Christmas gifts for a software developer

Good Christmas gifts for a software developer make long coding sessions easier on the body and eyes: an adjustable monitor arm, a warm desk lamp, a small desk humidifier, a break timer, or comforts for on-call nights like a sleep mask. If they’ve mentioned dry or tired eyes from screens, a bottle of lubricating eye drops can be a practical add-on, once you’ve checked the label’s egg and bird allergy caution.

Gifts for developers who stare at screens all week

Writing and reviewing code means hours of close focus on text, often across two or three monitors. People blink less when they concentrate on a screen, and an office or home office with heating or air conditioning dries the air further. Gifts that change the setup, rather than add another gadget, tend to get used for years.

• An adjustable monitor arm, so the screen can sit at a comfortable height and distance instead of on a stack of books.
• A warm, dimmable desk lamp that lights the desk without glare on the screen.
• A small desk humidifier for a home office that runs dry in winter.
• A document holder or laptop stand to bring a second screen to the same height as the first.
• A good chair cushion or footrest, for the sessions that run longer than planned.

If they run several monitors, our guide to dry eyes with multiple monitors has ideas on arranging them that pair well with a monitor arm.

Gifts that make breaks easier

Developers often know they should look away from the screen, then sink back into a problem and forget for two hours. A gift that nudges a break is more welcome than it sounds:

• A visual desk timer that counts down without a loud alarm.
• A really good mug or travel tumbler, which makes the walk to the kitchen worth it.
• A gift card for lunch at a place near their office, so they actually step out.
• A warm jacket or gloves for a walk at lunch in winter.
• A plant for the desk, giving the eyes something farther away to rest on.

Christmas gifts for an on-call developer

On-call weeks mean a phone by the bed, late alerts and squinting at a laptop at 2 a.m. Gifts that make those nights less rough:

• A soft sleep mask for getting back to sleep after an alert.
• A bedside lamp with a low, warm setting, gentler than overhead lights.
• A phone stand for the nightstand, so the screen isn’t inches from their face.
• A cozy blanket or slippers for the walk to the laptop.
• A small bag for the laptop charger, phone cable and a few essentials if they work from different rooms or locations.

Our guide to dry eyes on the night shift covers late-night screen work in more depth.

Funny gifts for software developers

Plenty of developers enjoy a gag gift: a rubber duck for talking through a bug, laptop stickers, a mug with an in-joke from their language of choice, or a desk toy for meetings. These pair nicely with something practical in the same box, so the joke gets a laugh and the useful gift gets used.

Are eye drops a good gift for a coder?

They can be, for the right person. If your developer has complained about dry, gritty or tired eyes after long sessions, a bottle of drops they didn’t have to remember to buy is a thoughtful touch. If they’ve never mentioned their eyes, choose something else, or tuck the bottle in alongside the main present rather than giving it alone.

Check a few things first:

• Quell’s label carries this caution: Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only. If you don’t know about egg or bird allergies, ask first.
• If they wear contact lenses, the label doesn’t cover use with lenses, so their eye doctor is the person to ask.
• If they already use drops from their doctor, they should check with that doctor before adding another.
• The label notes: Product appears as a milky brown solution. A line about that on the card saves them a surprise.

What Quell is

Quell is a preservative-free lubricating eye drop designed to reinforce the tear film’s oil layer to help reduce moisture loss. Its label lists the Uses as: For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye. The directions are: Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. A .33 fl oz (10 mL) bottle fits easily in a stocking, a laptop bag or a desk drawer. The full label is on the Drug Facts page.

Ordering a gift

You can ship straight to the recipient: enter their name and address as the shipping address at checkout. There’s no gift wrap or gift message option, so plan to wrap it yourself or include a card in a separate package. Buyers must be 18 or older, and orders ship only within the United States. Shipping is $10.00, or free on 3 or more bottles. No delivery date is promised, so order well before Christmas. If you’re buying for a whole team, ordering eye drops for someone else walks through it.

A gift isn’t a fix

If your developer’s eyes bother them every day, the most caring gift may be a nudge to book an eye exam. The label is clear about when to stop and see a doctor: Stop use and ask a doctor if you feel eye pain or changes in your vision, if irritation or redness continues, or if the condition worsens or persists for 72 hours.