Over the years, I've found a number of efficiency hacks which make using the computer as a software developer much more smooth and elegant. This involves how I use the OS, the IDE, and other tools. I've found it pays to sharpen the saw and make the flow of work as hurdle-free as possible, especially for the tasks that are repeated many times. The cost of setting things up and learning to use any particular hack non-trivial but fixed, and the benefit is ongoing. In this post, I describe the hacks that made the most impact for me.
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VIM is a text editor that makes writing code MUCH more enjoyable. After using it for a long time it's almost hard to believe how people can write code without it. It's like driving a new BMW opposed to an old Peugeot. Everything is just smooth and fast. And unlike BMW, it's free! Watching another programmer write code without using VIM is almost like watching someone type using two fingers (one with each hand). You just want to say: give me the keyboard, I'll do it for you.
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