I like to program and I am in the google summer of code. On the day of its start i got into a car accident and broke my collar bone. My left arm (my dominant one) cannot be used for at least a month while i heal. Coding with my right hand is lengthy and error prone. Is there any way I can write code with one hand in a way that would be effective? I read about voice recognition programs but some people on the ubuntu board said not to do that for programming in python. I am using ubuntu for the project i am working on.

thanks

I like to program and I am in the google summer of code. On the day of its start i got into a car accident and broke my collar bone. My left arm (my dominant one) cannot be used for at least a month while i heal. Coding with my right hand is lengthy and error prone. Is there any way I can write code with one hand in a way that would be effective? I read about voice recognition programs but some people on the ubuntu board said not to do that for programming in python. I am using ubuntu for the project i am working on.

thanks

The majority of coding should be thinking, not typing.

It's more than possible to type with one hand. Just practice some and you'll get used to it in no time.

Perhaps a visual programming language where you link inputs and outputs from various functions with just a mouse. Other than that I see no way to make your programming more effective.

First: Sorry to hear that, hope you get well soon.

Second: I guess churning out lines of code is the least part of programming. For the most time it's thinking and planing. So you shouldn't be *that* handicapped.

I guess you should just name your functions and variables using only letters from the right side of your keyboard.

j/k. I think it can be done. Actually I often find myself typing while eating and while it is a tedious task you get accustomed to it.

The only advice I can think of is (if you haven't already) is to try and decrease your dependance on the mouse and learn as many keyboard shortcuts as you can.

There are also one-handed keyboards, if your injury is bad enough in the long term.

I doubt it would be a long-term disabling injury but the keyboards are certainly an option if that happens.

The majority of coding should be thinking, not typing.

Sounds waterfall-ish to me

To those who think typing isn't important, try switching to an unfamiliar keyboard layout and seeing if it doesn't have an impact on your ability to program. I firmly believe that it's important to get rid of as many brain - code barriers as possible, and being able to effectively type without thinking about it is a huge part of that. If you're having to stop every few seconds to find a key, you are not going to be as effective as someone who's use of the keyboard is almost unconscious.

That being said, it's definitely possible to program with one hand it will just take some practice. I've gotten proficient in both typing with one hand and playing Diablo 3 with one hand due to having to hold my 8 month old daughter with the other arm! It's almost fortunate that it was your left arm. Even though that is your dominate arm, the most difficult characters to type will be the brackets and punctuation necessary for programming which are on the right side of the keyboard and would be that much more difficult if you're reaching across.

Ouch. Sorry to hear that!

It'll be tedious but you'll get used to typing with one hand pretty quick if you practice a couple of times. The hardest part'll be when you need to use capital letters for naming variables or calling certain functions from classes. In that event I'd say hits the caps lock key rather than try to reach your hand across multiple inches of keyboard.

I suffer from pretty severe carpal tunnel syndrome that comes in bouts at unpredictable times. When it's bad I basically lose fine motor control in my right hand for a while which is a problem given that programming is my job. But, anyway, I agree with Kseh above. The thing to do is learn how to program without using a mouse. I find typing with your non-dominant hand is not as difficult as using a mouse with your non-dominant hand. Obviously you can't type as fast but you can get things done.

I suffer from pretty severe carpal tunnel syndrome that comes in bouts at unpredictable times. When it's bad I basically lose fine motor control in my right hand for a while which is a problem given that programming is my job. But, anyway, I agree with Kseh above. The thing to do is learn how to program without using a mouse. I find typing with your non-dominant hand is not as difficult as using a mouse with your non-dominant hand. Obviously you can't type as fast but you can get things done.

I hope you use wrist pads for that or it will just get worse until you lose the hand completely. Also DON'T lay the fore arm on the edge of the table! This is what will get you into the carpal syndrome in the first place!

I broke my wrist (on a not-so-manly manner when attempting ice-skating for the first time) less than 2 months ago and I totally agree with the people that say that its more thinking than writing. I finally was able to finish my FYP on time, had surgery, go through physical therapy (which I still do) and actually got my first job in the game industry WHILE coding with one hand.

My approach was: more planning less writing. It worked marvels. Sure you are going to see a huge impact on the productivity, but that just means you will have to compensate with more design. I would usually "draw" (yeah horrible drawings but its not for art class) everything out before, and make sure not to code anything I wasn't sure of. Start with the no-brainers and escalate from there. The ideas is to avoid re-writing code as much as possible.

I was in your place and started thinking in special keyboards, or learning to write with one hand, but at the end, its just a matter of writing it as fast as possible, so all of this is just going to add up to your learning (buying?) time to an already short time frame. So do like I did and just write it, if you have to use just one finger, look at the keyboard, whatever just do it. At the end I got pretty fast.