Do you find podcasts help you program?

Question

I wanted to get some ideas on whether people find it helpful to listen to podcasts about technology, programming while not computing and if there is any one that listens while programming.

I heard that it can be distracting while trying to program but I wonder if listening to podcasts while not programming helps people get inspired/motivation.

How have podcasts helped your career? I know I mentioned podcasts in a job interview and they really looked at me like I was a super-nerd.

Stories welcome!

Answer 1

If you are referring to listening to a podcast at the same time as programming, then no. It would be like listening to AC/DC on an iPod while performing a piano concerto.

Answer 2

On my commute to and from work, I listen to podcasts. Yes, I love them and I learn a lot.

Answer 3

While programming, no... I can't even chat on IRC when listening to a Podcast... I don't pay attention to the podcast.

But, yes, listening to the podcasts does help me, in the fact that I'll generally find out about some interesting new technology, go look at it, and go play with it. So I'll expand my horizons.

But, improve my code directly... nah... a programmer's as good as his code... I don't think an "audio tutorial" would help much with that.

In fact, are there any podcasts out there designed to help improve your code?... be interested to listen if there are!

Answer 4

I'm not sure that they directly help me program -- certainly video casts/screencasts help with my coding a lot more, since it's a visual medium.

But technical podcasts have really opened up my career, by exposing me to new technologies early, and by letting me listen in to some great software architects discussing architectural patterns, etc.

Answer 5

There's a poll thread about tech podcasts already:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1644/what-good-technology-podcasts-are-out-there

I'm not saying this is a duplicate question. Just giving the link as reference.

Answer 6

I would say that they provide yet more information about technologies and areas that I might not otherwise come across at the 9-to-5. Case in point is the FLOSS Weekly podcast - there are a bunch of technologies that I simply don't do at work, but they've been helpful in broadening my knowledge base.

I think it is hard to really get a lot of coding help out of an audio podcast. Screen casts are useful - I watched one that was on Applescript, I think, and it was useful. Video ones probably are best suited for this.

Answer 7

The bandwidth of information from a podcast is so low compared to reading a (well written) book. Podcasts are infotainment.

Imagine how long it would take to get the whole of Code Complete as a podcast? Years.

Answer 8

I do often hear interesting or helpful information in podcasts, and I do learn from them. Often the informative material is a mention about a framework or concept that I then have to go back and research, but often it's something that I'd never heard of before.

I do listen while coding, but as often as not I end up pausing over and over again while I focus on the code. It often takes me an entire 9 hour day to get through a single episode of Stackoverflow.

Answer 9

I think it has definitely helped my career because I get exposure to topics that I might not otherwise. I listen to se-radio.net and love it. I enjoy actively listening to the podcasts and trying to reason through the questions they discuss myself to see how much I really know and how far off my intuition is from what people are doing in these fields. It also makes me feel like more of a part of a wider community. It's a lot like reading blogs but I obviously can't do that while I'm driving.

I think any employer wants a super nerd to be honest. I think the more interested in computer science you are the more any employer is going to want you to come work for them. They'd have to be insane to not want someone who cares a lot about what they do.

Answer 10

I definitely think that software related podcasts are helpful for developers of all skill levels. I think that listening to the experiences of other developers, many of which are experts in their fields, gives one an insight that is difficult to find elsewhere.

One of my favorites is Software Engineering Radio (http://www.se-radio.net/). These guys talk about very advanced topics, and have guests on that really know their fields.

Another podcast that I listen to a lot is OnSoftware (http://www.informit.com/podcasts/channel.aspx?c=dadf92ca-3bdc-484e-9cd8-cbfe0cfc0de6). These are a little shorter and more condensed than SE Radio, but nonetheless very informative.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the StackOverflow podcast (http://blog.stackoverflow.com/). Jeff and Joel always discuss interesting points.

Finally, Google has a great podcast called Google Developer Podcast (http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoogleDeveloperPodcast). Topics are mostly Google-Centric, but still very interesting.

Answer 11

I find podcasts useful in that I find it inspirational to hear other IT professionals speak enthusiastically and passionately about technology. I also learn a lot about the 'newest' technologies which are often discussed on podcasts very early.

Answer 12

The bandwidth of information from a podcast is so low compared to reading a (well written) book. Podcasts are infotainment.

There are times where podcasts/sound are useful, I find my self listen to various stuff when going to and from work. And that is approximately 80minutes per day in my case (you do the math, it's a lot of hours per year anyway), and since I'm driving I can't read a book or surf the web.

So even thou the information density in a podcast is lover than a book, it is a way to use that time more efficiently and maybe pick up something useful.

/Johan

Answer 13

I listen to podcasts, but usually not while I program because I tend to focus on the podcast too much. However, at my current job I have absolutely no privacy (I don't even have my own cubicle, I share it with 2 people), and every 5 minutes I hear conversations that have nothing to do with programming...so sometimes I listen to programming podcasts while working because if I'm going to be distracted, I might as well learn something.

Answer 14

I work for a pretty uninspiring company with not that many "geeks" and much more business types. I have found that being in this environment I lose the desire to program and also find it harder doing this outside of work for my own projects. For me, having podcats on I.T. conversations (that I listen to on my commute) keeps me motivated with programming and also helps direct the areas to learn.

Answer 15

I like to listen to geek podcasts when I am in the bath.

I tend to pick ones appropriate to the current design-dilemas that i am having.

Definitely not while working.

Trouble is - they are so hard to find.