to music, and using navigation.

Apple Watch Series 3

Fossil Gen 5 Julianna Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smartwatch for Women

GUESS Men’s Stainless Steel Android Wear Touch Screen Smartwatch

Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch

Desk and Work Set-Up

Programmers spend much of their time sitting at a desk typing away at their computers. They break up their day into timed chunks so that they don’t spend six hours deep in thought, without realizing how much time has passed.

Or being so distracted by their space that they can’t get through six minutes of development.

Help them to make sure that their work set-up is put together.

Laptop Bag

Most of the people who prefer using a laptop over a desktop feel so due to the perks of mobility. Help them with their location independence by grabbing a cool laptop bag for their working office. 

Choose something that is practical and is also the type of bag they would use. Some prefer a more sport-like appearance; others are more inclined to use more of a fashionable business briefcase. If you are unsure of what the dimensions of their laptop are, you would do better to go a size up.

11.6 Inch Laptop Shoulder Bag Backpack Briefcase

Protective Briefcase Laptop Shoulder Bag 17.3 Inch

I Love Unicode Programmer Adult Backpack

LOKASS Slim Lightweight Laptop Bag

Time Management Tools

As programmers are met with deadlines and a consistent stream of assignments, managing their time properly is a priority. Consider getting them a timer that allows them to track their activities, in addition to serving as a reminder to be productive.

60 Minute Visual Timer

iNepo Smart Timer with Gyroscope Sensor Chip

The Miracle TimeCube Timer

Lighting Solutions

As developers need to have a controlled work environment, many of them also like to have better control of their lighting. Here are some customizable options with timers and light density, and opacity specter. They can be used anywhere they may need them!

Miroco LED Bright White Therapy Light with Timer

Miroco Light Therapy Lamp

Sakobs LED Therapy Box with 3 Adjustable Brightness Levels

Coffee Maker to Go With Their Programming Mug

As we mentioned, programmers love their coffee! So maybe grab them a good espresso machine. They can use it at home or in the office, and it can bring them a little happiness when they use it daily.

DeLonghi ECO310BK 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Machine

​EspressoWorks 7 Pc All-In-One Espresso Machine & Cappuccino Maker

Keurig K-Cafe Coffee Maker

Under-the-Desk Mini Fridge 

Sure, some developers love coffee. But for those who prefer Coke, energy drinks, or any other types of soft drinks, chances are they have thought about the convenience of having a fridge nearby. 

You can grab them a small under-the-desk refrigerator—some are even built into a drawer, so it blends with the desk environment. Stock it up with their favorite choice of drinks, and they will think about you whenever they take a sip!

Amana AMAR27S1E 2.7 cubic foot Chiller Refrigerator

Cooluli Concord 20-liter Compact Cooler/Warmer Mini Fridge/Wine Cooler with Digital Thermostat

Galanz 2.7 cubic foot compact dorm refrigerator

Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Earbuds

There can be a lot of noise at work. That is perfectly understandable when it comes to working in an office environment. But having the option to tune out the noise and focus on your own work is great. Consider giving your friend the gift of isolation and productivity through noise-cancelling headphones such as these.

COWIN E7 PRO [Upgraded] Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

Skullcandy Crusher Foldable Noise Isolating Over-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Immersive Headphone

Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Over-Ear Headphone

Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM3

TOZO T6 True Wireless Earbuds

Mechanized Elevatable Desk

Developers spend an insane amount of time at their desk, which can be detrimental to their health. Consider choosing a mechanized elevatable desk. This type of office furniture can be set to any specific height in a range from a sitting person of below the average height, to fully standing, taller than the average person.

It’s comfort at the press of a button. A standing desk can help with the health risks of a sedentary life, along with raising productivity and adding a sense of feeling refreshed while working.

​SHW Electric Height Adjustable Computer Desk

ApexDesk Vortex Series 60″ 2-Button Electric Height Adjustable Sit to Stand Desk

Virtual Reality Set-up

OK, so a VR set-up might not be a work set-up for most programmers. But it’s important for them to understand the software, right?!

Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream, Standalone VR Headset

Oculus Rift S PC-Powered VR Gaming Headset

The Gift of Learning

As you know, here at Simple Programmer, we are big on self-improvement and advancing your knowledge and experience. What could be better than unlimited access to online courses on any topic they may be interested in?

Yearly Gift Certificate for a Learning Platform

Luckily, you have the option to buy a yearly membership at a preferential cost to such platforms, and you can even find discount codes that help you stay in budget. There are many such platforms, but you can start by taking a look Udemy and Skillshare. Look into the courses that each platform offers, and consider picking the one that seems to be the best fit for the person who will be using it.

Udemy

SkillShare

The Sentimental Gesture

Budget: Up to $50

If you are shopping for a colleague, someone you like but are not too close with, or simply enjoy giving small but sentimental gifts that bring happiness on an emotional level, this is the list for you!

​Floppy Disk Coasters

We’ve given you a lot of suggestions to get coffee, tea, and soft drinks for the programmers in your life. Now make sure they aren’t leaving mug rings on important documents. 

​The Unemployed Philosophers Guild Ada Lovelace Secular Saint Candle

We all have heroes and figures in history that we revere, so why not let them say a little prayer to one of the (secular) Patron Saints of Programming? 

​Recycled Circuit Board Copper Necklace

Programmers know the beauty that lies within tech, so give them a chance to show that off with this crafted piece of jewelry

Ravensburger Minecraft: Builders & Biomes Strategy Board Game

A game that’s based on building and breaking civilizations, block by block, is something that programmers identify with. Take it analog with this physical version of the video game. 

Disney Plus

It’s the hottest streaming service of the season, with the entire Disney library as well as Marvel and Star Wars. Plus, we have two words for you: Baby Yoda.

GLOUE Wireless Charger

It’s likely that your programmer has at least 42 cables and charging needs, and it is a pain to manage that snarl of cords. With this wireless charger, they can charge a number of their devices on contact. 

Not Too Big, Not Too Small

Budget: $50 to $150

Computer Patent Collection Art

There are lots of motivational posters and various prints that someone can hang on a wall, but with this intricate piece of art, they can stare at the history of something vitally important to them; personally and professionally.

Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set, Coding Robot for Kids

What kid doesn’t love looking up to their parents, hoping one day they might turn out to be just like them? Give someone the gift of sharing their love for programming with a special little one in their lives. 

GoCube The Connected, Smart Rubik’s Puzzle Cube

One of the most popular tech gifts on guides across the internet, this takes the ‘80s toy craze to a whole new level. 

Nintendo NES

Speaking of throwbacks and nostalgia, the programmer in your life will melt down when they get their hands on one of the original gaming systems they might have learned it all on. 

Spärkel Beverage System  

Yes! We’re including something that isn’t caffeinated. If your programmer needs to kick their sugary-drink habit, but still likes the fizzy pop of bubbles, this will get their water everything they are looking for. 

Tile Essentials (2020)

They’ll never lose an important item like their keys or wallet with this pack of “find what you’ve lost” trackers from Tile.

The Polaroid Lab – Digital to Analog Polaroid Photo Printer

It seems like just yesterday that the technology of Polaroid photos was … well … so yesterday. But they are making a comeback, especially when you can get your digital photos directly into your hot little hands.

Breo iSee4 Electric Portable Eye Massager

Eye strain is a real thing, and staring at a screen for long hours can do a number on a programmer. Help them avoid the migraines and blurred vision by getting them something to relax the day away.

Kasa Smart WiFi Power Strip

A smart house has many benefits—plus it’s just fun to set up and play around with. But if you don’t have a ton of money to invest in smart devices, it almost seems like it isn’t worth it. This helps to get things going, whether they are wired or not.

The Big Present

Budget: Over $150

Syfer – Unlimited Smart VPN Router

With the tracking and privacy issues that pervade online work these days, coders often have to lay a path of virtual and private networks. This sets a permanent mask on their network connection, one step in the process.

PEGASI 2 – Smart Light Therapy Glasses

If your programmer is up into the late hours staring at a screen and disrupting their sleep cycle, they might need to get their circadian rhythm back in a groove. 

ROOT rt1 iRobot Coding Robot 

Going again with “next level,” this could be a fun project for parents and kids. Or for the programmer with the heart of a kid who has always wanted their own robot. 

Frankensbox fx-800 3D Printer

What’s more fun than designing cool new things in software? Printing them out to see what they really look like. 

Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-up Light Therapy Lamp

There’s a belief that waking up with the sun and getting to work early allows thought workers to get their best work done. Whether your programmer has a west-facing bedroom or lives in the basement, now you can bring the rays to them. 

Pay It Forward

Budget: Whatever you want to donate

Not every programmer wants more things. While cool new gadgets and tech to optimize their workflows are always appreciated, sometimes knowing that they have helped someone else is the gift they want the most this holiday season.

Giving a donation in their name allows them to bring another programmer into the ranks, the same way that someone else might have brought them in.

Practical Action

CTRL+SHIFT <Code School>

The Best Gift Is Personal

When you are considering what to get your friend, partner, or colleague, there are a lot of factors to take into account. Of course, the budget is a common one. 

But it really is not about how much you spend on a gift. 

Make the choice based on how well you know the person. A lot of the time, they will be more impressed with a gesture that shows them you have paid attention to what is important to them.

<

p dir=”ltr”>I hope you found this helpful and that the special programmer in your life is happy with our picks!Want to see some of our previous recommendations? Check out the Simple Programmer Gift Guide for Developers from: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 & 2014.

The post 2019 Simple Programmer Holiday Gift Guide for Developers appeared first on Simple Programmer.

\n\nIn true Simple Programmer tradition, I’ve put together this year’s Christmas List for software developers, programmers, and tech junkies.\n\nProgrammers are picky people and, if your spouse/SO/family member is one, you might be finding it a huge pain in the neck shopping for them this Christmas.\n\nOr maybe you’re a programmer yourself, and you’re tired of receiving yet another loud Christmas sweater from a well-meaning, if misguided, relative.\n\nIf so, you can not-so-subtly share this Christmas List. It contains my top picks for tech items this year – products anyone in the technology field will appreciate.\n\nYou can check out past editions of the annual list here:\n\nSoftware Developer Christmas List 2013\n Software Developer Christmas List 2014\n Software Developer Christmas List 2015\n\nIf reading isn’t your thing, you can watch a video I made on it here:\n\n

NES Classic Edition

\n\nThis is my childhood right here.\n\nAnyone in their 30s is going to be totally psyched about this. It comes pre-loaded with 30 games that you can plug in and play.\n\nAnd for a nostalgic punch in the gut, it comes with an old-school Nintendo controller.\n\n\n\nThe emulation is great, it feels like playing the original version. No ROM’s or switch out cartridges.\n\nPretty cool gift to get. If anything, it’s for the feels.\n\n

Razor Blade Pro

\n\nI’m currently using a Surface Book, but my main gripe with it is that it can’t play games.\n\nNow, if I did play games, I’d be salivating over this baby.\n\n\n\n32 gigs of RAM. 4K touchscreen display.\n\nIt has one of the highest-end video cards, so you can run most games in ultra.\n\nIt’s a bit on the heavier end, and the price tag is a downer ($3,000), but I’m seriously considering ditching my Surface Book for this mean machine.\n\n

Samsung 960 Pro

\n\nWhenever I see a super-fast SSD drive, I feel a deep urge to switch to a PC again. This one is basically a commercial-grade drive with a consumer-grade price.\n\nThis SSD drive is in one of those M2 formats, somewhat like a chip. It comes in either 1TB or 2TB.\n\n\n\nOne problem though – the 960 Pro isn’t coming out till January. You could pre-order it or get the 950 Pro now instead, but I’m more stoked for the 960.\n\nThe speed on this thing is insane.\n\n

Raspberry PI 3

\n\nI’ve talked about the Raspberry PI in previous editions of the list. This is the updated Raspberry PI, and it’s pretty awesome.\n\nWay more powerful. Way more features.\n\n\n\nThis is great for hobbies. If you’re trying to nudge your children into programming or just want to create some cool projects, you can do a lot of cool things with this.\n\n

Oculus Rift

\n\nYou can only get the developer edition for now, so it’s not really suitable for the casual user.\n\nBut if you want to play around with Virtual Reality, this is a fresh new toy.\n\n\n\nNot a bad choice for a programmer who wants to tinker around. I might even take a shot at producing some VR programming for this thing.\n\n

LG 34UC88-B 34-Inch 21:9 Curved UltraWide QHD IPS Monitor

\n\nI actually did a review on this. You can check it out here.\n\nThis is basically an ultra-wide monitor that’s curved. It looks amazing.\n\n\n\nThe price is a setback, but I don’t mind. The monitor is top-notch. Pretty happy I bought it.\n\n

Garmin Forerunner 235

\n\nThis sucker is on my wrist right now.\n\nI used to wear an Apple Watch, but I switched to this recently. I run a lot and the Apple Watch just wasn’t cutting it for me. Battery life was too short as well.\n\n\n\nNow, the Garmin Forerunner 235 doesn’t do everything I’d like it to, but the battery life is like 9 days and it gives a ton of geeky statistics about your run.\n\nIt also tracks your sleep patterns, which is cool. The Apple Watch technically does this as well…but you’re probably going to be charging it while you sleep since the sucker lasts for barely a day.\n\nYou can also install apps on the Garmin Forerunner. Not Apple-ish apps, but it’s something.\n\n

Apple Watch II

\n\nAdmittedly, I’m not getting this – I’m pretty satisfied with my Garmin Forerunner, since I run a lot.\n\nWith that said, this comes with an inbuilt GPS, which is cool. It’s generally faster and better, though not quite there yet.\n\n\n\nStill a good gift, and some people will get a lot out of this.\n\nSometimes I still miss my old Apple Watch…\n\n

Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt

\n\nI’ve been experimenting a bit with home automation and found this pretty interesting.\n\nIf you’re seriously considering getting this, check out my video review on it here.\n\n\n\nEssentially, it gives you keyless entry to your house. You either punch in a few numbers or use your smartphone to unlock it.\n\nQuite a convenient upgrade.\n\n

Ring Wi-Fi Enabled Video Doorbell

\n\nAgain, I did a video review on this, so you can check it out in detail here.\n\nYou can answer your doorbell from your phone and you get a second camera monitoring your front door.\n\n\n\nIt’s been super useful. You can talk to people when they drop off packages, one of those cool features that actually ends up being useful.\n\nI dropped $200 on this thing. Totally worth it: one of the best purchases I made this year.\n\n

AusKit Twist Tie

\n\nI have quite a few of these. It’s an easy way to tie those pesky cords together.\n\nDefinitely beats using a Velcro strap or just bunching cords together.\n\n\n\nMost of the things on this list are pretty expensive and tech-heavy, but if you’re looking for a simple gift, this will definitely be within your budget.\n\n

Akker 40W 4-Port USB Wall Charger Power Part 4

\n\nI picked this one specifically because it’s nice and compact for travel, but also because it has four ports.\n\n\n\nIt charges up to 2.1 amps (i.e. the max charge).\n\nIt also has this ‘IQ smart charging’ thing which comes in handy. Just flip this out, plug it in and it charges.\n\n

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Mirrorless Digital Camera

\n\nI bought this for my wife and she really likes it so far.\n\n\n\nI shoot my YouTube videos with a Cannon T5I, but when I go traveling, this is way more handy. It’s a superbly compact yet high-quality camera.\n\nIt comes with wireless sync and a bunch of other cool features too.\n\n

AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm

\n\nI’m using this right now. Not too expensive, but very flexible.\n\n\n\nYou can turn it in all directions and it frees up a bit of desktop space.\n\nMonitor stands usually take up surface real estate, and they aren’t widely adjustable, but this works way better than I expected. Great if you’re doing the whole standing-sitting desk thing as well.\n\n

MYOHO 3.3 feet / 1 m Universal 2-in-1 Charge & Sync Cable

\n\nA pretty functional tool. It has Micro USB and Lightning combined, which is very convenient.\n\n\n\nI had something like this on last year’s list, but these ones are way more durable. They don’t break.\n\nI have six of these buggers.\n\n

Lizone® Extra Pro 26000mAh External Battery Charger

\n\nThis one charges your laptop, phone, batteries…it’s basically an external battery pack.\n\n\n\nThey have a 40,000mAh version, but I opted for the 26,00mAh one instead. A number of airlines restrict the use of the 40,000mAh version, so I’d go for this instead.\n\nHaving this around is great for my peace of mind. No need to worry about dead phones when I’m out on a long haul.\n\n

3Doodler 3D Printing Pen Pack

\n\nI swear, both this, the Oculus Rift and the NES are tugging away at my inner child.\n\nThe 3Doodler is a pen for 3-dimensions. It works sort of like 3D printing, except you’re drawing in 3D.\n\n\n\nQuite a creative tool. It’d be fun to play around with it, and once you’re bored, at least it’s still a novelty item to show off to friends.\n\n

PancakeBot PNKB01BK 3D Food Printer

\n\nThis is not a joke. PancakeBot. It exists. You can buy it.\n\n\n\nThe way it works is that you give it an image, say of a cat, and it’ll draw it for you with pancake batter. Sort of like pancake art.\n\nIt’s quite a unique idea. A bit on the pricey end of things, but seems like a fun thing to own.\n\n

Kano Computer Kit

\n\nI’m planning to get this for my daughter. It’s a put-together-your-own-computer kit.\n\nI think it’s great to get kids into programming, and this seems like a fun way to get them acquainted.\n\n\n\nIt has some programming assignments and basic tasks for them to do. The kids build their own computer, and then it’s theirs.\n\nA cool and useful tool, I’m keen on seeing how my daughter finds it.\n\n

Autonomous SmartDesk 2

\n\nI use this. You can raise and lower the desk according to how you want to work.\n\nIt’s really cheap for an adjustable standing desk. I tend to use it in stand mode the whole time.\n\n\n\nI’d say this is one of my better investments, as I get to burn extra calories and I have more energy.\n\nOne small downside is that you have to put this together yourself, but it doesn’t take too long.\n\n

TechMatte MagGrip Air Vent Magnetic Universal Car Mount

\n\nThis gadget is freaking awesome.\n\nIt’s a little magnetic car mount. Now, I know you’re getting all skeptical – this thing? How can this be described as ‘freaking awesome’?\n\nYou’d be surprised just how convenient this is.\n\n\n\nIt has a powerful magnet that you put on your dashboard with a suction cup. Then you have some strong magnets you put at the back of your phone case.\n\nSay you’re driving and using your GPS, you just stick your phone there. Simple.\n\nIt’s a small thing but it makes life infinitely more convenient.\n\n

How about a gift from Simple Programmer?

\n\nFinally, you can check out a few Simple Programmer products.\n\nThere’s 10 Steps to Learn Anything, which anyone in the technology field will find very useful.\n\nThen there’s the classic How to Market Yourself as a Software Developer, which many have used to brand themselves as developers and command a higher pay.\n\nSoft Skills: The Software Developer’s Life Manual is a comprehensive guide for all the software developers out there.\n\nIf you know someone who’s thinking of getting into blogging, you can get them 10 Ways to Make Money From Your Blog. And no, advertising isn’t the only way.\n\nLast but not least, I’ve put together a course on Real Estate Investing for Software Developers.\n\nHappy holidays!\n\nLooking for more gift ideas?\n\nJust a reminder, if you still need more ideas, you can check out past editions of the annual list here:\n\nSoftware Developer Christmas List 2013\nSoftware Developer Christmas List 2014\nSoftware Developer Christmas List 2015

The post The Software Developer (And Other Tech Geeks) Christmas Gift List 2016 appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Why It’s Great

\n\n

Alarm Clock

\n\nYou won’t miss a deadline or a wake up call when you wear this thing. Whether you choose to use the stock alarm clock (which is pretty basic and boring) or an alarm clock app, you’re going to notice it when the thing starts going off.\n\nThe haptic motor in this thing is one of the strongest ones I’ve ever encountered. It vibrates really intensely. In fact, if I’m not wearing it—during a charge or in the shower—it vibrates so hard that even though it’s not an audible alert, I can still hear it from the sheer force of the vibrations against whatever surface it happens to be sitting on.\n\n

Speaking of Showers

\n\nFor the first couple of months, I had the stock leather strap that came with the watch attached to it. If you do decide to buy one of these things, I strongly encourage you go the route of a stainless steel band. After about a month of using the watch every day and sweating normally (I’m hardly a fitness buff), the stock leather strap started getting a really funky smell. The steel one smells like… stainless steel.\n\nI couldn’t set it on a ledge that had water exposure while showering with the stock strap, either. Now that I have the steel one, the watch can notify me if I’m getting a phone call, text, Skype notification, etc. while in the shower. Now, I can’t answer the phone while I’m showering. That’s weird. But at least it lets me know if I have an important something to circle back on after I’m done.\n\nAlso, I tend to get distracted by thinking about life, faith, and any other number of subjects in the shower. Having a small clock staring at me, reminding me I’ve been in there for 30+ minutes, is a helpful reminder to conserve a bit of water. :-)\n\n

Battery Life

\n\nDepending on the configuration that you pick for the watch, you can really pull off 5-7 days between charging without any problem. Some of the more intensive apps and watchfaces drain the battery faster. And if you get notifications frequently, the vibration motor tends to drain the watch battery quickly.\n\nRegardless of how fast you drain it, charging it takes very little time. Usually, I plug it in for 30 minutes or less and I get a green light (it’s orange before it’s fully charged). Granted, I don’t let it get to empty before I plug it in, so that’s something to consider, too.\n\n

Notifications

\n\nThis is really the biggest selling point for this watch. The notifications mechanism is easily customizable, and it’s also easy to tell the watch what time of day is your quiet time. That way, you can get instantly notified of the most important stuff and leave the rest of it for “when you get to it.”\n\nFor example: text messages and phone calls show up on my watch. Facebook posts and blog comments do not. Email does—but only email that I consider more important.\n\nThe nice thing is, Pebble is cross platform. I’ve got it hooked up to an Android device, but I imagine that the notifications configuration is just as flexible when hooked up to an iOS device.\n\n

Price

\n\nI found a special going on when I bought mine, so I only paid $119 for it. But even at the price point of $150, this watch really does have the value sticker on it. While some parts of it definitely fall into the “you get what you pay for” category, overall it’s a really sleek piece of hardware that I’m happy to wear for all occasions. In addition, you can use it with iPhone or Android, which is a perk.\n\n

Hardware Interface

\n\nUnlike many smartwatches, this thing doesn’t have a touch screen. But that doesn’t leave me feeling like I can’t use it successfully. The four buttons are easy to understand and handle all of the tasks that I want to accomplish with the watch. And they definitely don’t detract from the overall look of the watch itself.\n\nOne thing to keep in mind with the steel edition (more specifically the watchband): it’s brushed stainless, which means it does get scratched up a little bit too easily. This isn’t a huge detractor for me, because the places where the scratches are don’t really show up all that much. Plus, the body of the watch itself stays scratch-free, even though I’m pretty abusive to it.\n\n

In the Category of “Take It or Leave It”

\n\n

App Selection

\n\nThere’s two apps on here that I really appreciate:\n\n

\n
1. PlexFit\n
   \n
   • This is a very customizable pedometer and activity tracker with a great tie-in to Google Fit. And it does an admirable job of sleep tracking for me, too.

   \n

   • It is possible to leave the phone behind and go for a walk/jog/etc. But this also means leaving behind music and books to read that are on the phone.

   \n

   \n

\n

2. NavMe\n
   \n
   • If you’re on the road or your bike, wrist-based navigation instructions can help substantially. It works quite nicely if you’re a regular traveler.

   \n

   \n

\n

\n\nOtherwise, the utility of the apps themselves isn’t all that great. Here’s a good list of app choices you can make, but honestly, I don’t find much benefit for most of them.\n\nI use the stock music remote to skip songs on my phone. But my phone has to be with me to be able to listen to music or really do anything at all. The only thing it can do without the phone is anything accelerometer related or date/time related. My phone is almost always in bluetooth range anyway—but that might be a drawback for some.\n\n

Watch Faces

\n\nThere’s plenty of people having fun making up new watch faces for the watch. I found one that fits my personality and needs pretty well (keep in mind, this link shows it on Pebble Time. Mine doesn’t have a color screen). For me, watch faces aren’t a big negative. However, if you’re into tinkering, you’ll have to learn some C (yes, actual archaic C) to make a fully custom watch face, which might be a point in the “negative” column for some people.\n\nWith that said, you can pull off MOST of what you’d want in a custom watch face using this handy tool.\n\nAgain, I can’t speak for Apple, but Android also has this app for it called Canvas. It’s not super flexible, but for the creative types out there, you could probably come up with something halfway cool looking.\n\nThe main issue I think most people would have with the watch faces themselves is the resolution of the screen. It’s great for notifications, time, and general easy to read stuff. But at 144 x 168 pixels, you’re not going to get smooth angles and clean lines. It’s not a big deal for me, because I use it to read a quick notification and go back to the watch face. But it does make some of the more complex watch faces less pretty to look at.\n\n

Watch Bands

\n\nSwitching from the leather to the stainless steel band took roughly 15 minutes. Not all together a big time drain, but probably not something that you’d want to do if you were wanting a watch that you can switch bands out on quickly.\n\nNot only that, but the selection of available bands seems somewhat limited. Granted, I didn’t spend a super long time looking for a different watch band; I found one that I liked, so I didn’t have to. But if you’re not keen on stock-leather or Pebble-approved stainless steel, you might have a bit of hunting to do.\n\n

Some Obvious (but Livable) Gaps

\n\nBecause my smartwatch isn’t Pebble’s newest one, the Pebble Time, there’s a few things it doesn’t do that if you’re looking for these functions, I’d choose a different smartwatch.\n\n

\n
1. Heart Rate Tracking\n
   \n
   • I’m not sure if I’d even use this if I had it. Probably? But I can’t say for sure.

   \n

   \n

\n

2. Voice Commands\n
   \n
   • I can’t talk to Siri or Google or Cortana on my watch. I really don’t care.

   \n

   \n

\n

3. Limited App Selection on Watch\n
   \n
   • The Pebble Time isn’t limited by this, but on the Pebble/Pebble Steel, you only get to pick eight app slots on your watch. In other words, between apps and non-stock watch faces, you only get to install eight things. Honestly, I haven’t found eight things I really use frequently to care. But some people find this prohibitive.

   \n

   \n

\n

\n\n

One Significant Drawback

\n\nPerhaps the fates have a sense of irony. Just as I started writing up this article to review my watch, something oddly strange happened. The best way I can think of to describe it is the way you’d see static on an old analogue TV.\n\nUpon scouring the support forums for Pebble, I found out that the Pebble community has a phrase for this – it’s called “Screen Tearing.” Apparently the vibration motor, combined with heat generated during the charging process, can cause the connecting band between the main control chip and the screen to become separated.\n\nThere’s workarounds that can fix the issue if you’re willing to void your warranty, but my warranty isn’t even 25% expired yet. So, I contacted Pebble Support, and they are currently working on an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) for a replacement.\n\nSo far, the process hasn’t been speedy, but I think it’ll be well worth it to replace the hardware for “free”.\n\nKeep this in mind if you decide to go the route of Pebble. This has happened often enough that there’s a Pebble Support topic about it. So, hopefully they’ve fixed the manufacturing process to stop this from happening. But if it hasn’t improved, be ready to deal with their support team if it happens to yours, too.\n\n

The Bottom Line

\n\nThere are some feature limitations to the Pebble (the Pebble Time probably makes up for some of them). And, the manufacturing process seems to need some tweaking.\n\nIf you’re really looking for a feature rich, highly integrated smartwatch, I’d spend a bit more money and get something that’s more integrated either into Android wear or the Apple ecosystem.\n\nHowever, if you’re wanting a smartwatch at a really good price point, you really can’t go wrong with a Pebble Steel.\n\n

\n
• It’s got lots of decent customizations available already.

\n

• It’s got some fun utilities.

\n

• The battery lasts a really long time.

\n

• You’ll never miss an important call, text, email, or other message ever again. And your alarm clock will be capable of waking up a corpse.

\n

\n\nOverall, I give it a five star rating on Amazon, just because I love what it can do, and because my expectations weren’t over the moon to begin with. That, and the price is right for a good-looking piece of hardware that carries some better than average software on top of it. I’m proud to wear mine constantly, and I doubt anyone else buying one of these feels differently than I do.

The post Pebble Steel Review: 4 Months of a Vibrating Arm appeared first on Simple Programmer.

\n\nIt’s that time of year again when I create a new Christmas list for all those programmers and software developers out there who need some help deciding what they want to ask Santa for.\n\nIt’s notoriously difficult to buy software developer or programmer gifts, since most girlfriends, spouses, significant others and family members in general have no idea what a good programmer gift is.\n\nThat’s why I put together this list every year.\n\nYou can either buy some of these gifts for yourself or share it with that special someone who keeps buying you outdated technology–although they mean well.\n\nSo, without further delay, here are my software developer gifts, programmer gifts, software engineer gifts… coder gifts… whatever you’d like to call them for 2015.\n\nI tried to include only new stuff this year or at least updated versions of anything I included last year, but many of the gifts from last year are still relevant.\n\nYou can check out last year’s gift list here.\n\n

Samsung 950 PRO SSD

\n\nI’m starting off with a doozy.\n\nI’ve gone all laptop now and no longer have a desktop computer, but this SSD drive is tempting me to build a PC, just so I can put one of these bad boys in it.\n\nLast year I recommended the Samsung 850 Pro, because it was so ridiculously fast at about 500 MB/s, but this things screams at an astounding 2,500 MB/s read and 1,500 MB/s write.\n\nI can’t even believe how insanely fast that is.\n\nPlus, the price is entirely reasonable.\n\nThere is a:\n\n

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• 512 GB version (I recommend this one)

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• 256 GB version (still really good)

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\n\nThere really isn’t a better upgrade for your PC.\n\nOh and if you don’t have the M.2 capability on your motherboard, here is an adapter.\n\nI’m so sad I can’t buy this.\n\n

Microsoft Surface Book

\n\nIf you know my history, you know that I’ve bought and returned just about every Surface product that Microsoft has made.\n\nI’ve been looking for the perfect 2 in 1 to act as both a tablet and a laptop and be powerful enough to do everything I want to do.\n\nI’m happy to say Microsoft has finally done it.\n\n\nI absolutely love the Surface Book. I think this makes an excellent programmer gift–although it can be quite expensive.\n\nI’m not going to do a full review here, but I’m typing this article on one myself.\n\nI’d recommend going with the i7-6600U 16G 512G NVIDIA GeForce GPU version. That’s the one I’m using right now.\n\nIt’s a bit expensive, but I think it’s worth it for the upgrade.\n\nI don’t think it’s worth the price to go up to the 1TB drive, since there is pretty big price jump there.\n\nAnyway, the thing rocks. It has a really good keyboard, ridiculous resolution screen (3000×2000), detachable screen (which acts as a tablet), incredible battery life, touch screen, included pen and it’s a pretty small and light device on top of all that.\n\nOh, and you can also play games on the upgraded versions.\n\nI’m playing Fallout 4 without any problems.\n\n

Surface Dock

\n\nIf you have a Surface or a Surface Book or you are shopping for someone who does, this upgrade seems like a no-brainer to me.\n\nBeing able to easily hook up to an external keyboard, mouse, monitor and gigabit Ethernet, really makes things easy.\n\nI really like how there is just one cable to connect for power and the other features of the dock.\n\nIn order for a Surface or Surface Book to be a full desktop replacement, I consider this a necessity.\n\n

Acer Chromebook

\n\n\nThis might seem like a strange choice, but hear me out.\n\nWith the price of this particular model under $100, last I checked, and many similar models around that price, it makes sense to have a small, portable laptop that you can use to surf the internet.\n\nMany programmers have remote workspaces in the cloud and can do most of their development from a web browser. So, in my opinion a Chromebook can be an excellent–and cheap–programmer gift.\n\n

Raspberry Pi

\n\nRaspberry Pi has been around for a while, but it seems like it just keeps getting awesomer and awesomer.\n\nIt is an entire mini-computer for a ridiculously cheap price and you can get an awesome bundle, like this one, which adds all kinds of cool stuff to play with.\n\nGreat for tinkering around with a teaching programming to kids or making your own little programmatic or IoT devices.\n\n

The Arduino Starter Kit (Official Kit from Arduino with 170-page Arduino Projects Book)

\n\n\nI’ve been a big fan of Arduino, but when I got mine, I didn’t know what to do with it.\n\nSo, I wasn’t going to put it on this list until I saw this starter kit.\n\nHaving a nice kit bundled with a book full of projects turns this device from something I feel like I should be doing something with to something I am doing something with.\n\n

Logitech G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

\n\n\nEvery programmer needs a good keyboard.\n\nI like mechanical keyboard, because they feel so good when you type on them.\n\nLogitech is one of the best companies for peripheral devices, so to me, this keyboard is a great buy.\n\nIn addition to being a fantastic mechanical keyboard, it also has a bunch of really cool gaming features, so I’m totally sold on it.\n\n

Intel Boxed Compute Stick with Windows 10 Pre-Loaded

\n\nHow awesome is this?\n\nAn entire computer, complete with Windows 10, on a stick. You just plug this thing into a TV or monitor and you have a computer.\n\nOh, and for just over $100. Wow.\n\nLot’s of cool stuff you can do with this.\n\nA top pick for a software developer gift in my opinion.\n\n

HICTOP Prusa I3 3D Desktop Printer

\n\n3D printers didn’t make it on my list the last two years, because the technology just wasn’t that good and they were just too expensive.\n\nBut, finally with many printers under the $500 mark, I think they can make good programmer gifts.\n\n

Acer Curved 34-inch UltraWide QHD (3440 x 1440)

\n\nI’ve been using a Seiki 39” 4k display for quite a while. In fact, at one point I had two of them hooked up to my PC, but I’m starting to think that a curved UltraWide display may be the ultimate monitor choice for a programmer.\n\nThe 4k displays are great, but it seems like I never end up fully utilizing the space and sometimes find myself rolling my chair over to see one side of the display.\n\nI haven’t picked up an UltraWide for myself yet, because I’m going to be doing a bit of traveling, but once I get back, I’m going to be ordering a Acer Curved 34-inch UltraWide QHD (3440 x 1440).\n\n

Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat

\n\nThis is a bit of an unusual one, but I love this tiny, personal heater.\n\nIf I am cold in my office, I can plug this in and have my own heat without messing with the thermostat for the whole house or office.\n\nThis is just one of those extremely convenient things to have in your office-especially during the winter.\n\n

NETGEAR Nighthawk X8 – AC5300 Tri-Band Quad-Stream Wi-Fi Router

\n\nPatiently waiting for my existing router to break so I can buy this.\n\nRouters generally suck. Wireless never works as advertised. The range is never good. Finally, though, someone created a router that is actually good.\n\nJust check out the reviews on Amazon. This is the real deal.\n\n

Apple Watch (or Android Watch)

\n\n\nI’ve had my Apple Watch since it first came out and while I have some complaints and issues with it, I generally find it to be extremely useful.\n\nI can very easily get messages, time my sets at the gym, check my calendar, check my step counts and fitness goals and get all other kinds of useful notifications.\n\nI think a smartwatch, either Apple or Android is a good programmer gift for sure.\n\nYou can find my full Apple Watch review here.\n\n

Fitbit Charge HR

\n\nI’ve got a lot of opinions when it comes to fitness trackers, and I still haven’t found the perfect one yet, but the Fitbit Charge HR comes pretty close.\n\nI like this tracker, because the battery life is long enough that you can top it off each night or morning when you take a shower, and if you forget, you can last almost a full week.\n\nI also like that it tracks sleep and heart-rate automatically. Fitbit also seems to have the best user interface for the web interface and the Fitbit mobile app is pretty awesome as well.\n\n

2 in 1 Tangle Free Lightning and Micro USB Nylon Braided Charging/Sync Cables

\n\nI absolutely love these cables.\n\nSuch a simple, elegant, solution to having cables everywhere.\n\nPlus, these things are just the right length and super durable.\n\nInstead of packing a bunch of different cables, I just take these cables around with me.\n\nWorks for my iOS devices and everything else and it’s a much better design than the split cables that have two or more separate connectors.\n\n

Wonder Workshop Dash & Dot Robot Wonder Pack

\n\nMy four-year-old is learning to program–with robots.\n\nIt’s totally awesome.\n\nI am really impressed with these robots and the software that comes with them.\n\nThe iPad app you use to program the robots has progressing levels of difficult and challenges to introduce more complex programming topics and it does it in a very fun way.\n\nThis is a great programmer gift for a software developer dad or mom who is interested in teaching their kids programming and having fun doing it.\n\n

Coocheer Zero Explorer Xplorer FPV 5.8G UAV RC Quadcopter Drone

\n\nI pretty much had to include a quadcopter this year, since they have gotten so popular.\n\nI decided to go with this one, since the price isn’t ridiculous and it’s extremely highly rated.\n\nBut, pretty much any quality quadcopter would make an excellent programmer gift.\n\n

Coin 2.0

\n\n\nI’m a bit of a minimalist, so I hate carrying around a bunch of different credit and debit cards.\n\nCoin 2.0 consolidates all your cards into one card that you can use just like a normal credit or debit card.\n\nIt even works with Tap to Pay, so that is awesome.\n\n

Amazon Echo

\n\n\nAt first I was skeptical about this device, but everyone in my house loves it.\n\nIt’s very convenient to be able to set timers, play music and make shopping lists.\n\nIt also has an API that can be extended to build custom apps, so this makes a great programmer gift.\n\n

Pluralsight Subscription

\n\nEven though I’m a bit biased, since I’m a Pluralsight author, I still think a Pluralsight subscription is one of the best software developer gifts out there, simply because it is just so valuable.\n\nThere are so many courses on Pluralsight now that every developer should have a subscription. Really.\n\n

My stuff

\n\nLet’s not forget some gifts from Simple Programmer.\n\nCheck out my Products page to find my courses, books and other products—all of which make a great, and unique gift for a software developer or other technology professional.\n\nMy “Soft Skills: The Software Developer’s Manual” book has been an extremely popular software developer gift this year.\n\n

Anything I left out?

\n\nWell, that is my list for this year. I tried to post it earlier this year, so you actually have time to get some of this stuff as gifts.\n\nIf anything really good comes out that I missed, I’ll probably update this list, so check back in a week or two.\n\nAlso, do you have anything that I should definitely include on this list?\n\nAnd, if you want to be notified if I update this list or have any other holiday gift suggestions for programmers, join the Simple Programmer community and you’ll get emails with my posts and other helpful tips every week.

The post Software Developer Gifts (And Other Tech Geek Gifts) 2015 appeared first on Simple Programmer.

\n
• Software developers already buy what they want before you get a chance to buy it for them.  (I know I am guilty of doing this myself.  I’m a bit impatient to wait for a gift.)

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• Developers often are very picky about a specific keyboard or headphone or gadget, so you can’t just pick one—it has to be the right one.

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• Non-software developers and non-tech people don’t understand anything about our world, so it is hard for them to know what we like.

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\n\nI’m creating this list not only for gift givers who happen to stumble here through Google, but for you.  That’s right, to give yourself the gift that your friends and family failed to give you, because they just don’t understand you like I do. \n\nThis isn’t exactly my Christmas list, since I already have many of these items, but some of the tech type of stuff that I like myself.  (No particular order)\n\n

(While this list is still pretty relevant, you might want to check out the new list for 2015 here.)

\n\n

Turtle Beach Ear Force Z300 Wireless Amplified Stereo PC Gaming Headset

\n\nI actually just bought a pair of these headphones, and I like them quite a bit.\n\nThe audio quality is really good.  The battery life is great, and they are super comfortable.\n\n\n\nI really like the idea that this wireless headset has both Bluetooth and dual band Wi-Fi wireless.  This feature makes it very versatile, because I can use it for gaming, but I can also use it for listening to music on my phone or iPad and for Skype calls.\n\nI thought about getting a wired headset, for a bit better sound quality, but I prefer the versatility instead.  If I were going to get a wired one, I would get the\n\nAudio-Technica ATH-M50’s though.  After quite a bit of research, it appears those are the best value for your dollar in terms of wired headsets.\n\n\n\n

Netduino or Arduino

\n\nI’ve got an Arduino as well, but I haven’t really played around with it that much yet.\n\nBoth of these are basically small programmable micro-computers that you can use to build all kinds of things.  They are basically programmable circuit boards that you can attach all kinds of sensors and actuators to in order to create your own gadgets or experiment with programming machines that actually interact with the physical world.\n\nThe Arduino is programming using a C-like language and the Netduino, is programmed using C# or another .NET language.\n\nWhen I bought my Arduino, I made the mistake of buying just a barebones one, so I didn’t have many projects to get me started with.  (Although this barebones one does make a very good budget gift, since it is so cheap.)\n\nI’d really recommend for Arduino, getting a kit like this one.\n\n\n\nFor the Netduino, this kit looks pretty awesome, although a bit more expensive.\n\n\n\nThe nice thing about these gifts is that the price can be as high or low as you want.  The cheapest barebones boards are very cheap, but you can buy a kit or add on to the board with accessories to up the price if needed.  Also, great future gift possibilities.\n\n

Rosewill Mechanical Keyboard

\n\nI’m not a huge keyboard geek, but I do love typing on a mechanical keyboard.  It reminds me of the days when I first got into computers and most keyboards were mechanical.\n\nI have a Rosewill myself, and I really like it.  It just feels good typing on it.  Not sure if I type faster or better, but I have much more fun doing it.\n\nThere are a few different kinds of switches, I’d recommend reading this post to understand the differences.  (There are some nice animated GIFs, if you don’t feel like reading the whole thing as well.)\n\n\n\nIf you are really hardcore, you can go with the Das Keyboard.  I have heard great things about it as well, and I know Iris Classon just got one that she loves.\n\n\n\n

Plugable UD-3900 USB 3.0 Universal Docking Station with Dual Video Outputs

\n\nOk, this thing is awesome, but it is a bit confusing.  Let me explain what it does.\n\nBasically, you connect this to a USB 3.0 port on your PC, or, more likely, laptop and it acts like a docking station that gives you a bunch more USB ports, a couple of audio ports, wired networking (gigabit), and TWO—yes, that is right it is not a typo—TWO HDMI or DVI connections to connect two extra monitors.\n\nWhat does all this mean?\n\nIt means that you can take your laptop, connect it to this bad boy and hook up 3 external screens to it in addition to the laptop’s screen.  (One of these screens would come from your laptop’s output.)\n\nWhat do I use it for?\n\nI have a Mac and PC laptop, as well as a PC desktop.  So, I can switch between all three of them and have all three of them share the same keyboard, mouse, microphone, etc.\n\nThe price is extremely cheap for what it does as well.\n\n

\n\n

SwissGear Computer Laptop Backpack

\n\nI’ve got one of these backpacks, and I really like it.\n\nIt has lots of compartments to hold all my electronic devices and it feels like it is made very well.  Mine is also very comfortable to wear.\n\nAll of the SwissGear line is also very reasonably priced.  You can find better backpacks at higher price points, but as far as bang-for-buck, I’ve found the SwissGear backpacks to be hard to beat.\n\nHere is the most popular and highest rated one on Amazon:\n\n\n\nEven if you don’t get a SwissGear backpack, a backpack is a great developer gift, because most of us are always carrying around a laptop and several other tech gadgets.\n\n

Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband

\n\nSince I’m into fitness, you know I’m going to recommend at least one fitness related gift idea, and the one I’d recommend now would have to be the Fitbit.\n\nI’ve got a Fitbit Flex and I love it.  The thing I like most about it is that I can basically just leave it on all the time and forget about it.  It also wirelessly syncs with its app on my phone, so I don’t need to dock it or charge it to get its data wherever I am.\n\nThe battery also lasts a pretty long time, (about 4-5 days,) which makes it much less of a hassle than the old version I used to have.\n\nI haven’t tried the newer version of the Flex that has the display yet, but it is a bit more expensive.\n\nGreat way to keep track of your activity to help you develop a habit of being active.\n\n\n\n

Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Scanner

\n\nThis one is a bit more expensive, but totally worth it.  I’ve got the competitor to this product, the scanner that comes with NeatDesk, but I’ve been wanting to switch to the SnapScan, because it is wireless and can scan directly into Evernote.\n\nI’ve been scanning all my documents for several years now and it really cuts down on clutter.\n\nBest of all, since everything is in Evernote, I can find anything I need instantly, no matter where I am.\n\n\n\n

Raspberry Pi

\n\nMany people get this one confused with the Arduino and Netduino, but this is a completely different thing.  The Raspberry Pi is a super cheap computer on a chip.  Not just a processor, this thing runs a real operating system and you can use it for all kinds of things.\n\nThis is a great little toy to hack around on and create a web server or tiny gaming box (MonoGame actually runs on this thing.)\n\nAnd the price is extremely cheap for the starter version, but I’d recommend getting a kit like this one:\n\n\n\n

i.Sound Portable Power Max Rechargeable Battery with 16,000 mAh

\n\nI like this portable power charger, but there are other alternatives that are a bit lighter as well.\n\nEveryone should have some kind of portable power charger though—especially if you travel quite a bit.\n\nThis thing will really extend the life of your phone or tablet and is great in an emergency situation when you are out of power.  I used to get backup batteries for my phone, but this is a much more versatile option.\n\nThis particular charger also allows you to charge up to 5 devices and it can charge at 2.4 Amps, which will give you the fastest charge for a device like an iPad.  (Really important to know about, because not all USB chargers charge at the same rates.)\n\n\n\n

Kindle Paperwhite

\n\nIt feels strange to recommend this one, since I am always talking about how I just use the Kindle app on my iPad or phone now, but I just recently realized why the Paperwhite is so awesome after I got my wife one.\n\n\n\nA few big reasons:\n\n

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• Battery life.  Yes, I can read on my phone or iPad, but when travelling it is a pain to charge those devices over and over each and every day.  The Kindle lasts a really, really long time compared to a phone or tablet.  If you travel, and bring a Kindle, it is pretty likely that you’ll never need to charge it the whole trip—this is nice.

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• Weight.  This thing is light.  This matters when you read quite a bit, especially in bed.  My iPad Mini is pretty light, but the Kindle is still much lighter.

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• Sleep.  I recently discovered that looking at my iPad before going to bed, (which is what I do since I am reading,) actually disturbs my sleep.  Without getting into all the technical details, it basically causes you to produce less Melatonin.  Melatonin is essential to getting good sleep.  Anyway, the Kindle doesn’t have that same sleep stopping light as a brightly lit screen.

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\n\nI’m actually wanting to get one of these for myself now after seeing my wife using hers.\n\n

My stuff

\n\nLet’s not forget some gifts from Simple Programmer.\n\nCheck out my Products page to find my courses, books and other products—all of which make a great, and unique gift for a software developer or other technology professional.\n\n

Bonus! How about a gift that will help you get fit as well?

\n\nHere is a great gift idea:\n\nPrint out this article I wrote: The Complete Guide to Treadmill Desk Walking While Working and get a nice treadmill desk or standing desk set up.\n\nI’ve lost over 50 pounds using one, with little effort.\n\n

Anything I left out?

\n\nWhew, didn’t mean for this post to be that long.  I could probably keep going, but I’ll stop here.  Anything major I left out that you’d recommend?  Let me know.\n\nOh, and it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, if you click on the links in this post and buy something, something will go in my Christmas stocking—which of course I appreciate, because that helps me keep writing this blog and producing the content I produce.

The post Software Developer Gifts (And Other Tech Geek Gifts) appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Aim, is exciting to me, because it is something completely new.  I never seen a device like this before.  The Aim will actually measures your body fat percentage at certain body parts very accurately and tell you how strong or dense you muscle is (a term they call muscle quality.)

When I heard about this device, I immediately reached out to Skulpt to try and see if I could get someone to talk about it on the show, because I thought it was a perfect fit for Get Up and CODE.

Oh, also, Aim isn’t out yet, but you can get yours early at a discount price from their Indiegogo campaign here.

So, check out the podcast and let me know what you think.  I can’t wait till I get to actually try one of these.

The post Get Up And Code 32: Do You Know What Your MQ Is? appeared first on Simple Programmer.