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Keep a programming journal

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Re: Keep a programming journal

#61

Post by meej »

mbreese wrote: post #33
Terretta wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Beautiful articulation of what's wrong with the iPad.

I think you mean, what the iPad isn't good for... if you try to use it as a notebook, you'll fail. It just isn't very good for that type of application. I know some people that like to type notes (laptop or tablet), but most people I'm around still take notes with a regular pen and paper. Then again, I'm a scientist and we are trained from the beginning to keep a good lab notebook. If it isn't in the notebook, it did…

Which iPad note-taking apps have you tried? There are definitely a lot of terrible ones out there.

Notability, however, is absolutely fantastic. I've been using it with a Cosmonaut stylus since late May and I haven't used a paper notebook since. Rather than failure, it's exceeded all my expectations.

The only missing feature is handwriting recognition, and well, I wouldn't have that with paper, either.

Re: Keep a programming journal

#62

Post by officemonkey »

wonderzombie wrote: post #40

So does anybody have tips about how to take good/useful notes? I feel like my stuff, while organized by topic, ends up being disorganized and quite ad-hoc. I feel like I'm missing out on something since I don't have any real system or technique beyond "write down stuff like you're explaining it to your future self" or some such. Maybe it's enough just to be writing all that down.

Some people take notes to they better remember something. (I did that a lot in college. I would take notes to help me remember what I just heard.) For that kind of stuff, you just want to dump the data on paper.

There's other stuff that you'll write down because you're going to want to refer to it later. (For example, contact information, websites urls, things to put on a to-do list.) I came up with a simple set of margin icons ("@" for contact info, "w" for a www url, a checkbox for a to-do item, the date for an item for your calendar.

If you put them in the margin, then you can cross them off when you put them in your contact list, your calendar, or your to-do list.

You can extend this further with other margin icons. For instance, you can write "M" in the margin to identify meeting notes. or "Q" for a particularly good quote.

The key to note taking is to figure out how you would need the information later and improve the way you capture to support the way you consume.

Re: Keep a programming journal

#63

Post by tylerneylon »

billswift wrote: post #58
tylerneylon wrote: post #53

Paper and pen(cil) notes are the ultimate in low-overhead for a temporary close-to-mind data store. I would disagree about the author's advice to use page numbers and table of contents, though; these add overhead, and for me the main advantage is ease-of-use, including close to zero extra work when writing something down. (Dates are useful, I admit.) I keep a paper coding notebook of anything I might possibly refer b…

Page numbers and table of contents are very important for finding the info again. Also, they don't have to, and shouldn't, interfere with note-making. I number the pages before I start using a new notebook, and add things to the ToC at the end of the day when I do a quick review, when I also make out tomorrow's to-do list.

Numbering pages ahead of time sounds like a good way to avoid time-of-writing overhead.

I write down a LOT of my thoughts as I work - most of it I never refer back to again after that day. I like to use book darts (maybe two or three per notebook) to mark things I do refer back to more often. http://www.bookdarts.com/

Re: Keep a programming journal

#64

Post by mmcnickle »

Yep, I have a bound notebook for each project I work on. It's great for seeing how and why you arrived at a certain point. A habit from keeping lab books at university.

I use a thin (0.5mm) mechanical pencil.

Re: Keep a programming journal

#65

Post by kellishaver »

eckyptang wrote: post #55
kellishaver wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After switching to a Model M keyboard a few years ago (one that I found in a shed covered in 10yrs of dirt and grease that still worked like new once it was cleaned up), I switched to writing conference call notes on a Mead notebook instead of typing them, because the keyboard was so loud. After a few weeks of this, my handwriting got back to a decent quality and efficiency and now I find that I take notes on paper f…

+1 but I use a mechanical pencil as you can rub stuff out, it's immune to coffee spills and you can file your nails down on the knurling when you are thinking (Rotring 600 recommended). I am sometimes ridiculed for such low technology though which I find rather strange. I think there are some serious cultural identity problems at the moment.

I usually end up writing with a pen because I find the greater level of contrast easier to read; I have pretty bad eyesight. Lately I've been using fine-point Sharpie pens and they're great for readability.

I do a lot of pencil drawings, though (http://orng.us/ob8yao) and I do find something magical about the feel of pencil on paper, and even the smell of the graphite. I can lose myself for hours. But if I'm writing, I like a darker line, which means softer lead, which means more smudging.... bleh.

Re: Keep a programming journal

#66

Post by FuzzyDunlop »

stephengillie wrote: post #35
babarock wrote: post #2

As long as we're on this subject, I'd like to strongly encourage programmers to adopt a "pen-and-paper" approach to problem solving. Just like mentionned in the article, there are great benefits coming from actually writing down the problem. For the past year or so, every time I worked on a non-trivial problem, I did it on a sheet of paper. It definitely took discipline at first but now I couldn't do it any other way…

I strongly encourage the "write it down" method of problem solving, aka the Feynman Algorithm. Making a text record is often a good idea, for remembering information as well as solving problems. I disagree with using paper and a pen. Why spend time drawing these letters out when we can just type them? Is it just a strategy to force yourself to slow down and think about what you're writing? There's nothing magical abo…

I can write things down and circle important bits as I go, or branch off particular points with other ideas; I can doodle little diagrams and annotate them; I can write annotated pseudo-code and little theories and ideas, and refer back to them on different pages, and so on...

If I type, all I can do with minimal effort is type. If I want to draw diagrams, or annotations, or brainstorm, I have to change to a different application, and use separate tools for each task, or otherwise spend more time formatting my document than getting my thoughts written down.

If I write, then I need nothing more than a pen and some paper and I can do anything, and I can do it fast without having to find the correct type of document to create, or the right place to save it.

Most importantly, I don't need a computer to do it, and it gets me away from my screen. And even if I never refer to the notes again, the satisfaction of doing it at all is invaluable.

Re: Keep a programming journal

#67

Post by Johngibb »

sgt wrote: post #49
Mystitat wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Zebra Sarasa. $13.24 for a dozen. http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Sarasa-Retractable-Rollerball-Bl...

$13.24 for a pen. Seriously I want one, but I'd chain mine up to my desk, because people tend to grab any pen they see!

I think that price is for a 12 pack - not quite so bad!

Re: Keep a programming journal

#68

Post by eckyptang »

kellishaver wrote: post #65
eckyptang wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1 but I use a mechanical pencil as you can rub stuff out, it's immune to coffee spills and you can file your nails down on the knurling when you are thinking (Rotring 600 recommended). I am sometimes ridiculed for such low technology though which I find rather strange. I think there are some serious cultural identity problems at the moment.

I usually end up writing with a pen because I find the greater level of contrast easier to read; I have pretty bad eyesight. Lately I've been using fine-point Sharpie pens and they're great for readability. I do a lot of pencil drawings, though ( http://orng.us/ob8yao ) and I do find something magical about the feel of pencil on paper, and even the smell of the graphite. I can lose myself for hours. But if I'm writin…

Nice work on the big cats :)

Re: Keep a programming journal

#70

Post by nlh »

So despite the great ideas and tales of pens & paper (and moleskin) here, I'd love to hear some thoughts on good digital solutions to the programming journal.

I use and am totally in love with Day One (iOS & OSX) for my personal journal:

http://dayoneapp.com

It could very easily be adapted into a programming journal (it supports images w/ each entry & monospace fonts, which are both great). Unfortunately, they don't yet support multiple journals, so that's out as an option for me on the programming side.

Any thoughts / suggestions on good apps that will fit the bill? I know about Evernote but would love something a bit more "journal-specific" and perhaps better suited to this task...

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