Good Coding Music, Good Studying Music, Good Thinking Music.
For those of us who spend hours at a time concentrating on designing and writing computer code, the right kind of music can improve both mood and productivity. The appeal of music which is energizing but not distracting is wider than just for programmers, however. Students, authors, lawyers, doctors, and really anyone who does desk time as part of their job can benefit from a little music to help the day go by.
Internet radio stations have the benefit of being available at any connected computer. Like over-the-air radio, the listener is freed from the task of compiling the music; the DJ does all the work. Most Internet radio stations have the added benefit of not having commercials, which most over-the-air stations do (and boy, are they distracting).
This article is my attempt to catalog some of my favorite Internet radio stations to listen to at work. I prefer high quality MP3 streams.
Good Coding Music: Less Distracting
Limbik Frequencies
Soma FM: Beat Blender
Soma FM: Secret Agent
Soma FM: Space Station
Soma FM: Cliqhop
Good Coding Music: More Distracting
KEXP.org - A Seattle non-commercial variety station.
Soma FM: Indie Pop Rocks
Soma FM: Groove Salad
SLAY Radio has some strange stuff inspired by or composed on the old Commodore 64 computer.
Free Player Software
Winamp: Download the free "Lite" version.
XMMS is a Winamp clone for Linux and other platforms.
Suggestions?
I'm always looking for new Internet radio stations. Leave comments with your suggestions.
