Ask HN: How do you work?
How do you work? More specifically, how do you keep your programming tasks organized.
When I do Mac development at home I use software called an outliner to organize, keep notes and prioritize the tasks I need to do. I started out using a program called Deep Notes (http://amarsagoo.info/deepnotes/) which is a nice simple free tool. But now I use The Hit List (http://www.potionfactory.com/thehitlist/).
I’ve been looking for an equivalently good program on the Windows platform but so far have not found one. So far I’ve tried FusionDesk (http://www.fusiondesk.com/) and am not satisfied with it. I’m starting to get the urge to write my own software but thought I would ask around first and see if anyone knows of a good product that I have not been able to find on this vast internet.
7 comments
[ 4.7 ms ] story [ 28.3 ms ] threadHe doesn't actively develop it anymore which is a shame - I love it but I went back to a notepad approach after my last big project.
This is a hard and fast rule that I have always followed and is absolutely critical to my success. Just a few of the reasons:
1. I firmly believe that analysis, design, and planning is much more effective if it is done away from the computer. These are totally different activities from programming and they take a different mindset and environment. That's pretty tough to do if you use computerized tools to organize.
2. I like to spread out my notes, plans, diagrams, lists, etc. on a table to work on them. I also tack them up on the wall above my work space, both at the computer and in the other room. I want to give my mind every opportunity to see the "big picture" when it's appropriate. Again, tough to do with a computer unless you have 5 monitors.
3. I carry my notes with me whereever I go. You never know when inspriration will hit, and I don't want to carry a laptop everywhere and wait for it to boot up.
4. Bedtime is critical thinking time (both at night and in the morning). I always have my notes and multiple colored pens with me in bed. Some of my best ideas have come at this time. I can't imagine the same thing happening with a laptop. I have addressed this before here:
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=191275
and here
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=290842
Hope this helps.
My prime counter example for not organizing solely with paper is when I am programming. Sometimes when implementing a feature that I've already planned out I get an idea for another feature. In this case I find it more natural to switch briefly to another program and write a short sentence about the idea. Then I can switch back and keep programming.
Oh and thanks for the links.