From Lo-Fi to Metallica, bugs to calm, and moments when only a song can save you 🎧🍵
Your speed-loving, clean-code programmer is here! 😎
One of the biggest questions we programmers always ask is: “Should we listen to music while coding or not?” Some say music boosts focus, others say it’s distracting. I have some experiences to share that might help you decide what works best for you.
Why is music important when coding? 🤔
Coding means thinking, problem-solving, focusing on details. Music can help or distract, depending on the situation and the kind of music you listen to. Sometimes silence is best, sometimes music can recharge you.
Personal experience: Tea, Metallica, and the song "Nothing Else Matters" 🍵🎸
When I’m stuck in a frustrating debugging session, No matter how hard I try, the problem won’t solve, and pressure from deadlines builds, There’s one thing I always do that helps me. I get up, pour a cup of hot tea, I don’t put on headphones because I like the soft music in the background.
I play “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica. This song brings a kind of mental calm to me, like I’m telling myself: “Nothing else matters, just relax.” All the stress, worries, and pressures fade away for a few minutes. My mind calms and my focus returns. That moment feels like my mental battery is recharged, and I can get back to my code with more energy and calmness to solve the problem. For me, this “Nothing Else Matters” moment is a way to relax my mind, reduce work pressure, and code again with good mood and high focus.
What kind of music for what kind of work? 🎶
- Simple, repetitive tasks: calm, instrumental music like Lo-Fi
- Deadline pressure and stress: energetic songs like rock or metal (like Nothing Else Matters)
- Hard, complex debugging: silence or nature sounds to help your mind focus easier
- Studying and learning: classical or calm instrumental music
Headphones or speakers? 🎧🔊
- Headphones: when the environment is noisy and you need to focus
- Speakers at low volume: at home or when you want to relax
- Silence: best for very sensitive work and debugging
How does music help focus?
Music can reduce distractions from the environment, For example, in a noisy place with proper music, you can focus better on your work. But this is completely personal, everyone has their own style and situation.
Stress, deadlines, and music, an energetic combo
When deadlines are close and workload is high, The mind is full of stress and worries, Energetic music like rock and metal can help you get energy and reduce mental pressure.
“Nothing Else Matters” is a perfect example of this kind of song.
Important note: Music is just a tool
There is no fixed rule for listening to music while coding.
Music is a personal tool you should use based on your situation and style.
Some days you want calm, some days you want energy, some days silence is needed.
Recommended playlists for coding 🎧
Spotify Playlists
- Lo-Fi Beats : calm, instrumental music for focus, perfect for repetitive tasks and light debugging
- Coding Mode : music specially curated for high-focus programming sessions
- Rock Classics : best rock songs for energy on stressful days
- Metal Essentials : for metal lovers and energy boosts during deadlines
- Peaceful Piano : calming piano tracks for deep focus and studying
YouTube Channels & Playlists
- LoFi Hip Hop Radio : Beats to Relax/Study To classic and popular playlist for focus and mental calm
- Epic Music Mixes : for energy and a heroic feel when coding
- Classical Music : for Studying and Concentration** instrumental classical music for deep focus
- Metallica Live Performances : for true rock and metal fans
- Nature Sounds & Rain Sounds : for moments when you need complete silence but want ambient sounds
Popular Apps and Websites
- Brain.fm : specialized music to increase focus and brain performance
- Noisli : ambient sounds like rain, wind, and nature for relaxation
- Focus@Will : a blend of music and psychology for high focus and productivity
My advice to programmers
- Experiment and find out which music helps you most
- Listen to instrumental music when you need deep focus
- Play energetic music when stressed
- Choose silence for sensitive tasks and hard debugging
- And sometimes, recharge your mind with a cup of tea and “Nothing Else Matters”!
Conclusion: Know yourself better
Whether it's music or silence, choose whatever helps you best, because the goal is to code with calm and high focus, and nothing is more important than that.
Code focused! With or without music, just listen to yourself!
Rock Your Code , With or Without Beats!
| Thanks for reading! 🙏🏻 I hope you found this useful ✅ Please react and follow for more 😍 Made with 💙 by Mahdi Jazini |
 
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The piece was beautifully written; I could nearly feel the heat from the tea and the calm brought by Nothing Else Matters as you described that moment. 🎸☕️
Breaking the music down according to task types strikes me as the most practical and most relatable thing ever. Yeah, music is a very personal, some would say idiosyncratic, tool, and letting it guide you along your crafting journey is part of the art. For me, Lo-Fi is a must-have as I slowly plod through big refactors. When epic deadlines are looming, I produce heroic movie soundtracks to accompany the charge. 😅
Thanks for reminding us that it's not always about running full pelt; mood, energy, and knowing what fuels us actually matter.