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Show HN: Nomouse

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Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#41

Post by gwu78 »

If I could upvote this, I would.

Text-only browser (no Javascript) means I cannot upvote.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but it is one based in real experience: If you can ditch the mouse, then you can ditch the GUI.

I have not used a mouse on my personal computers in over 20 years.

This transition started as an experiment when I was sitting in an airport with a laptop back in the late 90's.

Remember those tiny joysticks implanted in the keyboards?

I decided to stop using them.

Then I started using PC's without using the mouse.

Then I stopped even connecting a mouse.

That eventually led to ditching the GUI and staying in VGA textmode.

Today the whole process is easy because we can own many inexpensive personal computers.

I keep at least one personal computer with a GUI but it is not directly connected to the internet and usually not even connected to the LAN.

When connected, its gateway is always a wired computer "I control" with no GUI, no touchscreen, no mouse, no trackpad driver, no wifi driver, no bluetooth driver, etc.

My non-GUI computers run from USB stick or SD card. Root filesytem embedded in kernel. Working filesystem (chroot) is RAM (tmpfs). No SSD or HDD required. No third party DNS required. IP forwarding is compiled into the kernel so I can turn it on or off should I wish to use as a gateway.

Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#42

Post by blunte »

gwu78 wrote: post #41

If I could upvote this, I would. Text-only browser (no Javascript) means I cannot upvote. This might be an unpopular opinion, but it is one based in real experience: If you can ditch the mouse, then you can ditch the GUI. I have not used a mouse on my personal computers in over 20 years. This transition started as an experiment when I was sitting in an airport with a laptop back in the late 90's. Remember those tiny…

> Remember those tiny joysticks implanted in the keyboards?

You mean this? https://xkcd.com/243/

Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#43

Post by blunte »

WesleyJohnson wrote: post #35

I've never understood the sentiment that using a mouse is bad. I see blog posts all the time about how a programmer's job is more thinking than writing code and/or writing good programs is also about taking out just as much code as you put in. So if writing programs is a deliberate and methodical process that - I'd argue it's also slow. Why then is there antithesis that mice slow you down and you need keyboard shortc…

An old-schooler would be the one asking, "why do I need a mouse?"

Anyway, it sounds like you're asking, "Why are keyboard shortcuts faster than moving a mouse to a location and then clicking [and potentially having to move to another location, such as the menu that just dropped down, and clicking again]?"

Does this really need an answer?

Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#45

Post by 2muchcoffeeman »

m-j-fox wrote: post #39
WesleyJohnson wrote: post #35

I've never understood the sentiment that using a mouse is bad. I see blog posts all the time about how a programmer's job is more thinking than writing code and/or writing good programs is also about taking out just as much code as you put in. So if writing programs is a deliberate and methodical process that - I'd argue it's also slow. Why then is there antithesis that mice slow you down and you need keyboard shortc…

Exactly. I used to be one of these hardcore guys typing fast and never taking my hands off the keyboard; then I got RSI and learned to appreciate value slow methodical approaches.

This is one of the reasons I started learning vim bindings.

I can hunt and peck and still be relatively efficient at editing. So I can move my hands from the keyboard.

Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#46

Post by un-devmox »

What always bugs me is that finding complete documentation of keyboard shortcuts for whatever program I'm using can be a battle. Better documentation for many apps would be greatly appreciated.

As a side note, I've battled carpal tunnel and tennis elbo for years. One thing that has helped, besides keyboard shourcuts (and many other things) is using an upright mouse on my right and a track pad on my left.

Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#47

Post by khedoros1 »

gwu78 wrote: post #41

If I could upvote this, I would. Text-only browser (no Javascript) means I cannot upvote. This might be an unpopular opinion, but it is one based in real experience: If you can ditch the mouse, then you can ditch the GUI. I have not used a mouse on my personal computers in over 20 years. This transition started as an experiment when I was sitting in an airport with a laptop back in the late 90's. Remember those tiny…

You sound like you have a set-up that you've planned in support of a specific goal. What exactly is that goal? A lot of that sounds like it would make doing what I like doing on computers difficult.

Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#48

Post by alasarmas »

metaobject wrote: post #26
Jerry2 wrote: post #16

After I discovered extensions/addons for vim-like control of browsers few years ago, I've completely changed how I browse the web. I rarely even use the mouse anymore. Only when I want to save an image or save a file (from a misconfigured server that doesn't auto-download) do I still use a mouse. For everything else, you simply don't need a mouse at all. My favorites: vimari - Safari port of vimium: https://guyht.git…

I'd love to use emacs key bindings to browse the web. Anyone have good suggestions?

You might consider Conkeror. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conkeror

Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#49

Post by un-devmox »

WesleyJohnson wrote: post #35

I've never understood the sentiment that using a mouse is bad. I see blog posts all the time about how a programmer's job is more thinking than writing code and/or writing good programs is also about taking out just as much code as you put in. So if writing programs is a deliberate and methodical process that - I'd argue it's also slow. Why then is there antithesis that mice slow you down and you need keyboard shortc…

Ergonomically, IMO, using a mouse or track pad is much worse than typing. That said, I am a very deliberate and methodical developer.

Re: Show HN: Nomouse

#50

Post by ryandrake »

m-j-fox wrote: post #39
WesleyJohnson wrote: post #35

I've never understood the sentiment that using a mouse is bad. I see blog posts all the time about how a programmer's job is more thinking than writing code and/or writing good programs is also about taking out just as much code as you put in. So if writing programs is a deliberate and methodical process that - I'd argue it's also slow. Why then is there antithesis that mice slow you down and you need keyboard shortc…

Exactly. I used to be one of these hardcore guys typing fast and never taking my hands off the keyboard; then I got RSI and learned to appreciate value slow methodical approaches.

Interesting, I find I can type all day and not feel a thing in my wrists or hands, but just 15-30 minutes of continuous mouse usage, and I'm reaching for the pain medication. To me, staying able to use a computer without the mouse is about both speed and comfort.
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