Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#1

Post by zJayv » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 4:22 PM UTC

I learned about a ton of useful CLIs, desktop apps, and SaaS products from this thread (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13887237).

But it was posted 3 years ago, and perhaps some useful stuff has emerged in the interim, hence my starting this thread.

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#2

Post by arikr » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 5:08 PM UTC

Can you copy the description from that old thread into your post, so that people don't need to click through for the full context? I think it'll still be editable at this point

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#3

Post by laurentl » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 8:12 PM UTC

BeyondCompare (cited in the original thread), especially the folder comparison feature. Saved my sanity when our team's shared directory stopped syncing silently on my laptop and I had to figure out which files I needed to sync manually.

WizTree (https://antibody-software.com/web/software/software/wiztree-...) is a freeware Windows utility (man, typing this took me back to 1997) that lets you quickly see which files are hogging your disk space. Think "df GUI for Windows". Especially useful to track down large application files hidden in the depths of system folders.

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#4

Post by maxdeviant » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 8:34 PM UTC

WorkOS (https://workos.com/) if you need to support single sign-on (SSO) for your app.

SSO is free, and they offer other enterprise-focused features, like directory sync and audit trails.

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#5

Post by anotheryou » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 9:15 PM UTC

(mine are all not particularly new)

ShareX (windows): screenshot > optionally annotate > upload to ftp > copy url to clipboard

But I can also paste from the clipboard:

- if it's a file: upload to ftp, copy link to clipboard

- if it's text: upload to ftp, custom URL makes it load in my org-mode or markdown web-render

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#6

Post by anotheryou » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 9:16 PM UTC

anotheryou wrote: post #5

(mine are all not particularly new) ShareX (windows): screenshot > optionally annotate > upload to ftp > copy url to clipboard But I can also paste from the clipboard: - if it's a file: upload to ftp, copy link to clipboard - if it's text: upload to ftp, custom URL makes it load in my org-mode or markdown web-render

Multi-line Calculators with Variables and evaluating each line:

OpalCalc (Windows) | Soulver (Mac) | NaSC (Linux)

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#7

Post by anotheryou » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 9:19 PM UTC

anotheryou wrote: post #5

(mine are all not particularly new) ShareX (windows): screenshot > optionally annotate > upload to ftp > copy url to clipboard But I can also paste from the clipboard: - if it's a file: upload to ftp, copy link to clipboard - if it's text: upload to ftp, custom URL makes it load in my org-mode or markdown web-render

Violentmonkey (Userscripts in the browser: custom js for all kind of shenanigans. use it for rudimentary semi-automated testing and small improvements)

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#8

Post by anotheryou » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 9:21 PM UTC

anotheryou wrote: post #5

(mine are all not particularly new) ShareX (windows): screenshot > optionally annotate > upload to ftp > copy url to clipboard But I can also paste from the clipboard: - if it's a file: upload to ftp, copy link to clipboard - if it's text: upload to ftp, custom URL makes it load in my org-mode or markdown web-render

SikuliX: last resort for automation when AHK can't do it. Finds where to click or type visually. (e.g. good for android emulators)

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#9

Post by anotheryou » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 9:23 PM UTC

anotheryou wrote: post #5

(mine are all not particularly new) ShareX (windows): screenshot > optionally annotate > upload to ftp > copy url to clipboard But I can also paste from the clipboard: - if it's a file: upload to ftp, copy link to clipboard - if it's text: upload to ftp, custom URL makes it load in my org-mode or markdown web-render

installers for windows:

- Chocolatey (package manager)

- Ninite (auto-installs 80% of the programs I and the family might need on a fresh windows install)

Re: Ask HN: Programs that saved you 100 hours?

#10

Post by anotheryou » Sun, Apr 12, 2020, 9:28 PM UTC

anotheryou wrote: post #5

(mine are all not particularly new) ShareX (windows): screenshot > optionally annotate > upload to ftp > copy url to clipboard But I can also paste from the clipboard: - if it's a file: upload to ftp, copy link to clipboard - if it's text: upload to ftp, custom URL makes it load in my org-mode or markdown web-render

Org-mode: just can't go back for my profession (product management. Need to jot down fast, than sort loads and keep track of todos)