Listening to Music as a Software Engineer

I hear other Software Engineers saying they usually listen to music when coding, I can't. I have tried coding while listening to music and it is very difficult for me to concentrate. I am able to listen to music only if I am working on mundane coding. Like if I am setting up a new project for example, creating the project, setting up the files, the packages, tools, those repetitive tasks I am able to do while listening to music, however, when encountered with difficult tasks I need silence. If my mind is racing with coding ideas, 'what if I do this part like this, and then this other part like that', I can't be distracted by Bad Bunny singing 'chambea, jala!' I would immediately replace my coding train of thought with the lyrics of the song. But why not listen to symphony, jazz or other lyric-less music? Because I also get into instrumentals. There are parts that provoke curiosity in my head, for example like when you start humming to an instrumental, once I can predict the next part of the song my mind likes to move my body like if I was the conductor directing how the song should go. That's why silence is usually better for me to focus. However, when I do listen to music on less difficult coding tasks I usually listen to my liked songs on Spotify (yes I use Spotify, shame on me). LP, Hozier, Adele, and Reggeaton of course. Conclusion Music is more than the sounds we hear but also the emotions related to the sounds. A song can mean one thing for you and a completely different thing for another person. Your interpretation can also change when the same song is played at different times. The song starts way before you hit play. You need the right mindset to appreciate a song and all the effort the artists put into a song can go to waste just because you did not have the right mood before hitting play. It is so difficult to share a song with someone else. Music is awesome but there are times that I just need silence.

Apr 27, 2025 - 03:36

Listening to Music as a Software Engineer

I hear other Software Engineers saying they usually listen to music when coding, I can't. I have tried coding while listening to music and it is very difficult for me to concentrate. I am able to listen to music only if I am working on mundane coding. Like if I am setting up a new project for example, creating the project, setting up the files, the packages, tools, those repetitive tasks I am able to do while listening to music, however, when encountered with difficult tasks I need silence.

If my mind is racing with coding ideas, 'what if I do this part like this, and then this other part like that', I can't be distracted by Bad Bunny singing 'chambea, jala!' I would immediately replace my coding train of thought with the lyrics of the song. But why not listen to symphony, jazz or other lyric-less music? Because I also get into instrumentals. There are parts that provoke curiosity in my head, for example like when you start humming to an instrumental, once I can predict the next part of the song my mind likes to move my body like if I was the conductor directing how the song should go. That's why silence is usually better for me to focus.

However, when I do listen to music on less difficult coding tasks I usually listen to my liked songs on Spotify (yes I use Spotify, shame on me). LP, Hozier, Adele, and Reggeaton of course.

Conclusion

Music is more than the sounds we hear but also the emotions related to the sounds. A song can mean one thing for you and a completely different thing for another person. Your interpretation can also change when the same song is played at different times. The song starts way before you hit play. You need the right mindset to appreciate a song and all the effort the artists put into a song can go to waste just because you did not have the right mood before hitting play. It is so difficult to share a song with someone else. Music is awesome but there are times that I just need silence.