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I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

yieldthought.com

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Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#31

Post by casca »

moconnor wrote: post #17
casca wrote: post #3

I'm a big fan of tmux* and vim but there's a limit to the complexity of system that you can develop efficiently with vim. A good graphical IDE used by a skilled operator will be more likely to generate correct, consistent code faster. If you're using vim and think you're developing as well and as fast as you can, you're probably wrong. * 17 years of screen and I've finally switched over to tmux. None of the features…

tmux: is it faster because it's more efficient about sending updates to the terminal, or are you talking about server-side resource usage? I certainly wouldn't say no to a more responsive terminal.

I'm talking about the time between keystrokes and visual response.

To make the switch-over even easier, rebind to C-a instead of the (sensible) tmux default of C-b. Put this into your ~/.tmux.conf:

set -g prefix C-a unbind C-b bind C-a send-prefix bind-key C-a last-window

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#32

Post by nodata »

davidjhall wrote: post #25

I heartily agree -- once you add a wireless keyboard to an iPad, it stops being a toy. I use the keyboard and an iPad 1 to write my first drafts (both locally and google docs, if need be) and with VNC, I code on my remote servers as well.

How do you keep the iPad's screen comfortably facing you if you're not holding it?

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#33

Post by [deleted] »

jerf wrote: post #29
moconnor wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is really true. Back then we were still using CVS, and I was writing a feature that I thought wasn't quite big enough to branch and remerge for, but turned out to be a bit more involved to get right than I'd thought. Now we're on Mercurial and life is better. Edit: A nice win with the Linode is that they back it up for me for $5 a month. Sure, there are solutions for the desktop too, but somehow I never got arou…

I would observe that with DVCS, if your hard drive crashes you can still lose several days of un pushed code, too. I recommend and use cron jobs to push and/or rysnc things around on a more frequent basis for my really important stuff.

[deleted]

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#34

Post by moconnor »

kayoone wrote: post #26

You could actually do the same thing WITH a Macbook Air/Pro. The beauty of a cloud linux instance + gnu screen isnt limited to the ipad and so you could still have a bigger screen and the possibility to go back to GUI apps if you need them. I like this for travelling on the go, but spending my normal workday in 1024 resolution ? Naaa.

This is true, but I'd be sacrificing the silence, the portability and the battery life. And the hipster factor, I guess.

102x768 isn't for everyone, but in text-mode it's all the same. I've no idea how many hours I've spent on a huge high-res monitor staring at a relatively tiny terminal window surrounded by a pretty desktop picture.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#35

Post by agentultra »

This has to be the most ergonomically inefficient set-up ever!

I also cannot fathom how to work with 21" at least). And a tiling window manager. And a decent mechanical keyboard... ok ok..

Interesting setup. I'd be interested in knowing how it works out in the long term.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#36

Post by scott_s »

For anyone who spends their day (or most of some days) in a terminal connected to a remote server, I can't recommend using GNU Screen enough (brief tutorial: http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/3/9/16838/14935).

I've worked almost exclusively on remote servers, using the command line and vim, for about eight years now. It's only been in the past year that I started using Screen, and I feel stupid for not using it sooner.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#37

Post by moconnor »

drivingmenuts wrote: post #28

What's the solution for when "the cloud" loses your files and the ToS says "so sorry, we'll try harder next time - here's next month's bill"? When I keep my files locally, the only person I have to blame for losing them is myself. Out in "the cloud", there's quite literally nothing that can be done to recover my data.

Linode offer monthly backups for $5. All my real work is pushed to the office repository. All my personal projects are done in a Dropbox folder.

I'm pretty confident the data will be ok this time.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#38

Post by moconnor »

agentultra wrote: post #35

This has to be the most ergonomically inefficient set-up ever! I also cannot fathom how to work with 21" at least). And a tiling window manager. And a decent mechanical keyboard... ok ok.. Interesting setup. I'd be interested in knowing how it works out in the long term.

The wireless keyboard is really good; it's not quite as nice as a mechanical one, but it's easily better than a laptop keyboard.

If I ever go back to my MacBook, I'll take the keyboard with me.

I have a tiling window manager. It has one tile.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#39

Post by davidjhall »

nodata wrote: post #32
davidjhall wrote: post #25

I heartily agree -- once you add a wireless keyboard to an iPad, it stops being a toy. I use the keyboard and an iPad 1 to write my first drafts (both locally and google docs, if need be) and with VNC, I code on my remote servers as well.

How do you keep the iPad's screen comfortably facing you if you're not holding it?

I have a protector case (Incase) which has ridges to keep it open at an angle, landscape. Very low-tech but it keeps it at the correct angle for me. Back when Border's were still around, I just needed keyboard and iPad (power lasts a long time) to work on my writing at one of their tables or even their Big Comfy Chairs(tm).

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#40

Post by [deleted] »

agentultra wrote: post #35

This has to be the most ergonomically inefficient set-up ever! I also cannot fathom how to work with 21" at least). And a tiling window manager. And a decent mechanical keyboard... ok ok.. Interesting setup. I'd be interested in knowing how it works out in the long term.

[deleted]
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