When writing code, think about the best solution for the problem while not sitting behind a computer. Then start coding without testing/refreshing your browser after every single line of code you've written. Once you feel confident the code should be ok, then start testing. You'll definitely be more productive this way, I know I am.
Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
31–40 of 63 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#32When working at home, where other people (e.g. your parents) live:
A closed door.
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#33My number one rule is to reduce the code, compile, test iteration cycle.
If your compiles are too slow then get a faster computer.
Writing a hardware driver or developing embedded code? Make sure your test hardware is sitting on your desk. You can have it somewhere else if it's ssh-able and has a remote reboot button that's accessible from the command line. Because if those are true then your build is scriptable.
Always make sure that you have to run only 1 command to compile and load your new code to the test hardware (IE, up-arrow return does it all). If you have to do more than one thing to get your code running then you are wasting precious brain cycles on your build process which can be as big an interruption as a phone call or email, especially if the things you have to type aren't even the same every time.
At the moment I'm violating this principle by having to drive 15 minutes to get access to my test machine. I can program there too, but it's kind of a hassle. Needless to say this project has dragged on for weeks longer than it should have. Sigh.
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#34My wife and I own two small software companies (similar product, different niches) and have a small cattle ranch. We work from our house and also have a 14 month old son. Being productive is essential for us to manage our work/life balance. A few things that have worked for us: 1) Hire someone to be on the "front lines" so you can queue your tasks while your business still has timely responses 2) Minimize switching h…
So true about number 6, I must have thousands of bookmarks and URLs saved that I've never referred to.
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's unhealthy, though, isn't it? I have a hard time finding places that are healthy, fast, tasty and cheap all the same time. Whereas I can quickly cook healthy cheap and tasty meals.
You're exactly right. Dining out is an insignificant cost increase unless you're eating healthy (at which point the gap widens). Granted, this is entirely a function of how much your time is worth...
Remember when you calculate the cost of cooking that you have to add in the time spent grocery shopping, cooking, washing dishes, the cost of the electricity, gas, and water consumed, the time and cost of disposing of the trash, wear and tear on appliances, etc.
Dining out is essentially outsourcing these tasks.
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#361. Turn off sound/visual notifications for email.
2. End long running compilations/tests scripts with 'say "compilation done"' as a cue to stop browsing the web.
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#371. Prioritization. Spending 10 minutes every end-of-day planning the next day. 2. Scheduling chaos time. Leave spare time every day and every week which is like extra time to get the tasks done. So there is no backlog. 3. Using leechblock firefox plugin to make sure I don't read google reader, HN etc before lunch. 4. Making plans public. I used to have an accountability partner where we both used to tell each other w…
4. Making plans public. I used to have an accountability partner where we both used to tell each other what we'll achieve for that day. And then check up on each other at the end of the day.
That is a genius idea. Nothing like peer pressure to help you achieve stuff.
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#381. Prioritization. Spending 10 minutes every end-of-day planning the next day. 2. Scheduling chaos time. Leave spare time every day and every week which is like extra time to get the tasks done. So there is no backlog. 3. Using leechblock firefox plugin to make sure I don't read google reader, HN etc before lunch. 4. Making plans public. I used to have an accountability partner where we both used to tell each other w…
4. Making plans public. I used to have an accountability partner where we both used to tell each other what we'll achieve for that day. And then check up on each other at the end of the day. That is a genius idea. Nothing like peer pressure to help you achieve stuff.
I really like the idea of no wasted time before lunch. Trying to remove reader/hn for the entire day sucks, but maybe knowing "only" after lunch would help increase my rate on my already more productive morning time.
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#39While playing Daft Punk's 'Veridis Quo':
1. Read about Lisp.
2. Open XCode.
3. Code in Objective-C.
:P
Re: Ask HN: What are your productivity hacks?
#40control your thoughts. no daydreaming.
turn off the music.