What should I do while I'm waiting for the build / the tests / the database migrations to run? [closed]

Question

As best-behaved as I try to be about keeping my unit tests disconnected from the database, etc. etc, it still seems inevitable that my day will be interrupted by small regular enforced breaks while I wait for my machine to do something boring.

I personally find swordfighting makes me lose my train of thought. I'm often 'in the zone' when I run a build or suite of tests, and I'd prefer something that keeps me in the same focussed frame of mind, jumping me right back to hacking as soon as the build / test run / migration is done.

I used to fantasize about a Tetris plugin for Visual Studio that popped up during the build and then paused and disappeared automatically when the build completed, but I never actually did anything about it. Lately we were thinking about building something into autotest which helps you learn Spanish while you wait for the tests to run, or maybe feeds you relevant stack overflow questions to answer.

So. Suggestions please. Points for fun yet rewarding activities.

Answer 1

1. StackOverflow
2. Coffee
3. StackOverflow
4. Side project coding

See also How to keep concentrated and focused while waiting for your compiler?

Answer 2

I normally use this time to read blogs ant to check the bug list, to see if there is something pending that I forgot to do.

Answer 3

Ideally?

• Write up notes on the fixes/feature added. (Notebooks are GREAT when two years from now you need to decipher something you did.)
• Read something that pertains to your work.
• Check for other small errata and bugs.
• Document (for other people) your feature/code.

Realisticly:

• Stackoverflow
• Slashdot
• Lifehacker
• Blogs

Answer 4

Use the time for ordering a new, much faster developer machine / server.