In the Zone: An Analysis of the Music Practices of Remote Software Developers

Background: Listening to music is a common practice among software developers. Music listening after work can help release work-related stress; while listening to music at work can improve work efficiency and make tedious work more enjoyable. The working environment of developers in the past few years has changed dramatically due to the vast adoption of remote and hybrid work policies. Aims: We aim to understand how listening to music at work affects remote developers’ perceived productivity and creativity. Method: We investigated 130 software developers and collected their music listening habits during remote work in a questionnaire. We studied the impact of listening to music on developers’ creativity and productivity while working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Our survey data suggests that developers generally feel more productive and creative when listening to music during remote working conditions. Conclusion: We found that developers who listen to music feel more productive and creative while working remotely due to reducing environment distractions.