Optimize Visual Studio Code
Optimizing Visual Studio code involves periodic cleanup, removing extensions not needed, running whatever is needed and other tips. This should dramatically improve Code startup and editing performance. Read on…
Using TMUX Terminal Multiplexer
In the early days working as a junior developer working on Hughes satellite dish tv networks, I had to use multiple machines, one for looking at streaming movies and another for looking at the device logs at the same time. It was very clear to me since then using multiple windows, machines, screens without the need to switch was a major productivity booster. Now, as part of my Dev-ops related work, I need to work with multiple servers and was looking at optimizing my workflow for consoles using SSH. Enter TMUX - short name for terminal multiplexer.
Master any tool with fuzzy search and aliases
Mastering any tool requires learning what that tool does and how we can effectively use it. For example, we know that a simple mechanical tool like a hammer hammers in nails, has to be struck over a nail held in an upright manner until the nail goes in properly. On the other hand, software tools offer a huge variety of commands and options for each command and it becomes difficult to store all those command and options in your brain.
Aliases offer a second brain way to store all those commands in config files and also rename commands with intuitive names. Not all tools offer aliases though. Secondly aliases tend to grow over time and remembering those aliases itself becomes a big hassle. Enter fuzzy search. With these two techniques one can virtually master any tool, let me show you how…
Proof reading and spell checking
Error proofing communication content is a vital part of any trade. Even people with strong grammar and spelling skills tend to make poor mistakes. Word processors like MS Word make help but they are not available every time, for example when one starts typing in notepad or other applications. You do not want to open an application which is slow to start and hogs memory just for doing a simple spell-check. The process of manual re-checking contents can be painful, however there are myriad of tools available that can make this process less laborious. Here’s a dash of such tools:
SIP for your health
SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) seems to be the rage nowadays where everyone worth his financial acumen rants about the merits of SIP. That takes care of the dhan (wealth) part, what about the tan (physical health) part? In fact, this requires a more disciplined SIP and has more long term and beneficial effects. Sounds logical? Here we go…
Backing up WordPress
Backup has been on my mind, since I started blogging on WordPress. No blog owner wants to go through the pain of losing his ideas and re-creating his writings again.
After a night worth of efforts, here’s a simple script to backup a WordPress.com hosted blog in two ways.
Code Review with ReviewBoard
Why ReviewBoard
After having tried out various review methods like direct review, reviews over email, pair programming etc, I have found that a combination of tool-assisted code review and direct review (on an as needed basis) works out to be the best in terms of efforts spent and quality of the output. SmartNBear.com:Pros and Cons of Four Kinds of Code mentions the pros and cons of the various types of reviews.
Inspirational Quotes ON the desktop
I try to keep my desktop clean so that I can display only the items that require my immediate attention. I also like to start my day with an inspirational quote. Since the desktop is the first thing one sees after booting up the system in the morning, here is a jugaad that uses Autohotkey and bginfo to put a random quote on your desktop.
I initially tried out Rainmeter and Samurize, but found them a bit too heavy for this simple application. Here is a way to do this without using any third part tools.