Perhaps “an open space full of developers asking and answering questions, …” is the problem not the solution. It sounds like a meeting, and I’m sure there was one or two people in that space thinking of mayhem.
For me, peace and quiet when I’m trying to suss out a problem or create new code. Leave me alone so as to not break the flow. Instrumental music can work with certain kinds of debugging, such as performance tuning, but usually no. Rands has written about this at length and Joel and all the others pushing offices bring it up.
I’m not a creative. I’m not into gameplay in a bullpen. I cut technical code, which is why wfh has been such a win for me. And I’m stepping aside to give somebody else the chance.
Maybe there's a compromise that would work, like an open office with lots of movable panels covered in sound-deadening foam traingles to break up the echoes (might look ugly for when the investors take a tour though...)
I have worked in a cube farm (which seems to be what you're describing), but the unspoken rule was to take your chatter elsewhere. The cubes were 5' walls which were nice when you sat down, and some normal/quiet conversation should go on without traveling too far.
But if you're going to "take it elsewhere" you're breaking the programming model that seems to be what's done right now.
For me, peace and quiet when I’m trying to suss out a problem or create new code. Leave me alone so as to not break the flow. Instrumental music can work with certain kinds of debugging, such as performance tuning, but usually no. Rands has written about this at length and Joel and all the others pushing offices bring it up.
I’m not a creative. I’m not into gameplay in a bullpen. I cut technical code, which is why wfh has been such a win for me. And I’m stepping aside to give somebody else the chance.