I sit in from of my PC a lot, and I know I'm not alone in this. I really think that to many people take for granted the extra clicks, actions and time they waste to perform mundane tasks when they could be utilizing that for their deliverables and profitable work. Over the years, I've tried my best to optimize my desktop to skip these things as much as possible. Keyboard shortcuts and 3rd party applications can do wonders to making your life better, and I'd like to share just some of the things I've found that do just that.
What are some common tasks we do hundreds of times a day as developers which waste time? I don't have all of them listed, and everyone is different, but I want to open your mind to thinking this way with some examples...
- Opening programs.
- Switching between programs.
- Using the mouse!
- Adjusting your body position.
Opening Programs
Yeah ok, big freaking deal right? NO, its a huge freaking deal. I'd like you to take 1 day and write down every time you open an application on your computer. Now multiply that number by how long it takes you to navigate to it; 5, 10, 15 seconds? That adds up to maybe a few minutes a day, an hour or so a week, a few hours a month, a day or two a year! You've spent 2 whole days opening programs. Now think about how many clicks it took you to get there. That can number in the thousands over time, and every click strains your hands, back, arms, neck, etc. You wonder why your shoulders hurt after sitting at your desk all day.
Think about everything in this way. We as developers know all about clicks and keeping those down so users can navigate easier so why not pay attention to yourself? There are lots of applications and tools that help with this. Rocketdock, Launchy, Sidebar, even Windows Quick Launch. I'm not going to tell you what to use, but go looking and you won't be disappointed.
Switching Between Programs
Here is another example that follows the same mentality. This proves to always be an issue even now for me. First thing, get a second monitor and buy Ultramon, you won't be disappointed. Turn that wide screen monitor sideways so you can fit more code on the screen to reduce scrolling. Learn ALT + TAB. Vista takes a stab at improving this, and 7 really does a better job at window management but you have to find what works for you. Do some research and hey, send me some suggestions.
Using The Mouse
I hate the mouse, except for video games. We spend so much time on the keyboard typing with two hands, and then suddenly boom, you have to stop, grab your mouse, find your pointer, and aim it at little boxes on your screen. Learn every keyboard shortcut you can, learn how to TAB and SHIFT + TAB, jack yourself into the Matrix so you can move the mouse with your mind, and then say "There is no mouse".
Now not to say the mouse is bad, but if I'm coding, I'd rather hit CONTROL + S > ALT + TAB > svn commit than move my hand, find my SSH window and click the prompt and then type that.
Adjusting Your Body Position
Now this is really hard, and everyone tries it to get it right but I'm just stressing how important this ergonomics stuff is. Not only are you uncomfortable and constantly stopping your work to move, but your hurting your body, and in ten years you'll be crying like a teething baby trying to hold your arm up to use the mouse because you neglected to buy a chair with an arm rest. Then you get back problems and need a chiropractor, and eventually have to find a new line of work because you can't even sit down.
Throw out your Dell keyboard and mouse, buy some nice ones. You buy a nice bed to sleep in 8 hours a night right? Well your clicking away on these input devices 8 hours a day as well. Buy a nice chair! Go to 500 stores and try every single one, you only have one back!
In Conclusion
This blog post is partially a rant. I think a lot about making things easier with the web, and it bleeds into my life more than one would think. I'm baffled every day when I see people not paying attention to themselves and making their life easier. Want to know the number one reason why? "This is how I've always done it". That is crap, and an excuse for being lazy. When you think about it your just wasting your life, and hurting yourself and your future. Why not do everything you can to save those time and clicks, so you can have more time for yourself, and feel better after a long day.