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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

#151
post #36

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 soo…

My only very minor issue with screen is that it ignores window resizing escape codes. I have my .vimrc setup to resize on start/exit and screen doesn't care at all. I am totally vain I know.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#153
post #29

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.

I'm always doing

  git push origin develop
for this reason, but some environments probably don't allow you to do this easily? I work alone. (EDIT: be nice to people)

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#154
Imagine an "iPad Pro" that had similar battery life and even an integrated keyboard. In addition to supporting the SSH workflow, it can run traditional GUI applications if you really need them.

You don't have to wait: it's called the MacBook Air.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#155
post #77

There are a lot of comments here from people acting as if not having two 24" monitors and a full mechanical keyboard would drastically diminish their productivity. This year I spent 4 months out of the country with only my 15" laptop while still working 8 hour days. I was surprised to find no change at all in how long it took to get shit done. I think we tend to kid ourselves about how much of a difference expensive…

Yes, this is something I wanted to say and somehow didn't: one personal take-away from the experience for me has been that programming, ultimately, is thinking. All the technology in the world doesn't make me think faster. The most I can ask from it is that it gets out of my way and lets me search, explore and express myself efficiently.

> programming, ultimately, is thinking.

I very rarely feel slowed down by my environment. It's possible for it to happen, but most of my time is spent thinking about a problem, not typing.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having multiple monitors isn't good eronomically IMO. I always prefer what I'm working on to be on direct center, and I don't really see the point of having other stuff that isn't direct center. I prefer to alt-tab.

I have a large monitor on an arm in the center flanked by monitors to either side. My main monitor just has a full-screen emacs. The other monitors are for peripheral information such as browsers, irc sessions, email, etc. It's great for keeping API docs open while I'm working without leaving my editor. Having the center monitor on an arm just lets me adjust it's height when I move between leaning forward, slouching,…

I get it: I used to use 3 monitors.

I just have found that if you want to read something, I prefer it to be on the center monitor anyways, so what's the point in having multiple monitors?

Plus, I prefer to work on my laptop screen, because it's more flexible - I can put my feet up, move around, change positions easier.

Just my own personal preference

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#157
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

This is why I keep my working copies in Dropbox

second that... my working folders are dropbox... and commit to cloud git repository as needed.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#158

One fateful day, VMWare and OS/X conspired to trash my shared filesystem, losing several days of uncommitted code in the process. Several days of uncommitted code? We need to have a heart to heart talk about your process.

How about if he is using Git? It is normal to work out of your local repository and only sync with the master occassionally, no? At least on projects that can tolerate such methods.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#160
post #121
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looked at it; didn't see any compelling reasons to switch; went back to screen. Screen is for the most part "good enough" that any replacement that aims to supplant it completely needs to either be vastly and obviously superior or enough of a drop in replacement that it doesn't require any effort to switch (I'm most definitively not investing time updating config files or changing key presses unless the improvements…

tmux is 4 letters, screen is 6 =) And splitting view sucks less.

I rarely split views, so that makes no difference to me - all my splitting tends to occur in Emacs.

And I never type anything to connect to my screen sessions. How primitive ;)

I have shortcuts for the main machines I use that opens a terminal window, ssh's to it using my key, and attaches to my running screen or starts a fresh one if none is running (rarely - most of my screen sessions are 1+ years old)

My sessions on less important machines run in screen windows.

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