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Ask HN: How do you manage unsaved files in a text editor?

2 points by winteriscoming ↗ HN
I used to save to my desktop folder, the TODOs, logs copy pasted from different places and various other things which I thought were important enough to refer back some day but not that important to save them in specific folders. This led to my desktop being completely cluttered after a while.

Then I found SublimeText editor where you dont have to explicitly save the files and yet you dont lose the content upon restart. I know it internally saves it to its internal folders, but the fact that I didn't have to explicitly save it made things easier.

Been using it for around a year now and have ended up with numerous tabs in the editor, each one for the many unsaved data. It's reached a point where it's become unmanagable switching through those tabs for the files I want to get to or even finding out which of those files contain what unsaved data.

Has anyone of you found yourself in similar situation? What tool(s) do you use and how do you manage such (text) data?

FWIW, I use LinuxMint for my OS.

3 comments

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epalmer
I save important files explicitly with sublime text. I don't let to tools features drive my work habits.
stephenr
If i want to make quick free-form notes about things, I use Notes.app (the Apple app). I don't have to "explicitly save" it, it has hierarchy, and it has rich text if i want it.

If I'm writing more thought out, structured information (e.g. I'm using this method to define the deliverables/goals/basic use for my company's software packages) I use a VCS repo with markdown files in it. This allows me to link between the documents, and when I get around to it, make it accessible via a simple wiki tool like Gollum. This is the opposite of your 'no specific saving' thing though - you have to not just save it, but also commit and push.

executesorder66
I do something similar to you. Just leave random unsaved files in a text editor. But if it's still there after 2 or 3 days and I feel I may still need it, I copy it into Zim wiki. I've found it's a great way to organize all my random notes.