- Metadata
- Summary
- 16s Opening Story: Begins with a humorous anecdote about Silicon Valley and index cards.
- 46s Inspiration for Lifehax: Visit to Xerox PARC and encounter with Ken Beck, founder of Xtreme programming.
- 3m 34s Survey of Technologists: Contacted 70 technologists, received 14 detailed responses.
- 16m 6s Common Themes: Use of simple tools like Todo.txt for organization.
- 17m 5s Text Files for Organization: Importance of quick data entry and retrieval.
- Quick Data Entry: Emphasizes the need to quickly dump information to avoid forgetting it (17m 13s).
- Efficiency: Organizing systems must be fast, typically taking no more than 1-3 minutes (17m 23s).
- Time Management: The goal is to ensure that the process of organizing does not become a time-consuming task. By limiting organizational activities to 1-3 minutes, individuals can maintain productivity and focus on their primary tasks without being bogged down by the system itself.
- Text Processing: Text files allow for quick cutting, pasting, and searching (17m 45s).
- Minimal Metadata: Preference for minimal metadata to keep systems simple (18m).
- 18m 36s Incremental Search: Described as a powerful tool for efficiency.
- Incremental Search Explained: Incremental search is a feature that allows users to search text as they type, providing immediate feedback and results. This is similar to how search engines like Google offer suggestions and results as you type each letter. In text editors and other applications, this feature helps users quickly locate information without needing to complete the entire search query. It is particularly useful in environments like Emacs or Mozilla, where users can start typing and see results instantly, enhancing productivity by reducing the time spent searching for information.
- I have good incremental search in the following apps:
- LaunchBar
- DEVONthink
- The Archive
- Vim
- Cursor
- Obsidian
- Applications and Benefits: Incremental search is prevalent in many text processing tools and is becoming more common in other software environments. It allows for faster navigation and retrieval of information, making it a valuable tool for anyone dealing with large amounts of text or data. The ability to quickly narrow down search results as you type can significantly improve workflow efficiency.
- 27m 1s Private Tools: Many prolific technologists use personal scripts and software.
- 29m 23s Examples of Secret Software: Random stick generators, Netscape killers, SSH tricks.
- 31m 2s Syncing Challenges: Custom solutions for file synchronization due to lack of trust in existing apps.
- 39m 13s Publicizing Tools: Many secret tools are used to create public-facing applications.
- 51m 11s Final Thoughts: Emphasis on adaptability and simplicity in software design.
- Notes
- We need simple formats, like text which can be easily edited.
- Even in multiple applications.
- 2.8.4
- We need simple systems, or shallow hierarchy so we can quickly organize information.
- We need to have incremental search, for finding information quickly.
- Apps on my Mac with good incremental search
- LaunchBar
- DEVONthink
- The Archive
- Vim
- Cursor
- Obsidian
- In essence…
- We need to have a text based system when working with documents, so it can be easily manipulated regardless of the app we’re using. It should be one flat folder, and organize it using tags and good naming.
- Always keep a note open when thinking since it can be edited, adjusted, kept as a history of our thinking.
- It can be…
- a Bike outline file
- this can’t be edited in Cursor
- TaskPaper for plain text
- or even a simple Markdown outline like this
#Processing