Questions tagged [productivity]
Questions about increasing your productivity and efficiency when working with a computer.
210
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Barebones "work-only" Station
I want to buy/build/configure a computer to be used only for programming work. In order to avoid distractions, I want limit myself to use no more than command-line terminals. I don't want to have any ...
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2
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How to show desktop apps in Windows 8's Switcher?
The Switcher in Windows 8 is really convenient for managing running applications, but unfortunately all desktop apps are grouped into one position in the switcher... I like to kill background apps ...
- 233
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2
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Ditto (clipboard manager): can't set shortcut of Win+<num>. Get “Error Registering Position 1”
Someone made a YouTube video on Ditto (maybe this one?), and that person uses Win+Num to paste items from the list. He put a screenshot of his settings on Google Plus:
When I try to do the same, ...
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4
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3
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How can I delete faster? Word boundary backspace?
I like to type fast. I'm a chronic delete-keyer. I will type first, re-think the output later and hit delete. It seems I'm addicted to always doing something fast.
Anyways, I have to tap the delete ...
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580
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How can I block Firefox from allowing me to create new profiles?
I'm very easily distracted so I use Leechblock with Firefox to help me focus while I'm at work. This works great (especially because I have it set to require a 64-character password in order to make ...
- 1,104
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How do you map a solo press of a modifier key to its own function or mapping on Windows?
Today on hacker news there was a clever article on custom shortcut keys.
The author talks about a technique for remapping a modifier key such as CTRL to ESC if CTRL were pressed without a modifier. ...
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VIM is great for text. Is there, too, an efficient, mouseless way to manipulate files on OS X?
I am having trouble navigating through files on OS X. That is, creating files, copying, moving, and so on. I am currently using the Finder, but the act of clicking with the mouse is not very efficient....
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Automatic highlighting of text in thunderbird
In days with large email influx, some emails tend to slip out of my attention. Usually these are email where I am not the primary recipient, but I am referenced at some point as having to perform some ...
- 904
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689
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Emacs email reader with "conversation view" support
I'm a happy long time Wanderlust user. Since I adopted Inbox Zero, however, I feel that archiving read emails does not work very well with Wanderlust and ordinary IMAP folders, because when a new ...
- 736
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3k
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Auto suspend after X minutes to stop myself procrastinating
Right now, I'm using a line in /etc/crontab to run pm-suspend every 30 minutes, but I would like an application displaying a warning before suspending (for example a countdown in the taskbar). An ...
- 121
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Can documents be forced in a printing queue?
I have recently been moved to work on a desk that is a bit far from the printer. One of the tasks I'm supposed to work on requires me to either have documents stacking up in the printer then go get it ...
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Is there any tool for windows emulating functionality of command-T plugin for vim?
As in the title. It would be usefull to have, for example, a tool like Executor or launchy, but with command-T fuzzy matching.
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Disable OS X Enter Full Screen animation
Most applications have a hotkey for entering full-screen in OS X with CmdCtrlF, for others I created a keyboard shortcut for Enter Full Screen and Exit Full Screen in system preferences.
But the 3.0 ...
- 923
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Browser plug-in to warn user when spending a long time on a site
Is there a browser plug-in that will warn the user ever X seconds with a popup and/or audio alarm when they are browsing predefined sites? Example: I go to Facebook and get sucked in and before I ...
- 4,117
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"Virtual mouse" using the keyboard
(For Windows.)
I'm looking for a kind of program that I hope exists. If it doesn't I might try to create it.
I passionately hate using the mouse. I've learned how to use the keyboard for 99% of the ...
- 5,220
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Finding matching columns in excel
I've never used excel before so I need the simplest solution available, and this is a work assignment due this week so I didn't have time read much of the documentation.
Basically, I have two tables,...
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Do Gunnar glasses work for programmers? [closed]
(Is this the right forum)?
This is a question about Gunnar optics (gunnars.com)
I've seen some reviews, but I'm not quite convinced if they are for me. Some of the people reviewing are gamers, and I'...
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Block all internet access during specific times
I'm looking for a way to block all internet access during specific times -- including websites, instant messaging, email programs.
Features I'm looking for:
Block internet access during specified ...
- 290
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4
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8k
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Propagating changes to multiple Linux servers with one command
So, I have a dozen of CentOS Linux servers. By and large, their configuration is mostly the same.
Sometimes I need to add extra cron job (separate crontab file in /etc/cron.d/), and/or copy over a ...
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223
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Have start menu index applications in places other than program files?
I love the ability to type any phrase into the start menu, and Windows 7 will bring up relevant executables under Program Files.
However, I have a separate folder of my own where I store several ...
- 1,121
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1k
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gnu screen - Copying text between windows
Is it possible to paste text copied in a paste buffer to a different window with some keybinding, without having to leave the current window? I.e., instead of going to the window and doing a Ctr-a + ],...
- 183
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Toggle-able USB hub with more than one input and output?
I recently came across this product:
http://ppa-usa.com/shared-network-hub-4-port-usb.html
The only problem is, this is nearly opposite of what I need.
Ideally, I'm looking for a USB hub-like device ...
- 1,121
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1
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2k
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How to disable windows 7 keyboard shortcut for moving active window?
Before windows 7, I was using an autohotkey script to positioning windows. Now, windows 7 has Win+Up/Down/Left/Right for moving the active window. There are few reasons I want to disable the built-in ...
- 943
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170
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Tell Chrome that this is local URL
Using ctrl+L shortcut I can tell Chrome browser that this is a query for the default search engine. Is there an similar shortcut for URLs?
But entering mysite.dev which is a domain set up on my ...
- 2,083
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3
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1k
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Should I learn Vim without mapping keys?
I have been using vim for a few months its been a love/hate relationship. I love the concept of modal editing and never having the need to move you hands from the keyboard. The problem is that a lot ...
- 1,962
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Configure Outlook to defer message delivery until a specific time
Is it possible to configure Outlook 2010 to defer the delivery of all messages until a specific time of day?
I know that it's possible to create a rule for outbound messages that will defer delivery ...
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260
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Tab key doesn't complete commands in Run dialog
I like to use the Tab key to complete or skip commands and links in shells and browsers when I am typing, but when I hit the Tab key in the Run dialog, it causes focus to leave the text box, so I'm ...
- 121
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136
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Equivalent of bash !! that ignores first word
In bash, I frequently do
touch whatever.py
vim whatever.py
I want something like
touch whatever.py
vim !!
So how do I do that with a bash ! directive that eats the first word?
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184
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Check email at fixed interval
I'm trying to cut down the time I spend checking for new mails by having an app/tool that works like Gmail Notifier (I'm on a PC), except that it allows you to specify checks at a fixed interval or at ...
- 113
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Time tracking tool for monitoring application usage [closed]
I want to know how I'm really using my computer, and where the time goes (I have an English paper due, and I intend on getting it done, it's 2:30 PM... no wait, it's 8:30 PM...).
Which software can ...
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4
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3k
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Monitoring application usage on OS X [closed]
Is there an application that can track what the active application is, log the information and display the data?
I'm trying to be more productive, so I've been looking at what applications are taking ...
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Pomodoro Software for OSX?
I have recently been using the Pomodoro Technique to help me accomplish tasks. I currently do it using timer on my phone. I was wondering if there is any software that runs on OSX Lion that can place ...
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360
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3.5 mm headphone jack -> bluetooth? [closed]
Would like to connect something to my PCs audio out headphone jack that will broadcast the audio via Bluetooth. I found a few examples on amazon but not sure if there is a better product or way. Also, ...
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233
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Software, which will make a sound when an application becomes responsive again
I am using several application, which are really slow. They will stay unresponsive for between 1 second and up to five minutes and I do not have any good way of predicting their response times. This ...
- 1,279
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1
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Is there any alternative to Anti-Social application for Windows? [closed]
Anti-Social is a simple but useful application that disables access to popular Social services (e.g. Facebook, Twitter) and hence increase your productivity. It's a subset of Freedom.
While Freedom ...
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2
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Replacement text snippets in gmail
I'm frequently retyping the same URLs in gmail email messages. Is it possible to set up a list of words that are auto replaced with replacement text once typed?
For example, whenever I type the word "...
- 709
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1
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Is there a native OS X app like WorkRave? [closed]
I'd like a (preferably free) break reminder app that's native to OS X. Does anyone know of such a tool? There's WorkRave for Windows and Linux.
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4
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Getting by with only one monitor
There is a lot of conventional wisdom, especially among programmers, about the benefits of having more monitor space in order to be more productive. Rather than throw out a pile of links, I'll put ...
- 1,031
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1
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290
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VS2010 Productivity power tools and messed up menus
In VS2010 I have the Productivity Power tools installed. Mostly they are great. However, recently, my menus are all appearing in the uppermost left corner of the screen, and my files appear blank!
...
- 1,514
0
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1
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749
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Automatically Send Print Job to Printer on Email Trigger
I'm looking for a way (on Mac OS) to automatically send print jobs to a printer when a certain email (sent to a fulfillment email address) is received. Kind of like a do-it-yourself print-on-demand.
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1
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915
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How can I block an application/game I own on my Mac?
For OS X, there is SelfControl which can make it so you cannot go specific websites (which you specify) for certain amount of time (which you also specify). The program's great for productivity... ...
- 21
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2
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880
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Pomodoro timer for linux that I can install without admin rights
What I need is a pomodoro timer (www.pomodorotechnique.com/) that I can use on a gnome linux (openSUSE) workstation that I use at work. It has to be able to show a popup notification so that I don't ...
- 3,397
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I would like to write a shell script/rc file that automates GNU Screen splits and starts programs within them
I would like to automate a scenario when I am working on a rails project, and I think screen is the perfect way to accomplish this without having to drag and drop multiple windows after every startup (...
- 408
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1k
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Make Finder window hover above all apps
I'm looking for a utility that will help me in keeping Finder windows hovering about all apps. Anyone heard of such?
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3
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19k
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Outlook conversation view and categories
At work, I tend to receive a couple of hundred emails a day. To keep from being overwhelmed, I have been using categories to sort and prioritize my mail messages. I auto-assign categories, then group ...
- 3,555
23
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4
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2k
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Is there a way to search the windows application menus like OSX's CMD+SHIFT+/ command?
I've moved from an OSX to PC workflow, and I've duplicated just about everything except when I need to use a menu item that I can't find.
On OSX, I'd often use the CMD+SHIFT+/ command which brings up ...
- 593
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1
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179
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Browser extension to zap images with keyboard shortcut
I'd like to find a browser extension or bookmarklet (Chrome and/or FF) that allows me to zap all images on a page with a single keystroke (CTRL+number for example)
Any help much appreciated.
- 709
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3
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"English autocompletion" program for Windows [closed]
I never experimented with software which gives you "English autocompletion", but it sounds like something I'd love to use and that could make typing much much more efficient. I mean, if I start typing ...
- 5,220
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2
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186
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Showing only one application in windows?
Sometimes I want to minimize distractions on the screen. It is easy for some applications, browsers and pdf readers usually have a fullscreen option.
Is there a way/software to only show one ...
- 1,666
12
votes
4
answers
6k
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Browser extension (or other software) to delay page load [closed]
The alt text to today's comic at xkcd.com (strip below) says:
After years of trying, I broke this
habit in a day by decoupling the
action and the neurological reward. I set up a simple 30-...
- 27.8k