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Small programming tricks

681 points · 294 comments · signa11

  1. phforms · · focus · HN ↗
    The thing with a lot of these tricks is that you have to get into the habit of using them. I knew `Ctrl+r` for history since I learned about the command line. I even have a nice shell integration with fzf. But I still used the up/down arrow keys for years or scrolled up when I was looking for a previous command, because I never remembered the shortcut and just took the path of least resistance to find something.

    Usually what I do is writing these tricks down to a document that is easily accessible at a place where I know that I will look for when failing to remember them. I have a directory of docs where I write stuff like this down by language/tool/etc., so I can quickly look it up without having to search the internet. But I also have to actively remind myself that these things exist whenever I have a problem, stop me from just doing the inefficient thing.

    1. gregdeon · · focus · HN ↗
      Bonus: if you write all your tricks in a document, people will love your document. Whenever I offer a new student my CHEATSHEET.md file, their eyes absolutely light up.
      1. kenniskrag · · focus · HN ↗
        You have a link? :-) (Still a student)
        1. gregdeon · · focus · HN ↗
          Mine is unfortunately pretty specific to the HPC clusters we use. Maybe I should pick out the more general bits and make them public some day...
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