I found this list at Jeff Atwood's blog. The items he things every programmer needs and has a right to are:
- Every programmer shall have two monitors
- Every programmer shall have a fast PC
- Every programmer shall have their choice of mouse and keyboard
- Every programmer shall have a comfortable chair
- Every programmer shall have a fast Internet connection
- Every programmer shall have quiet working conditions
I think I'd add a couple.
7. Every programmer shall have non-alcoholic beverages of their choice available for free.
You can't program thirsty and you can't program drunk (no matter what some people claim). Why free? Because looking for exact change is a pain in the neck. Also empty vending machines are frustrating and programming can be frustrating enough as it is.
8. Every programmer shall have a white board in their office.
White boards are cheap enough and they make discussing code issues much easier.
9. Printers shall be near at hand to every programmer.
Desk checking may seem to be a lost art but the really best programmers know how to do it. There is no good reason for a programmer to have to walk half way across the building to retrieve a printout though.
10. Every programmer shall have a table to work with.
A programmer needs some place to spread out their listings. They need this not only for themselves but so someone else can look at it with them.