GTD

Switching: Linux App Equivalents

I have been in the process of planning out switching to Linux in 2010 for my main development computer (a laptop), as well as for various web and database servers I am responsible for at work.

I've been making good use of Sun's awesome (and free) VirtualBox program, which allows me to create any number of virtual computers to experiment on. I've had a couple of CLI-only server versions running (Debian and Ubuntu), as well as what amounts to a desktop system for the last three Ubuntu releases: 8.10, 9.04, and the just-issued 9.10.

tron.jpg

My User has information that could... that could make this a free system again! No, really! You'd have programs lined up just to use this place, and no MCP looking over your shoulder.

I'll cover the whys and wherefores of switching in the future. For now, suffice to say that the ever-increasing commercialization of Mac OS X, with accompanying restrictions, has been grating on me for some time now. I am also attracted to the notion of software freedom (having been a huge fan of the original Tron movie ;) and of course the cost savings can be dramatic. And since I work primarily in education, I think we would be neglecting our duty by not exploring the open-source world.

dumont.jpg

All that is visible must grow beyond itself, and extend into the realm of the invisible.

One of the first and ongoing steps is compiling a list of application equivalents to programs I am need of.

Still looking:

  • Time Machine (backup) -> roll-my-own or manual?
  • Bluetooth File Exchange -> built into Gnome?

Stuff that exists in both places:

If you're looking into switching as well, or just are looking for new apps to try out whatever your platform, check out AlternativeTo, which provides alternatives for Linux, Mac, and Windows programs.

Note: Written before the current cold whacked me in the head and upper respiratory tract. Bits are incomplete. Suggestions are welcome.

End of line.

How to start from scratch in OmniFocus

If you'd like to re-start with a clean slate in task-management software OmniFocus, getting rid of all projects, actions, contexts, etc., here's what you do.

  1. Just in case you change your mind, be sure to perform a backup of your database first, via the commands in the File menu.
  2. Quit OmniFocus if it's running.
  3. Via the Finder, go to ~/Library/Application Support and look for the OmniFocus folder.
  4. Move it to your Desktop for now.
  5. Re-start OmniFocus.

That's it. After you make sure everything's kosher, you can trash the older folder or back it up somewhere else.

Useful Unix, Vim, and Emacs tricks on Slashdot

cartoon of vi man beating up feeble emacs user

A couple of days ago, Slashdot posted a story asking about "(Useful) Stupid Unix Tricks?":

So the other day I messaged another admin from the console using the regular old 'write' command (as I've been doing for over 10 years). To my surprise he didn't know how to respond back to me (he had to call me on the phone) and had never even known you could do that. That got me thinking that there's probably lots of things like that, and likely things I've never heard of. What sorts of things do you take for granted as a natural part of Unix that other people are surprised at?

It's perhaps unsurprising that there have been over 2200 comments exploring the arcana of the Unix and Unixy command line. A lot of awesome lore to check out.

Yesterday came the next story, "(Useful) Stupid Vim Tricks?":

I thoroughly enjoyed the recent post about Unix tricks, so I ask Slashdot vim users, what's out there? :Sex, :b#, marks, ctags. Any tricks worth sharing?

570+ comments later, there's a lot to check out there as well.

Today's post was inevitable, "(Stupid) Useful Emacs Tricks?":

Since the Vi version of this question was both interesting and popular, let's hear from the other end of the spectrum. What are your favorite tricks, macros, extensions, and techniques for any of the various Emacs? Myself, I like 'M-x dunnet' ;-)

200 comments and counting.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the Vim story, apart from the various spiffy command tips and tricks, were links to other sites. Here are a couple, along with a few related others I've linked to before.

links for 2007-10-26

links for 2007-10-24

  • Terminal Productivity Tips
    "...the most useful hints for working on the command line in the context of OS X server. It's probably aimed at people who work with Terminal every day...but have never had the time to look around for tips to boost their productivity."

links for 2007-06-19

  • Using Emacs org-mode for GTD
    A brief overview of org-mode Emacs and how it can be used to implement David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology.
  • GTD with vim
    Using an outliner in VIM with dynamic todo lists
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