Using a self-rewriting README powered by GitHub Actions to track TILs

Thanks for sharing. I also recently started a TIL repo from the same inspiration and found it lame to write my first README entry. Will look at setting up what you described.

Re: Using a self-rewriting README powered by GitHub Actions to track TILs

#5

Post by hendry » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 2:44 AM UTC

I find the hard dependency on Github a bit disconcerting.

Why not self host?

What happens if https://github.com/simonw/til drops away?

Love your work Simon.

Re: Using a self-rewriting README powered by GitHub Actions to track TILs

#6

Post by simonw » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 2:50 AM UTC

hendry wrote: post #5

I find the hard dependency on Github a bit disconcerting. Why not self host? What happens if https://github.com/simonw/til drops away? Love your work Simon.

My https://til.simonwillison.net/til site acts as a sort of off-site backup - but I should probably run a cron somewhere which pulls my repos. I have a Digital Ocean box I could do that on. Good idea!

Re: Using a self-rewriting README powered by GitHub Actions to track TILs

#7

Post by dchuk » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 3:00 AM UTC

kenrose wrote: post #4

Thanks for sharing. I also recently started a TIL repo from the same inspiration and found it lame to write my first README entry. Will look at setting up what you described.

If there was a public place for posting these with peers, that was built for TILs rather than just a repo, would you use it? Especially if it included an easy way to export all to markdown for backup?

This would allow folks to see each other’s TILs, search them, browse by tag, like/favorite each other’s TILs, and some other fun stuff eventually

Re: Using a self-rewriting README powered by GitHub Actions to track TILs

#8

Post by johntash » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 4:35 AM UTC

simonw wrote: post #6

hendry wrote: post #5

I find the hard dependency on Github a bit disconcerting. Why not self host? What happens if https://github.com/simonw/til drops away? Love your work Simon.

My https://til.simonwillison.net/til site acts as a sort of off-site backup - but I should probably run a cron somewhere which pulls my repos. I have a Digital Ocean box I could do that on. Good idea!

If you want a recommendation, try out https://gitea.io/en-us/ - it has a mirror feature that can periodically pull down repos for you.

I've been using it to backup some of my repos on github/gitlab, without having to rely on any of my own custom scripts/crons.

Re: Using a self-rewriting README powered by GitHub Actions to track TILs

#9

Post by littke » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 4:52 AM UTC

I actually built a little webapp for this recently: https://todayilearned.co

For tracking and sharing of personal TILs

Also as an iOS app

Re: Using a self-rewriting README powered by GitHub Actions to track TILs

#10

Post by littke » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 4:53 AM UTC

dchuk wrote: post #3

Alright, now I’m definitely going to build a little web app for this

I recently started, come join me! https://todayilearned.co

@littke on twitter