How I work

Tags: work || 6 Comments

Lifehacker have been running a “How I work series” which has given an interesting look into how their editiors work on a day-to-day basis.

Well time for me to blatently rip off the idea :)

I challenge all of the Westcoastbloggers to answer the same questions on their blogs.

What desktop software do you use every day?

I’m still an Outlook user. Originally I used it because it sync’d with my PocketPC nicely, now it is just because I like it. I occasionally use Thunderbird on Linux.

I will often have a copy of either notepad (Microsoft’s BEST program - ever!) or notepad2 open. Notepad2 supports colour highlighting and UNIX line endings, so fills the gap nicely when notepad won’t cut the mustard. Unfortunately it doesn’t support ruby yet :(

I use Illium’s eWallet for password management. It is almost always open so I don’t have to remember all of my clients passwords. Also sync with my PocketPC so I can access stuff away from my laptop.

The command line utility NCFTP is my trusted FTP client. I started using this on Linux and fell in love with it, so I jumped at the changed to use it when the windows version came out.

If I’m text editing on Linux, I use VIM. There is a Windows version, but notepad is easier.

I use PuTTY to SSH in to the various servers that I work on. Since I work on a development server and I use Subversion for version control, this is a must have.
Although I try to keep this closed whereever possible, I use FeedDemon 2.0 for my RSS feeds.

What web sites do you use every day?

I always have my time tracking system, 88 miles open in a firefox tab

I frequent the port80 forums.

It goes without saying that Google gets fired up many times a day.

What PDA/personal organizer/system do you use to keep organized?

I have a Compaq iPaq, but don’t use it that often anymore. I used to use it mainly for time tracking, but now I use 88 miles. I have a big A4 paper diary in which I write meetings, todo lists and reminders for the next day (I’m more likely to read them in there as it is always right in front of me). If I’m out I will take my PDA because it is a bit smaller than my paper diary. I’m trialling Remember the Milk as a task list manager. Although I still seem more inclinded to write stuff down on paper.

My desktop

Podcasts and Transcripts from Ideas3 available

Ideas3 was the third speaking event organised by Port80 - the Australian Web Industry Organisation (of which I’m a committee member). The night was a great success with over 90 people showing up to the Melbourne hotel in Perth city.

For those of you who missed it for what ever reason, Port80 has made the podcasts and transcripts of the great talks by John Allsopp (Sydney) and Mark Boulton (UK) available at the Ideas3 website.

88 Miles has a blog

If you are interested in 88 Miles updates, bug fixes and announcements, you can go to blog.88miles.net and get your fix. Please leave a comment - I really appreciate the feedback.