pouët.net

sceners with a full-time job (especially programmers), how do you do it?

category: general [glöplog]
Don't you feel wasted then, the next day at work?
I see it as a hobby really.. with ups and downs regarding the time spend on it... this fluctuates per year, the last 20 years ;-)
The trick is, imho, to plan first, and than try to work the 'to do' list
you planned.. And never set yourself a deadline for the actual release (it can only be released when its finished) and when you have finished it, search for a party a month later so you can *really* finish it :)
Ofcourse set 'internal' deadlines for yourself to get parts done etc..
And ofcourse the communication towards your GF/Wife is important to
for not getting any quarrels :-)
added on the 2008-08-11 22:08:38 by magic magic
yeah getting started is a big part of it.

but magic, what have you coded in the past 10 years? :)
added on the 2008-08-11 22:10:41 by superplek superplek
Rob: Yes. I try not to mind.

Then again, I usually go to work after noon so...
added on the 2008-08-11 22:11:45 by visy visy
Quote:
but magic, what have you coded in the past 10 years? :)

rephrase:

but magic, what have you coded since you were born? :)
added on the 2008-08-11 22:16:04 by havoc havoc
trust me swapping, supplying, modem trading, orginzing a group, writing articles , making diskmags etc.. is really time consuming

I never coded that much, only in the 80's on the c64 ;-)


added on the 2008-08-11 22:17:00 by magic magic
p.s. and sceners (especially me) should not spend alot of time on pouet, rather spend it on other scene doings :)
added on the 2008-08-11 22:18:07 by magic magic
I've actually experimented with the following schedule:

0900-1900 (day work)
1900-2100 (leisure)
2130-0100 (sleep)
0100-0230 (democoding)
0230-0600 (sleep)
0600-0700 (leisure)
0700-0830 (democoding)

Kind of fun, hard to follow sometimes ..
added on the 2008-08-11 22:31:14 by _-_-__ _-_-__
Haha, wtf...
I am suffering from the same problem as niels_tpb. After a long day at work it is simply impossible to concentrate on coding again at home. BUT few months ago when I was working a while abroad I actually managed to do quite much demo programming on my spare time. I think it was mostly thanks to not having a good network connection at my apartment so I couldn't watch youtube, browse pouet etc. all these sites that take way too much of my free time otherwise :)
added on the 2008-08-11 22:36:52 by dairos dairos
yeah internet is kind of a productivity killer.
added on the 2008-08-11 22:48:26 by _-_-__ _-_-__
In spite of I am not a coder (rather not a hardcore one like you guys), I think my own method for music is a mix between what Smash and Knos said.
Well, music is really time-consuming especially if you also play some instruments added to the fact that I compose and "produce" things (you know, all these hours spent on finding a good balance to your songs, both technically and artistically), it could be seriously addictive because once you have an idea it has to be written down immediately and then developped.

So, I often wake up early in the morning to work on things, especially trying to find some ideas on my piano or guitar. I really enjoy that moment but it never exceeds one hour.

Whenever I have a break during the day, I just go for a coffee or something and often write lyrics on my laptop or work on sheet music analysis for the piano. The good thing is that I have a full control on my schedule and nobody on my back to watch.

I usually play the piano/guitar in the evening when back home to relax or before I go to sleep (I rarely watch TV anyway) so it sometimes brings some more ideas.

Once I have enough ideas (well, it's a constant flow but then the good and bad ideas just have to be sorted out!), I work on the music/sequencer during the week-end/vacations when I'm fresh and ready to go into the technical things like soundbank browsing, synth programming, arrangements mixing, and things that I would be really unable to do after a work day. I'm lucky enough to work quickly on those composing/technical things. Sometimes it leads me to do some experimental things that I eventually use for my songs.

So, all in all, it's 2 to 3 hours dedicated to music with 2 hours at home, sometimes nothing, sometimes a bit of mixing/technical in the evening when it's OK to do so.

Of course, staying away from TV/Internet reading saves a lot of time...(believe me, despite that LONG post :D)
added on the 2008-08-11 23:31:41 by oxb oxb
1. Work
2. Reallive
3. Scene Productivity.

Pick two...
added on the 2008-08-11 23:51:33 by torus torus
Pick two? That would be Reallive [sic] then ;)
added on the 2008-08-12 00:09:40 by Joghurt Joghurt
Good ! Your brain age is now 62.

With Pr Kawashimadok's brain exercises from Mensa, keep your mind sharp on Pouet. :)
added on the 2008-08-12 00:16:09 by TomS4wy3R TomS4wy3R
Quote:
I should be able to put a demo together much easier than before -- but it turns out to be the other way around. It's as if something is 'blocking' me now more than when I knew relatively little of the matter.


Well, this is problem is easy to spot, you aren't going to learn anything anymore (I'm sure you will learn something, but not many things like in the beginning). Just disable the network/wireless device. That's what makes me lose focus at least.

When I used to freelance after work, I used the wake-up-early trick and worker quite well. Go to sleep at 8pm and wake up at 5am, it may be weird at the beginning, but it does work. It's easier in summer here in the "north".

But really, the most important one is to disable the network/wireless device :)
added on the 2008-08-12 01:36:55 by mrdoob mrdoob
btw. if you're reading this you're most probably wasting time!
added on the 2008-08-12 02:25:24 by dodke dodke
also.... i noticed my productivity increased slightly when i switched from safari to firefox and didn't add the bookmarks toolbar :)
added on the 2008-08-12 02:29:08 by dodke dodke
yes. TPB will be pounding the scene into the future, again and again. thanks everyone for inspiring me and especially magic for reminding me that even with my current release record I can never become as big a dork as you :)

added on the 2008-08-12 03:04:34 by superplek superplek
about the internet and productivity, for me it has often worked, *especially* if i need to get something done in many short bursts or work, it sabotage my own internet. i.e. turn off the wireless, pull out the network plug (on the other end of the room, preferably), or lately what works for me is to screw the antenna off the wireless router (so that my server and stuff is still online).
added on the 2008-08-12 07:49:59 by skrebbel skrebbel
Quote:
during the pre-party planning (like 3 to 4 weeks before) we (raven and myself) gather during 2 weekends for 1 or 1.5 days, doing the design stuff and tuning some effects. all the other stuff is then done at home.


May I remind you of the endless skype sessions during the evenings of the whole process! ;)

Sometimes I thank god (oh. well. I'm an atheist, so I thank Jay Miner instead) for fitness studios. Because during the time when my girlfriend is off to fitness, I can find additional time to paint and do the texture and design stuff. :-D

Reminds me we have to skype this evening to talk about the design and needed graphics. ;)
added on the 2008-08-12 08:40:17 by Raven^NCE Raven^NCE
sure-shit-you're right.--
added on the 2008-08-12 08:43:30 by prost prost
Quote:
about the internet and productivity, for me it has often worked, *especially* if i need to get something done in many short bursts or work, it sabotage my own internet. i.e. turn off the wireless, pull out the network plug (on the other end of the room, preferably), or lately what works for me is to screw the antenna off the wireless router (so that my server and stuff is still online).


Haha, I'm happy to see that I'm not alone to do that :) But yes, that's a solution. You can also disable your network card(s) in the device manager.
added on the 2008-08-12 08:52:21 by oxb oxb
well, for me it's important that re-enabling the internet requires some physical effort, like walking somewhere.
added on the 2008-08-12 09:12:28 by skrebbel skrebbel
I don't really have any problems finding time for demoscene activity, because that is my main hobby. I guess it's like that with any hobby - be it demoscene or trout fishing - if you enjoy doing it then there is time for it.
added on the 2008-08-12 09:19:35 by gloom gloom

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