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Ask HN: Which tools have made you a much better programmer?

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Re: Ask HN: Which tools have made you a much better programmer?

#491

Post by roguas »

tinco wrote: post #454
gitgud wrote: post #332

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love TabNine but had to stop using it because each instance can use 3GB of memory... Way too much for an autocomplete extension https://github.com/codota/TabNine/issues/43

It's only too much if you need that memory for something else though. If it manages to be responsive with that memory and you only have 1 ide open, I don't think 3gb should be a problem on a modern system.

It always starts with this premise, suddenly every application no matter how silly demands 3gb. I understand that progress often happens by putting more attention to other aspects than economics, but again some people may value that progress less.

Re: Ask HN: Which tools have made you a much better programmer?

#492

Post by Frank93 »

I'd like to suggest CodeFights, it is great platform for software engineers to practice for cosing interview in then in turn get the desired tech jobs. And one more tool for developers is ProofHub. It is the one place for all your projects, teams and communications.

Re: Ask HN: Which tools have made you a much better programmer?

#493

Post by chiefsucker »

daveevad wrote: post #139
randylahey wrote: post #2

Choice of editor is subject to taste, but I find VI/Vim keybindings and modal editing an absolute must-have for productivity.

+1 and a recommendation for vimium browser extension. basically, whatever allows increased rate of I/O between you and a computer. it's really as simple as never leaving the home row and im pretty close to thinking that the mouse as an input device has held people back.

+1

When you’re on it, also install Vimac [1]. I’ve mapped it to ⌃Space (similar to Spotlight’s ⌘Space). It’ll make you grab the mouse / trackpad less often.

[1] https://github.com/dexterleng/vimac/

Re: Ask HN: Which tools have made you a much better programmer?

#494

Post by nickbauman »

caseymarquis wrote: post #126
Jeaye wrote: post #22

- GNU/Linux + i3wm; complete control over my programming environment. - bash + GNU coreutils; seriously, take the time to be able to write helpful bash scripts which can run basically anywhere. - git; use it even when you're not pushing to a remote. Add helpful aliases for everyday commands. Build a good mental model of commits and branches to help you through tough merges. ( my ~/.gitconfig: https://gist.github.com/…

I upvoted the parent and want to emphasize vim key bindings. This is not necessarily vim the editor, it's your editor of choice in vim mode. Learning to use vim is like learning to touch type: it's initially a pain, but it's hard to ever go back once you've mastered the basics. If you haven't learned to touch type (it happens, I didn't learn until I was 22), then first learn that, then learn vim. FYI: Remap your caps…

You don't need to know how to touchtype. Programmers are not a glorified typing pool. Furthermore, my father† has worked every job there is in a world class news organization since entering adulthood and never learned to touchtype. He could type 140 WPM.

Re: Ask HN: Which tools have made you a much better programmer?

#495

Post by blacksqr »

dragonwriter wrote: post #407
bitwize wrote: post #390

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tcl/Tk is still the fastest way to get from zero to functional GUI that I've ever seen. I wish I could say there was something of similar ease in Lisp, but alas there isn't -- not in the current ecosystem of Unix workalikes running on generic CISC/RISC hardware. Maybe the Lisp Machines had something.

> Tcl/Tk is still the fastest way to get from zero to functional GUI that I've ever seen. PySimpleGUI seems pretty great for that.

PySimpleGUI wraps tkinter and thus ultimately Tcl/Tk.

Re: Ask HN: Which tools have made you a much better programmer?

#496

Post by AllanLRH »

easterncalculus wrote: post #110

I do think that your keyboard can help not only mitigate health risks associated with typing all day, but can make the actual act of writing code go from annoying to enjoyable. What works for you is a subjective question (I don't think that mechanical keyboards are the best for everyone, if I'm hoenst), but a good keyboard can really go a long way.

Guess an ergonomic keyboard could help prevent some injuries.

Re: Ask HN: Which tools have made you a much better programmer?

#498

Post by detaro »

christiangenco wrote: post #497
0xEFF wrote: post #60

xargs! Instant concurrency for small scripts.

Could you go into more detail about how you're using xargs? I'm having trouble understanding how it can be used for concurrency.

xargs --max-procs N (or -P N) starts up to N instances of the called program in parallel, at least with GNU xargs.
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