What Developers Want (for the Holidays)
Every year, the same question comes up: what’s the right gift for the loved ones in your life? There are gift guides for dads, moms, kids and even pets. But because they are so dear to us - here is our Adobe I/O 2016 Software Developer Gift Guide.
Something to learn: Dvorak Keyboard Covers
Did you know that the QWERTY keyboard layout was deliberately designed to slow typists down? In the early years of the typewriter, keys tended to jam for fast typists, and the QWERTY layout solved this problem at first. (It also made it possible to type the word TYPEWRITER using only keys in the first row. Cool.) Now, with computer keyboards, jammed keys isn’t an issue anymore, yet the temporary QWERTY workaround persists.
This holiday, give the gift of efficiency. The Dvorak layout reduces the amount of motion required to type, making it more efficient and a lot faster. It’s the perfect gift for people who type a lot, have no time to waste, and always looking to improve on processes. Visit KB Covers for Dvorak keyboard covers that work with all common Mac keyboards.
Something for concentration: Foreverspin spinning tops
Many programmers are familiar with the pomodoro technique: set a kitchen timer for a period of uninterrupted work, don’t allow any distractions, and get actual work done. The Foreverspin puts a new spin on the technique: instead of using a dull kitchen timer, use a gorgeous spinning top made from pure metals and alloys like titanium, black zirconium steel, or tungsten.
Something for a change of perspective: the Yoshimoto Cube
The Yoshimoto Cube is a veritable piece of art, and the right kind of desk toy that encourages fiddling when engrossed in deep thought. Through its clever folding ability, the Yoshimoto Cube can change from silver to gold, or from a cube to a star shape. Sometimes, tinkering with an object provides a change of perspective and is exactly what you need while hunting down a difficult bug.
Makezine has instructions on how to build your own Yoshimoto Cube. If you don’t have the time, patience or skills for this, you can buy one, too.
Something for peace of mind: Sublime Text license
Many developers swear by their text editor and Sublime Text is one of the most popular ones around. However, one of the most recognizable signs is the UNREGISTERED text in the menu bar. Whether your favorite developer did not know how to do it or have the time to do it, buying and gifting Sublime Text is a great way to show you care about them and the app they are spending so much time in.
Something for the best memories: Tower license
Some of the most precious things for a software developer: memories of friends, family and cats — and the revision history of their code. Photo albums are one of the best way to keep and visualize memories. For revision histories, on the other hand, Tower for Mac and Tower for Windows offer an easy to use, and great looking way to manage code, work with others, and become more productive.
GitHub Username Shirt
The place where software developers can be their true self: GitHub. With these personalized (all you need is a felt-tip pencil) GitHub Username Shirts, developers can take their true self wherever they go.
Something for a better world: Wikipedia donation
The right gift to show an appreciation for knowledge and our right to live in a world where no dinner debate has to stay unresolved due to the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow, for example…is making a donation to the Wikimedia foundation, which is running Wikipedia.
Something to read: CommitStrip book
CommitStrip is a web comic that chronicles the trials and tribulations of a small group of software developers, web designers, system administrators and project managers.
Rise of The Coders is the first English-language version of the book, and now available after a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Something to watch: Halt and Catch Fire Seasons 1–3
Probably less known than HBO’s Silicon Valley, but just as interesting & important for us tech types is AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire. Just concluding season 3, Halt and Catch Fire portrays the rise of the PC industry, online pioneers, and shows the dawn of the world wide web through the eyes of its creators, which laid the roots for the digital world of the 2010s. Full seasons are now available on Amazon, iTunes and AMC.
Happy holidays!
