Some companies are willing to pay developers thousands of liras but still hesitate to provide them with proper work environments or decent computers. As strange as that sounds, it’s something many developers encounter. I haven’t done a formal study on this, but I’m not the only one who’s noticed it.
Back in 2006, Jeff Atwood, one of the founders of Stack Overflow and a developer since the 1980s, published a post titled The Programmer’s Bill of Rights. He was frustrated by how poorly some companies treated their developers and decided to list the basic rights every programmer should have. I read it, and I felt both understood and satisfied. You might feel the same. Here's what he proposed:
💻 Every Developer Should Have Two Monitors
Monitor prices are always dropping. Most modern graphics cards support multiple displays. Still, many companies limit developers to just one screen. Once you get used to dual monitors, going back feels like a serious downgrade. If you want better performance, give every developer at least two screens.
⚡ Every Developer Should Have a Fast Computer
Developers often need to run multiple tools at once—IDEs, databases, local servers, virtual machines, and more. These tasks require serious RAM and storage speed. The faster the computer, the faster the developer can work. You don’t have to buy the most expensive setup, but nearly the best is usually worth the investment. Waiting for compilers or debugging to finish is just wasted time.
⌨️ Developers Deserve the Keyboard and Mouse They Prefer
The keyboard and mouse are a developer’s primary tools. If they’re not comfortable using them, their productivity will suffer. While it might not be practical for companies to supply custom peripherals to everyone, they should at least allow developers to bring or buy their own.
🪑 Every Developer Needs a Comfortable Chair
We spend at least eight hours a day sitting in these chairs. So why not make that time more comfortable and even enjoyable? Poorly designed chairs lead to physical strain. It’s true that companies hire developers for their brains, but those brains come with bodies that need proper support.
🌐 Developers Need Fast Internet
A good developer never rewrites what they can reuse. The internet is the best tool ever invented for finding existing solutions. Books are important, but fast internet is essential for fast development.
🔇 Developers Need a Quiet Workspace
Programming requires deep focus. Distractions reduce productivity. One study found that after a single interruption, it can take up to 15 minutes for someone to fully regain their concentration. If you want smooth workflows, you need to protect developers from unnecessary distractions.
✅ In Conclusion
These requests are simple, but they are far from trivial. They are essential for a healthy, productive developer experience. If your company is falling short in any of these areas, fixing them is neither hard nor expensive. So protect your rights. And remember: if your company won’t change, then maybe it’s time for you to make a change.