Fenxy

I like hip hop instrumentals and deep house.

Debussy, Vangelis — smooth music. Something that doesn't demand my attention. Usually code in silence though.

Japanese pop/rock music, or any new age type of music. If I understand and lose myself in the lyrics of a song I find it much harder to concentrate.

With this said, I usually listen to Utada Hikaru, YUI, random anime intros/endings music, Ludovico Einaudi...

Usually a mix of Rick Astley and George Michael.

Death Metal! No i'm just kidding! I like something upbeat, trance works, maybe deep house, hip hop works as well. Its' all about what your coding!

Its' all about what your coding!

I definitely agree. Sometimes when I'm starting out on a stylesheet I'll listen to something really chill and laid back (instrumentals) so I can focus and get a good start. Then when I'm on a roll and start banging out code the pace of the music gets faster. It's funny but essential in my workflow.

It's progressive while I work on the project. Chillout and electronica stuff at first then once I'm in the groove a little modern rock and old school hip hop usually keeps me in the groove. Artists (to name a few): Amon Tobin, Digitalism, Simian Mobile Disco, Herbalizer, Roni Size, NIN.

NIN - specifically the instrumentals.
Blue Man Group, Massive Attack, Sigur Ros.
Deathboy has a HUGE mp3 archive available for free at his site and there's some real gems in there. Good long instrumental grooves. He's a coder as well so maybe there's a coincidence.

Instrumental, guitar, piano, or techno of some variety (usually trance)

I like some Yasunori Mitsuda too. Sometimes jRock, B'z preferrably.

Vivaldi. Zones me out and puts the outside world behind me.

Preferably silence, but if I am in the mood for some 'tunes', Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Dvorak, maybe Vivaldi - it has to be something big and inspirational. I don't do in-between very well, I find it distracting.

The few times I'm hacking out code I typically listen to hip hop or alternative rock, depending on the time of day. The neighbors get pissed when I Crank That Soulja Boy at 4am. Don't know why I'm stuck on this song, think it's the tin drums in the background.

When i am coding i like to make sure that my playlist is always completely random to keep me guessing. House to Classical, Jazz to Drum and Bass. Anything goes with me so long as i dont have to sit back and thing "this is boring me".

Wow! Quite a diverse selection there and I am quite surprised at the amount of classical in there. I have to admit to finding a classical guitar station on itunes recently that I have found to be quite good for coding to.

The kind of tracks at WA007.com, hip-hop (Nas, Guru/Gangstarr/Big L) and also Ricky Gervais' podcasts. So funny.

If there's a deadline on the horizon then drum and bass, it gets my fingers working quicker! But for more general times anything on the Ninja Tune label my current favorite is DK and DJ Food - Now listen again.

It definitely depends on my mood and what I am working on. New work requires mellow stuff to inspire while maintenance work or deadlines require something heavier.

Whatever the case, it has to be non-stop and there can't be any duds - nothing breaks a good working pattern more than a jarringly bad song.

And good headphones are a must!

SB

Anything heavy, fast, and intense (usually Scandinavian metal bands).

Anything rock, hard rock, metal. My main bands/people: Led Zeppelin, Metalica, Aerosmith and Ozzy. I also like french electronica aka the band "Danger".