Productivity for Devs
Tags: productivity, tools
Published: 2017-11-29 04:03:05

---
title: "Productivity for Devs"
published: true
cover_image: https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/ciocbosfpuxpie5cj6vj.jpg
tags: productivity,tools
canonical_url: https://tiffanywhite.tech/productivity-devs/
---

While perusing The Practical Dev for new posts, I came across a post that intrigued me: {% link https://dev.to/sobolevn/instant-100-command-line-productivity-boost  %} Productivity for devs is something I’ve been meaning to write about. Now I have the impetus to do so.

I thought installing _oh-my-szh_ and using _aliases_ made me a badass. Unfortunately for me, that wasn’t the case.

This post is going to talk about productivity for developers, much like on the [Syntax.fm show on the topic](https://syntax.fm/show/011/our-favourite-productivity-hacks).

## Getting Sh*t Done

I find, first and foremost, that a great task manager is essential to remembering what you need to do. I use [OmniFocus](https://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnifocus/) for my main task manager, on all my devices <sup id="fnref-2459-1"><a href="#fn-2459-1">1</a></sup>. OmniFocus may seem rigid in its attempt at GTD but it is pretty flexible: use what you want.

[![](https://d.pr/i/wP32oT+)](https://d.pr/i/wP32oT+)

### Trello for Project Management

I use Trello to manage my projects and it does a fantastic job at that. Needing a high level and visual overview of what I need to get done, I reach for the Trello Mac app every time.

## Dev Tools

For my shell I use [iTerm 2](https://iterm2.com/) which is in its 3rd iteration <sup id="fnref-2459-2"><a href="#fn-2459-2">2</a></sup> and `zsh` shell.

[Wes Bos](https://wesbos.com/) has a [great theme](https://github.com/wesbos/Cobalt2-iterm) for _all the things_, a fork of the Sublime Text Cobalt2 theme and it is what I am using on iTerm as well as [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) <sup id="fnref-2459-3"><a href="#fn-2459-3">3</a></sup> which is faster than Atom though it lacks multiple projects in one window.

[![](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192424/Screenshot2017-09-30_04-41-56_PM.jpg)](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192424/Screenshot2017-09-30_04-41-56_PM.jpg)

With the theme and the [powerline fonts](https://github.com/powerline/fonts) which show your git statuses and which directory you’re in, it makes for a great looking terminal.

[![](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192412/Screenshot2017-09-30_04-39-30_PM.jpg)](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192412/Screenshot2017-09-30_04-39-30_PM.jpg)

iTerm has the ability to have separate profiles for whatever you want. For instance, I have a Check Yo Self profile that I can switch to whenever I want to work on that particular app.

[![](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192439/Screenshot2017-09-30_04-37-52_PM.jpg)](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192439/Screenshot2017-09-30_04-37-52_PM.jpg)

### Command Line Tools

#### Zsh Syntax Highlighting

Knowing if you have a typo in an alias or command is crucial to not screwing everything up. One of the ways to tell what you’re typing is by using [zsh-syntax-highlighting](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting). You can customize the color of the highlights by looking at the [highlighter docs](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting/blob/master/docs/highlighters.md).

#### Z – Jump Around

[z](https://github.com/rupa/z/) is a utility that allows you to jump to different directories by typing `z` and then the directory. You’ll have to `cd` around in directories for a bit to “train” it but once you do, it’s pretty easy to skip around in directories. It is a “frecent” tool: frequent and recent directories.

#### Exa: ls replacement

Another cool command line utility is [exa](https://github.com/ogham/exa), which replaces `ls` with some nifty features like syntax highlighting and a ton of other commands. Just type `exa` and it will list the contents of your directory. You can get directory permissions, print each item on one line with the `-1` flag, and much more.

[![](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192448/Screenshot2017-09-30_06-28-20_PM.jpg)](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192448/Screenshot2017-09-30_06-28-20_PM.jpg)

## Miscellaneous Tools

### Alfred

I use [Alfred app](https://www.alfredapp.com/) for navigating pretty much everything. The workflows make it, where I can create gists out of files, search Stack Overflow, add Trello cards to different boards, and make OmniFocus tasks out of Chrome tabs, and much more.

[![Getting things done or...wasting time?](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192459/Product_hunt.jpeg)](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192459/Product_hunt.jpeg)<figcaption>Getting things done or…wasting time?</figcaption>

I also use Wes Bos’s [Cobalt2 Alfred theme](https://github.com/wesbos/Cobalt2-Alfred-Theme) for this.

### Go F**king Work

[Go F**king Work](https://www.gofuckingwork.com/) is a [Chrome extension](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/go-fucking-work/hibmkkpfegfiinilnlabbfnjcopdiiig). It’s similar to Stay Focused but a lot harsher…as the name suggests.

[![](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192859/Screenshot2017-09-30_06-36-55_PM-1024x586.jpg)](https://cdn.tiffanywhite.tech/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/30192859/Screenshot2017-09-30_06-36-55_PM.jpg)

I swear like a sailor when I am around people I know and so I appreciate this extension for what it is and its customizability. There are alternatives of course, if sweary things aren’t your jam.

### Freedom
[![](https://cdn.thatmacnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/25212721/freedom_mac-4.png)](https://cdn.thatmacnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/25212721/freedom_mac-4.png)

Freedom is a little Mac, iOS, and Windows utility that blocks distracting websites and apps.

I downloaded it for iOS a while ago and while it worked well, sometimes the VPN profile would still block access to apps like Facebook. It’s really a pseudo-block. It stops apps from refreshing but it will not stop you from *seeing* past updates. I uninstalled it as I am pretty good about phone access during work hours. It is mainly on my Mac, where I do my work, that is the issue.

The reason I downloaded it on my Mac was for the ability to block apps. I needed a way to stop opening my text editor and working on issues and features all night long, which isn’t healthy. I’ve blocked the apps I would use to do development, essentially quitting the app right as its launched so I never get to do anything when I am off the clock. I do this on the weekdays, as weekends I can work on side projects if I’d like.

## Conclusion
Productivity is important and the tools you use should fit your working style. Just be sure while you're keeping on task, you're also staying healthy and taking time for self-care.

* * *

1. Currently [Omnigroup only makes Apple apps](https://support.omnigroup.com/windows-or-android/) and don’t have a web interface for OmniFocus. A web interface may be coming soon. On Android, there is an app that interfaces with OmniFocus using the Omnigroup’s API called [Focus GTD](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.burgstaller.android.focusgtd&hl=en).&nbsp;↩
2. Shouldn’t it be called _iTerm 3_?&nbsp;↩
3. This is the new hotness. I tried it when it first came out and used it exclusively but went back to Atom because of the plugins. Everyone seems to be talking about it now so I gave it another shot.&nbsp;↩