So we had a huge deadline this morning (product launch by the bloody Mayor!) that went really well. Woo.

The problem is I have another important demo tomorrow morning for a client and its been ~10 long days straight already, with at least another 9 or ten hours code bashing ahead of me. I'm f***ing exhausted but we'll probably lose the account if its not looking sharp in the morning.

So, there's some people on here who have survived crunches I'm sure! What do you recommend to stay in the game? I'm also trying to lose some weight so 20 cans of V or Red Bull might not be the best idea...

hookers and blow

10 cans of mother?

Hit the gym for a quick sess or a quick swim :) .. get the blood going .. if that fails.. hookers and speed will get you over the line as stated by tequila.

driving death metal is the key for me... i don't write code though :D


RRROOOOOAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!@#$!@

Before I cared about myself: chocolate, coke, lollies, chips, redbull, v, etc

After I cared about myself: lots of water, frequent naps when I could fit them in, fruit and veges and have a proper break for meals.

Thank you for giving me the chance to refer you to this image in a real-life situation.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/ballmer_peak.png

sleep

I remember reading something (I want to say it was a study, but I don't think it was) about how in crunch time, programmers that have had less than (X) hours sleep make (Y)% more mistakes!

I guess if you're already in the situation though, get rid of all your distractions (like forums) and just focus on the task at hand as readily as possible - divide it into small achievable chunks, put little breaks between them so you don't go mental, and just churn on them until you're done.

avoid all jigglypuff's!!!

http://pokebeach.com/scans/great-encounters/72-jigglypuff.jpg

i was serious, stimulants are the way to go
pseudoephedrine creates a sharp mind

I remember reading something (I want to say it was a study, but I don't think it was) about how in crunch time, programmers that have had less than (X) hours sleep make (Y)% more mistakes!

Now...only to work out X and Y...

God damn it! There are 7 unknowns and only 6 equations in imaginary space. f***ing non-homogeneous differential piece of s***. f*** I wish I paid more attention at uni...

(Little insight into a typical day in the life of the Pinkster)

Oh, and to add something useful to this post, since I just realised I haven't yet, I would recommend at some point some exercise to make your endorphins flow. And don't work immediately after eating, since blood goes to stomach to help digest. I would eat, take 30 min break (listen to some music, preferably relaxing (baroque) with eyes closed in a recliner chair, have a coffee or energy drink, then continue to work.

Dextroamphetamine

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9527/800pxdextroamphetamine2.png

edit: Not if you are strung out on 48 hours no sleep due to the risk of canadaian fatalities.

edit2:

I would recommend at some point some exercise to make your endorphins flow

I heartily reccomend masturbating while jogging on a treadmill with a paste made from a large red chilli in your mouth.

last edited by qmass at 14:50:44 16/Jun/09

Hogfather it sounds like your employer is unreasonable, I would look at that as the first problem. Clients are happy to wait to get it done right. They're just computer programs, not heart transplants, or anythign important.

Hogfather it sounds like your employer is unreasonable, I would look at that as the first problem.

Yeh my boss is a right prick, no doubt about it. Arsehole!

Edit: Thanks for the tips, especially fruit and exercise / getting around. Works well ro break things up.

last edited by Hogfather at 14:58:19 16/Jun/09

I concur, a total c***.

Where's the love reso?

I gotta get off teh QGLs..

Sleeping for a short period (a few hours) is only going to make you feel more drowsy. Exercising is a natural way to increase blood flow, release endorphins and get oxygen throughout the body.

I've been tired, fallen asleep for an hour and woken up feeling like I have no life force left, its terrible. On the other hand, I've been a little tired, gone for a quick jog (10-15 min) and felt much, much better.

Strongly recommend some aerobic exercise.

Thank you for giving me the chance to refer you to this image in a real-life situation.

The very attentive of you will notice that the point at which that line spikes is when x ~= 0.1337 :)

I was doing work 9-5 and then study from 5-12am (at work) for 1.5 months. I ate pretty well, (3 + 5 and 2-3 meat etc).

When I'd start to drop off around 7pm, I'd hit the gym for 45 minutes and shower. And it'd be sweet for another 3-4 hours. - So I definitely concur with the excercise idea.

If not....get sugar-free drinks...

edit: actually, green tea! I live on the s***. Got a little bit of caffiene in it, and definately perks you up. Plus it's got s***loads of anti-oxidents.

last edited by Fireblood at 17:53:13 16/Jun/09

I've been tired, fallen asleep for an hour and woken up feeling like I have no life force left, its terrible.

I have 15-20 minute power naps at work, f*** I feel g-r-r-r-r-r-r-reat.

every job i do is tight deadline, just learn to use the thrill of losing a contract/being fired as motivation

Sorry Spook, but you're doing it wrong.

I normally try to plan things better than this! We had a couple of juicy jobs come up at the same time that we just couldn't knock back, and they have firm deadlines so delaying wasn't an option.

Sounds like your boss / project manager should be fired.

I've found office cricket (using a server as stumps) and balls of paper as a ball is a good distraction / break from coding. Or paper volleyball over office dividers.

Good luck - I feel your pain. Sleeping under a desk at the office sucks, but I think any programmer will have done it a few times.

Here's a quick fun game to play on your next break: Crush the castle

Sounds like your boss / project manager should be fired.

As hilarious as this is to let continue, I am the boss - its my company.

I haven't done a crunch in years, I took the work on understanding it would be a big hill to climb but there are strategic reasons to do so at the moment. We effectively displaced a couple of regular jobs to fit one extra high-profile one in, which is worth 10x the contract value due to exposure for our small business.

I'm not upset that I have a lot of work to do, just looking for strats on staying focused during the crunch. Speaking of which, wtf am I doing on QGL AGAIN?!

As hilarious as this is to let continue, I am the boss - its my company.

Well, then give yourself an uppercut and manage your clients' expectations better. :P

Strategy #1: unplug your ethernet cable

Sugar free energy drinks and No Doz. Works for me. Avoid any high GI foods.

hookers and speed will get you over the line as stated by tequila.

he said blow, not speed. gym set, go for a walk etc. im flat out too at work, did our highest month of sales ever. what credit crunch?

As hilarious as this is to let continue, I am the boss - its my company.

haha, i was waiting for that. i always wonder in these situations, is it better to be late than half finished?

Strategy #1: unplug your ethernet cable

as a unix programmer, this could be diasterous!

outsource the work to someone else

did our highest month of sales ever. what credit crunch?

Ditto, we've gone from unbelievable strength to strength this year and the profits just keep going up every month. Even outside of work when I go down the local shops or to a shopping centre or to the city the shops are jammed full of people spending up big, even without a k-rudd splash for cash.

I can understand the desire for a successful demo for the important client. But asif busting your arse for that half-wit hippy Val... ;)