The benefits of multiple monitors for developers

The topic of using multiple monitors has been discussed before in "teh internetz," but I will like to share my views on this use of technology. Research shows that having more screen real-state does increase productivity. It seems that people do work better and more efficiently when they are able to see more of what they are working on.

Generally, the easiest way to get more screen space is not to get a single "huge" monitor, but to use two, or more smaller ones. For example having a single 24'' monitor will provide less screen area than having two smaller 15'' monitors. Software developers, graphic designers, and even Office users can benefit from the multiple-monitor setup. Since programmers can benefit greatly I will do my best to list the benefits of using multiple monitors when developing software.

First, the number one reason to get multiple monitors is because it just looks cool. Secondly, and perhaps the most important reason is that multiple monitors allow you to get more work done. How? In software development it is common to debug by stepping through the code, and at the same time making sure that the line of code executed successfully. However, the output might not be in the same window as the debugger. For example, when debugging a GUI program.

Most developers I know use the "dual-monitor" setup, two monitors of equal or similar size side-by-side. With this setup a developer doesn't have to switch back and forth between the program's output and the debugger. That is precious time saved. In some cases more than two windows need to be open in each screen. For instance, to monitor register, and memory values. This again allows you to have everything in sight instead of having it all crammed in one screen. With one window blocking your view of another.

Another example is having the code editor in one screen and the documentation open in another. You can instantly lookup anything. A good example is in Visual C++ when you put the cursor in a language keyword and press the F1 key - MSDN opens. With a dual screen setup your MSDN is always open and all F1 does is instantly refresh to the correct topic. With Java you might have an IDE open in one screen and a browser with the JDK documentation in another.

So you want to use multiple monitors? The first thing to do is to check whether your computer supports more than one monitor. Most computers only have one VGA or DVI port. If your computer has a video card and it is a newer model it might come with two ports. If you are buying a second monitor I highly recommend that you try to get the same model as your current one. And if you are planning to replace your old monitor get two of the same type.

You might think that switching between program windows doesn't save that much time, but it does. And it also might be the case that because you are able to see everything at once, code and GUI, you are also able to understand what you are doing better. Thus, you get your job done faster. For modern software development I believe that having dual-monitor setup is a must. And even if you can't afford two brand new top-of-the-line LCD's you can always get a cheaper older model. The important thing is having two.