This is generally an excellent article, but I have to take exception with one of its assertions: I’ve been using a second monitor for nearly ten years, thinking that vast amounts of space were key to productivity. The second monitor myth has been around for quite some time. Yet the only actual scientific study I [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Productivity category.
“Keep Going. Concentrate on Something Useful.”
The text I quoted above got me thinking. As many of my readers know, I’ve been working on an extremely difficult programming problem for the last seven years. Many really smart people have attempted to solve it before me, and so far, none have succeeded; many others, equally intelligent, believe that it simply can’t be [...]
“How to Start Using Procedure Checklists for Flawless Task Execution”
I stand behind this idea 100%. I’ve been using checklists for certain procedures (like software releases) for a number of years now, ever since I discovered that I was forgetting to do one or two things in each release. They were small things, but they made those releases look less professional. I just wish that [...]
Git, Gitosis, and SSH
As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, my previous company was purchased by a larger company (I’ll call it BigCo for the rest of this entry) several years ago, and they still keep me on the payroll for consulting and the more intricate development work on Project Badger. BigCo is not a software company, it’s [...]
“Distributed Version Control is here to stay, baby”
Hot on the heels of my own version-control post, Joel Spolsky writes one of his own. It’s a good overview of what’s different between a traditional version-control system and the new distributed version-control systems, and how the new ones are better. (It works for me, I use Git myself.) The takeaway quote: If you are [...]
“Einstein’s Secret to Amazing Problem Solving (and 10 Specific Ways You Can Use It)”
I’ve been using a number of these ideas for a while now, on Project X, without realizing it. Maybe the ones that are new to me will help too.
“Wait, Computer Games That Look Like Office Productivity Apps?”
An interesting concept, at the very least. (I’m categorizing this under Productivity, but “anti-Productivity” might be a better description.)
“Focus on 8-Minute Increments to Beat Back Chores”
Anything that helps deal with distasteful chores is welcome.
Windows 7
Last Friday, I discovered that I needed a 64-bit version of Windows for development purposes. I had a 64-bit version of Windows XP on a spare machine, but I haven’t set it up since the recent move, and until we get more stuff organized, I frankly don’t have the room. But it occurred to me [...]