Ask HN: Do you have a smart trick to save time?

My trick is this: Learn the classical Unix tools such as grep, sed, GNU Coreutils, etc. And also newer ones like csvkit.

...but if you're interested, I know a good way to reduce storage space. Put all long, skinny things together. Scale doesn't matter... put big things with little things. Shape matters. Similarly, put all boxy shapes together, and all spheres together. Generally, put similar shapes together, regardless of size.

> If using Mac, Duplicate the program in the Application folder to open multiple windows on programs that normally don't support it.

Save yourself the disk space: `open -na Slack`. See `man open` for even more options.

That’s my tip: when you learn about a new CLI tool, skim its `man` page to learn what it can do. You may find capabilities you hadn’t though of, and new ways to solve old problems.

My second tip is to use Alfred[1] to invoke and build small interfaces for all the time-saving tricks you develop. As a relevant example, it would be trivial to make a Workflow (what Alfred calls its plugins/extensions) in which you press a keyboard shortcut and it runs the above `open` command with the name of the frontmost app.

[1]: https://www.alfredapp.com

Setting up auto-delivery. By inputting my grocery list into Instacart and having the same items delivered every Monday, I not only save money (because I'm not at the store, distracted by items that I may or may not cook), but I save time and always have a fridge and cupboard full of what I know I’ll eat.

* Mise En Place.

* Clean as you cook.

Hiring. Seriously. A lot of tasks can best be outsourced. Even if you think you dont have the money. Doing everything yourself is more expensive.

My trick is to learn keyboard shortcuts; it certainly makes your work easier and faster. Also, if you have spare time, try to learn Python. You can create a program that can automate your tasks for you.

I let my background problem solving do most of the work before writing any code. I glance at what I need to do and then mentally walk through what it will take to get it done, then let it marinate for a day or two in my head. I’m usually so over how mundane the implementation actually needs to be that I end up writing a pretty straight forward solution. Get’s done quicker and I don’t waste time staring at a screen making much ado about nothing (an unnecessary solution).

Really helps keep things in perspective.