What's the best environment to develop in?

Question

What is your idea of the optimal development environment?

eg. I like to listen to music while developing, it blocks out distracting conversions and noise and allows me to get into The Zone..

Answer 1

I need people to work with and bounce ideas off of. I'm completely useless when working alone.

Answer 2

Private accoustically dampened office, Studio quality sound system, High end PC with 2+ monitors.

...pretty much the setup JP had in "Grandma's Boy".

Answer 3

My music, my fridge, my 3 monitors.

Answer 4

I like my home, with my music, on lots of caffeine and with a xxxl pizza by hand. Then I am most productive.

Answer 5

• The trick is to have a collaborative environment, working closely with your team but also having privacy. I like best to have offices, but with an "open-door" policy. Meaning, even if the door is closed, by default is to feel free to open it and go in. Offices can't be allowed to reduce collaboration, but can really increase developer focus.
• To quote Homer Simpson: "donuts . . . and the possibility of more donuts." Having readily available munchies, drinks, and convenient food (or at least make it easy to fridge/prepare food) is important. Ideally fruit and other healthy food. If doing lunch is a pain, and getting snacks is a pain, it takes developer focus off work and onto survival.
• Multiple monitors. I asked every company in my last round of interviews, "how many monitors can I have?" A few times the answer was, "we're trying to get extra monitors, but the company is trying to save money now." No way I would work there. Such a company is on it's way out.