I think that there are a few of us on here.

I need your help, I’m doing some research (for an MSc Course) into how many monitors software developers use.

If you can spare five minutes or so there is a survey here

2

@Klunk -Thanks – I’m starting to worry that I’m not going to find any single monitor users!

the last 2 places I worked (computer games) every programmer and artist used two monitors, sometimes 2 of the huge dell widescreen bad boys.

Done. Hate coding with 1 monitor!

I’ve got one big one…..used to use dual widescreen for years but prefer a large single.

Two. A while ago i was the only one with two…..now most us have two. Although am noticing the people edging away from the technical side of things seem happy with 1. Will do the survey in a bit for you.

@dudeofdoom – Thats really useful I was hoping that there where some large single monitor users out there.

Three.

Main one is a massive 27 inch 2560×1440 IPS display.

Flanked on each side by a bog standard 1280×1024 TN display.

Side ones get used for reference documents, email, VMs, output monitoring etc.

2. But with windows 10 supporting better window docking and some of big super wide monitors coming to the market, I’d happily have 1 that was as wide as 2 stuck together.

Quick question, does “How many monitors does you computer have?” mean how mean screen are you using in total? ie one on my laptop and one external = 2 ?

Either way, I use 2 in total. Built in 13″ screen for reference docs or document/website previews and a large external for actually coding on. I’d probably be happy with 1 if I was on a desktop machine and the monitor had enough real estate.

laptop screen + 1 16?in monitor when in the office.
laptop screen on its own when WFH (which is 80% of the time)

survey done

Quick question, does “How many monitors does you computer have?” mean how mean screen are you using in total? ie one on my laptop and one external = 2 ?

Exactly. I have two on development machine but tor run tests I require 5, but across a selection of machiens.

Used to use 2 back in the good old desktop/Matrox days, when resolutions were low(ish) and 2 monitors really made a big difference. Then started working from home on a laptop 10-odd years ago and was too cheap to buy a 2nd monitor. Now I’m mostly in the office, but don’t bother with 2.

All my developers use two.

@whatnobeer – Exactly right – total number of screens

@TheBrick – thanks for the insight – I hadn’t really considered people using an array of computers do you use completely separate machines, remote desktop or a KVM switch to control them?

One. Laptop user working from wherever the work is

Two, plus a small USB monitor for server logs.

So, three then.

No idea why any developer who sits at the same desk every day wouldn’t have more than one monitor.
It’s not like monitors cost much these days and it makes a massive difference to how effectively I can work.

That said I’m puzzled by people who can work all day on crappy laptop keyboards and touchpads, so maybe I’m just an ergonomics-phile:)

2, everyone in our office is on 2.

3 monitors in our place for front end developers.

Back end guys have 2.

Justification is we tend to need more programs open at same time.

got to admit when the change from 2 to 3 monitors happened it was a bit of a novelty but now couldn’t imagine working with any less. Guess its what you get used to.

One, don’t like using two monitors. I suppose they’re useful for some stuff, but generally prefer to focus on one thing at a time. Quite happy using a laptop keyboard.

@GrahamS – I agree, unless you are using one very large screen. I prefer a laptop keyboard as it very thin but I’ve been able to use a touchpad – much prefer a mouse.

@GrahamS – I agree, unless you are using one very large screen.

I am using one very large screen (27 inch 2560×1440). I’m just using two smaller screens as well 🙂

Done. Developer, one screen (laptop). I like to move around the house quite a bit so don’t use a fixed desk.

I’d struggle to get 3 27’s on my desk and tbh would never work on a laptop anymore as they are an ergonomic nightmare…but I’m getting on at 47 an been programming for 25 years(nearly got the hang of it mind you) so I’m cranky..

I’d ask if people are using iPads or tablets as they are good for email/tech docs.

One laptop 13″ monitor – suits me just fine, especially as it’s a Retina MacBook. I do have another desktop monitor I could plug in but just don’t bother.

Rachel

By the way the survey seems focussed on two monitors.

One of the questions is something like “Is your main monitor on the right or left?”, well neither via I have 3, the main monitor is central.

Likewise the options on how you arrange ide and application also implies two monitors. In fact I’ll often be running two IDEs, one application and some comms/hardware monitoring.

@GrahamS thanks for the feedback – I expected most people to have one or two monitors but I should have allowed for right/left/center

One Big monitor for coding on.
No need for 2.

Two, landscape, same size and have to be lined up as if they were one screen but for some reason I prefer this to one bigger screen. Sometimes I have to use a laptop and external screen but I don’t like the screens being different sizes. Pretty much everyone around me is the same set up.

4

3 is enough

2 big uns, one for the ide/debug, the other for google/datsheets etc.

Survey done. I use 3 and I’d use 4 if my desk were big enough! As a SQL Dev I’m often working across several different servers and more monitors allows me to easy keep each screen to one environment so mistakes are less likely and also makes work much faster.

Currently on one at work, but that’s not my choice. Have always worked with two in the past. Find myself getting muddled up otherwise. Like others, I don’t see the sense in using just one when it’s so much more productive to have two or three.

@TheBrick – thanks for the insight – I hadn’t really considered people using an array of computers do you use completely separate machines, remote desktop or a KVM switch to control them?

I have a keyboard and mouse on each machine that I mainly use but I also have synergy setup with my main machine as the server. It depends what I’m doing if I swap to the computers keyboard / mouse of just flick across using my main keyboard and mouse with synergy.

What size monitor do you use?
15″ or less
17″

15.6″ is a common laptop size I think…I went for the 15″ or less option as the closest.

@fubar thanks, I did try separate laptop sizes but it looked a mess

Two, but have used three and would like to again.

Main coding screen is the large one straight ahead, the small one to the left is where I check it works in Chrome.