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Beyond the Keyboard
21 Tech Giants. 21 Engineers. 1 Goal.
How top developers build their dream work setup.
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Executive Summary
50-70 hours.
That's how long engineers spend at workstations weekly.
So it’s obvious they obsess over each setup detail.
We wanted to know: what kind of workspace helps them be most productive?
To find out, we spoke to engineers from Google, Amazon, Airbnb, and top startups about their hardware and software choices.
Interestingly, the best setup isn’t about trendy gear but deep intention. The "right" choices depend on the individual. And by "right," we mean what works for you.
The best setups don't just support work—they're integral to the creative process.
For top developers, "good enough" just doesn't cut it. This report shows how engineers turn 'good enough' to 'exceptional'.
Most developers opt for at least one external monitor, no matter where or how they work. It makes it easy to multitask, compare code results and also reduces the physical strain during long coding sessions.
Monitor One external monitor is essential for comfort and efficiency.
Most developers opt for at least one external monitor, no matter where or how they work. It makes it easy to multitask, compare code results and also reduces the physical strain during long coding sessions.
Ergonomics Invest in your chair and mouse before anything else.
Most engineers prioritize a comfy chair and ergonomic mouse—keyboards and desks can wait.
VS Code New IDEs will come and go, but VS code will always stay.
Developers keep returning to VS Code. The more you customize it, the better it suits your workflow. Also, it's free and doesn't slow down your computer.
AI in Coding Complementing tasks, not replacing coders.
Most developers are embracing AI to offload mundane tasks, freeing up time for more meaningful work. Tools like GitHub Copilot and now Cursor AI are becoming favorites.
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Browser Devs choose productivity over pretty interfaces.
While sleek UIs catch the eye, developers appreciate browsers that are specifically designed for engineers to work more efficiently. Arc and Brave are gaining traction for delivering on this promise.
Spending Engineers happily invest in essentials but economize on extras.
Developers are willing to spend significantly on must-have tools like high-performance laptops and ergonomic chairs, but opt for budget-friendly alternatives for non-essential items like headphones and desk.
Chapter 1 : Hardware
3 tiers of worksetups
Monitor and Laptop
Keyboards
Mouse and Earphones
1 more topics
Chapter 2 : Software
Basics
Core work
Productivity and Collaboration
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VP Finance, CREO
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William Ross
Co-Founder, Reckit
“The cooperation with Christos was excellent. I can only give positive feedback about him. Besides his general coding, the way of writing tests and preparing documentation has enriched our team very much. It is a great added value in every team.”
Moritz Gruber
CTO, Caisy.io
“Flexiple spent a good amount of time understanding our requirements, resulting in accurate recommendations and quick ramp up by developers. We also found them to be much more affordable than other alternatives for the same level of quality.”
Narayan Vyas
Director PM, Plivo Inc
“It's been great working with Flexiple for hiring talented, hardworking folks. We needed a suitable back-end developer and got to know Ankur through Flexiple. We are very happy with his commitment and skills and will be working with Flexiple going forward as well.”
Neil Shah
Chief of Staff, Prodigal Tech
“Flexiple has been instrumental in helping us grow fast. Their vetting process is top notch and they were able to connect us with quality talent quickly. The team put great emphasis on matching us with folks who were a great fit not only technically but also culturally.”
Tanu V
Founder, Power Router
“Flexiple has exceeded our expectations with their focus on customer satisfaction! The freelancers are brilliant at what they do and have made an immense impact. Highly recommended :)”
Henning Grimm
Founder, Aquaplot
“Overall Flexiple brought in high-level of transparency with extremely quick turnarounds in the hiring process at a significantly lower cost than any alternate options we had considered.”
Kislay Shashwat
VP Finance, CREO
“Todd and I are impressed with the candidates you've gathered. Thank you for your work so far. Thanks for sticking within our budget and helping us to find strong talent. Have loved Flexiple so far — highly entrepreneurial and autonomous talent.”
William Ross
Co-Founder, Reckit
“The cooperation with Christos was excellent. I can only give positive feedback about him. Besides his general coding, the way of writing tests and preparing documentation has enriched our team very much. It is a great added value in every team.”
Moritz Gruber
CTO, Caisy.io
“Flexiple spent a good amount of time understanding our requirements, resulting in accurate recommendations and quick ramp up by developers. We also found them to be much more affordable than other alternatives for the same level of quality.”
Narayan Vyas
Director PM, Plivo Inc
“It's been great working with Flexiple for hiring talented, hardworking folks. We needed a suitable back-end developer and got to know Ankur through Flexiple. We are very happy with his commitment and skills and will be working with Flexiple going forward as well.”
Neil Shah
Chief of Staff, Prodigal Tech
“Flexiple has been instrumental in helping us grow fast. Their vetting process is top notch and they were able to connect us with quality talent quickly. The team put great emphasis on matching us with folks who were a great fit not only technically but also culturally.”
Tanu V
Founder, Power Router
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