I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode • Hacker News Board

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#241

Post by zyfo » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 7:47 PM UTC

kokey wrote: post #175

scott_s wrote: 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…

I've been using screen for over 16 years now. The only time I have code on my local machine is if I'm writing code to interface with hardware directly or developing for a console like the GP2X. Otherwise, my computer has mostly been a terminal to servers out there which I never physically get to see. I can switch between machines at home or at work and resume my screen session. In other words, it seems like I've been…

What about lag? I find sometimes on bad connections that tmux lags quite a bit (in Sweden, sever in UK). How do you deal with this? Surely packet loss and latency must've been a bigger problem a decade ago.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#242

Post by zyfo » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 7:49 PM UTC

I use a Chromebook and its crosh to ssh into a Linode instance with tmux for web development. Works like a charm, apart from the lack of UTF-8 in chrosh.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#243

Post by dman » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 7:50 PM UTC

chernevik wrote: post #205

wizard_2 wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, if TimeMachine screws up a file it stays screwed up for ever after every backup, there's no integrity checking. It also completly barfs on large files that change little by little. The best example of that is the entourage mail store, but any single file db will do. I've seen clients bit bad by these problems. Don't get me started on the time capsule...

What should we use instead?

Linus's solution is to write software that people run and use daily.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#244

Post by hack_edu » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 7:55 PM UTC

ynniv wrote: post #201

hack_edu wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great! You can switch between screens using Control-A and the screen number. I hadn't even known about the function keys until now.

Also $ESCAPE-space and $ESCAPE-backspace move sequentially among screens. control-a is screen's default $ESCAPE, but it's a poor choice given the use of control-a for beginning-of-line. I'm pretty happy with backtick (`) with no modifier now that I'm using $(...) for bash sub commands. You can't use byobu to change $ESCAPE to a sequence that doesn't use control, but it is easily set via "escape ``" in ~/.screenrc.

FYI, for the expected control-a behavior press the 'a' again after control-a.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#245

Post by tomkinstinch » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 7:58 PM UTC

I tried to code on an iPad, but just couldn't get used to it. I'm glad it is working for you.

It should be interesting when there are versatile graphical programming languages for touch devices (LabVIEW, etc.).

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#246

Post by william42 » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 8:03 PM UTC

tomkinstinch wrote: post #245

I tried to code on an iPad, but just couldn't get used to it. I'm glad it is working for you. It should be interesting when there are versatile graphical programming languages for touch devices (LabVIEW, etc.).

To be fair, he attached a keyboard to it and worked mostly through ssh.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#247

Post by ConstantineXVI » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 8:11 PM UTC

RexRollman wrote: post #169

I am still amazed that Apple hasn't come up with a shortcut for app switching when using bluetooth keyboards. By the way, Moconnor, have you given Panic's Prompt a try?

They don't really need to come up with one as much as just implement it. Gold standard's always been [Alt|Clover]-Tab; or even F3 (Apple's mapping for Exposé/Mission Control, even marked as such). I understand there's no easy way to dismiss the on-screen keyboard when you're using a hard keyboard either.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#248

Post by rahoulb » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 8:20 PM UTC

brider wrote: post #234

grk wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a 13" MBP and a USB apple keyboard. The keys really feel different, despite same layout. External keyboard has easier to feel clicks and requires more pressure. Could be the use on my laptop, though (2 years vs 1 year).

You may be correct in that instance, then. The older USB apple keyboards likely use rubber membrane key switches rather than the scissor switch type. In which case, the feel of the keys would definitely be different. I personally was referring to the newer apple wireless keyboards.

I have a 2010 MBA, a 2010 Apple Bluetooth keyboard and a 2011 Apple USB keyboard (with number pad). They all feel different, even if the switching mechanism is the same - the Bluetooth one is best (by a long way).

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#249

Post by bitemyapp » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 8:22 PM UTC

sliverstorm wrote: post #162

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.

Once upon a time programming was a lot of thinking, a little typing, and even less compiling. Maybe even some pen+paper and chalkboards. If you go back to that way of programming, I don't see why poor ergos would be a problem. Certainly not "in vogue" and I don't know if it's feasible today. Still an interesting thought.

I work on quick iterations based on an ongoing design and make decisions based on data.

This requires an expansive, ergonomic, and responsive environment. Optimally, three displays running at 1920x1080.

This doesn't mean I somehow shut my brain off when making design decisions or thinking into the future of my code just because I'm not sitting there for 30 minutes before hammering out a punchcard.

Stop romanticizing the bad old days, the whole reason Unix was made was so that we could have fully interactive programming environments.

Re: I swapped my MacBook for an iPad+Linode

#250

Post by rsl7 » Wed, Nov 02, 2011, 8:22 PM UTC

nileshk wrote: post #138

The last time I tried to use SSH under iOS with the Apple bluetooth keyboard (trying different SSH apps including iSSH and TouchTerm) I found that I could not comfortably use Emacs due to various key combinations not being transmitted (I guess Vim isn't as much of a problem). One of the SSH app developers said that they were not able to trap certain keystrokes that were iOS keyboard shortcuts. Looks like this may sti…

In my experience, Prompt is much better app for straightforward terminal use than iSSH. It handles meta keys very well includig the hardware ESC key on the wireless keyboard that iSSH could not, last time I tried it.