Dev Environment Tips, Tricks and Tutorials

Setting up your development environment is a rite of passage for developers. Here's a bunch of things I've learned over 20+ years.

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Wrap Text to X Characters on the Command Line with fold or fmt

They're core GNU tools that you likely already have available. It's handy to make output more readable on high resolution displays.

Deleting Specific Lines in a File with sed or yq

We'll go over deleting 1 or more lines that match a regex as well as deleting specific lines by number reference.

Pretty Print JSON in Your Terminal with jq or Python

We'll go over creating a script to read in JSON from a file or your clipboard complete with multi-line syntax highlighting.

How to Use Pass Which Is a Command Line Password Manager

I use it multiple times a day and it never fails me. If you're looking for a secure offline password manager, look no further.

Moving a Bunch of Shell Alias Functions into Their Own Script Files

Aliases and shell functions serve a similar purpose, but they don't need to be kept in the same file.

Create Video Clips with FFmpeg in Seconds

Provide a file along with a start / end time and ffmpeg will do the rest. We'll also make a tiny wrapper script to make it easier to use.

Django 4.1+ HTML Templates Are Cached by Default with DEBUG = True

Here's how you can fix HTML templates not being updated in development after upgrading to Django 4.1+.

Quickly Check If a Google Image Is Really Transparent or Not

No longer get tricked by fake PNG files that have checker box patterns as their background when searching for a transparent image.

Associative Arrays in Bash (AKA Key-Value Dictionaries)

Starting with Bash 4+ you can assign arrays with keys and values. Here's how to declare, update and loop over them.

An Alias to Create Shell Scripts

Most shell scripts I create start the same, this saves a bit of time from having to create, chmod the file and set a few options.

How to Secure Your Notes and Home Network When Using a Company Laptop?

Work laptops are meant for work but what about internal work notes? Also what if IT has installed specific tools on the device?

Install Docker in WSL 2 without Docker Desktop

It's really fast and only requires a few lines of shell scripting. You won't need to run systemd inside of WSL 2 either.

Self Host and Preview Emails Locally with MailCatcher (Open Source)

MailCatcher works with any tech stack and it has a Docker image. It starts an SMTP server to view emails in a browser or any mail client.

Search All of Your Git History for Code and Commits with 2 Commands

Search your git repos for any string / regex, even across branches. This is handy to recall something from days, weeks or years ago.

Using Docker's v2 API to Get a List of Tags with the Help of jq

Docker deprecated their v1 API in September 2022, now we can get a lot more details about each tag using the v2 API.

Add a Git Branch to Your Prompt with a Few Lines of Shell Scripting

This will work if you're using bash or zsh and it doesn't require installing any third party tools or plugins.

git diff --staged Will Diff Files You've Staged vs What's Commit

It compares uncommitted changes vs your latest commmit, --cached does the same thing, it's an alias to --staged.

Test If Your Shell Scripts Are POSIX Compliant with ShellCheck

Even if you're using a Bash shebang you can run ShellCheck with the --shell flag to supply a different shell to check against.

Squashing Git Commits Locally without Rebasing or Merging a Branch

This could be useful to locally rewrite history before pushing your changes up or before making a pull request.

Using Browser Bookmarks and Tab Groups to Automate Daily Routines

Simple things like using bookmarks can speed up daily rituals and save you a decent amount of time with minimal effort.

Start Your Tmux Window and Pane Index Count at 1 Instead of 0

We'll go over how to do the above as well as auto-remove index gaps after closing a window. Your index counts will always be in order.

I Recently Switched to Zsh and Created a Dotfiles Install Script

I made the switch from Bash to Zsh, and with that I made a dotfiles install script that works on most Linux distros and macOS.

Save and Restore Tmux Sessions across Reboots with Tmux Resurrect

This is a plugin for tmux that persists your sessions, windows, panes and more. It's controlled by hotkeys to save and restore everything.

Reclaim Tons of Disk Space by Compacting Your Docker Desktop WSL 2 VM

We'll go over how to regain lots of disk space by compacting the VM file that Docker Desktop creates. I ended up getting 50gb back.

A Python Script to Increment File Names Starting at a Specific Number

This could be useful when adding a new file in between a list of files that were already ordered by number.

How to Record Great Sounding / High Quality Audio at Home

You could use these tips for remote interviews, code pairing, talks, podcasts, live streaming, YouTube videos and creating courses.

A Terminal, tmux, Vim and FZF Theme Switching Script written in Python

We'll go over a zero dependency Python 3 script to quickly change themes and toggle dark / light mode for various command line tools.

For the Time Being 16GB of RAM for Web Development Works Really Well

This video goes over running a ton of apps at once on Windows 10 with my 2014 workstation. Even while recording a video it doesn't hit 13GB.

Always on Top Lets You Pin a Window to the Foreground

It's available on Windows, macOS and Linux but it may require installing a 3rd party tool. It's useful for creating efficient workflows.

1 Hour Talk on Creating a Command Line Development Environment

Topics were covered such as using the command line, terminals, shells, scripting, aliases, prompt, history, tmux, Vim, dotfiles and more.

Giving a Text Based Slide Presentation in Vim without Plugins

In this video we'll add a few lines to our vimrc file so we can easily cycle between slides. We'll use Goyo too, but that's optional.

A Simple Python Web Server to Echo Back HTTP Request Headers and Data

In this video we'll go over how you can use this tool to test your app's webhooks but you can use it for other things too.

Generate a Random Secure Password on the Command Line with pwgen

In this video, we'll go over how to generate a password of custom length with at least 1 uppercase / special char and 1 number.

Switching from NERDTree to Fern for a Vim Tree View Plugin

In this video we'll go over how I use Fern to view and manipulate files in Vim. It's extremely fast and supports marking multiple files.

Live Coding a Shell Script to Toggle Dark Mode for Terminal Tools

In this video, we'll update the config files of a few tools using a combination of shell scripting, grep and perl.

3 Gotchas with WSL 2 around Disk Space, Memory Usage and Performance

In this video, we'll identify and go over how to fix 3 different WSL 2 issues that'll likely cause you trouble over time.

A Linux Dev Environment on Windows with WSL 2, Docker Desktop and More

In this video, we'll go over all of the tools I use on Windows and WSL 2 to create a productive development environment.

Diff Selections, Files, Directories and Git History with Vim

In this video we'll go over how to diff text in a bunch of different ways using Vim and the command line.

Linting and Improving Your Bash Scripts with ShellCheck

In this video we'll go over how ShellCheck can help us find both subtle and obvious bugs / issues with in shell scripts.

Using Vim's Built in Complete Menu for Autocompleting Words

In this video we'll use Vim's complete menu to get a natural autocomplete experience without having to set up a language server.

Creating Laser Focused Git Commits Using Git Add Patch

In this video we'll use the git add patch flag so we can stage a specific part of a file to commit, instead of the whole file.

Taking Advantage of Using Snippets with UltiSnips and Vim-Snippets

In this video we'll go over using snippets with Vim, but the idea of snippets applies to other code editors too.

An Open Source and Fully Offline Browser Based Kanban Board

I'm 15+ years late to the game but I'm starting to enjoy using Kanban boards to help me organize my projects. Here's the tool I'm using.

Why and How I Use Vim-Plug to Manage My Vim Plugins

Since I started with Vim pretty late, the first plugin manager I tried was vim-plug and it seems nearly perfect.

Fixing Vim Error E464: Ambiguous Use of User-Defined Command

In this video we'll look at how to debug this error. I was getting this error a lot when saving files but finally figured it out.

Organize Your Text Based Notes from the Command Line with This Script

In this video, we'll go over managing text based notes from the terminal using a zero dependency shell script.

Avoiding Insert Delay Related Problems around Deleting with Vim & tmux

I had a problem with accidentally deleting lines when using the mouse with Vim. It turns out it was due to misconfiguring things a bit.

I Use NERDTree in Vim but It's Usually Not for Opening Files

In this video I go over how I use NERDTree in Vim. It's mainly to create, modify or delete files very quickly.

You Might Not Need a Vim Plugin to Visualize Line Indents

In this video we'll go over using built in Vim motions and mappings to select and manipulate text within or around HTML tags.

Resize and See How Big Any Window Is Using a Free Tool Called Sizer

I use this tool quite often for sizing up screenshots and setting pre-defined window dimensions. It comes in handy!

Listing Docker Tags on the Command Line Using a Bash Alias

In this short video we'll go over how to list all Docker tags for a specific image on the Docker Hub using the command line.

Configuring wsltty Which Is My Favorite Windows WSL Terminal

In this 25 minute video we'll cover both why I really enjoy using wsltty and how to install, configure and customize how it looks.

Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

I've been typing for 20+ years and this is one of my favorite general purpose / programming keyboards when factoring in a few things.

Find and Replace Text in 1 or More Files Using Vim, fzf and ripgrep

In this video we'll cover a bunch of different find / replace use cases ranging from simple word searches to regular expressions.

A Python CLI Tool to Help Diff Web Framework Versions

It currently supports Phoenix, Rails, Django and Laravel, and this is a 30 minute video demoing how it works and how it was built.

Using tmux Sessions, Windows, Panes and Vim Buffers Together

Here's a short video going over how I switch between a dozen software projects in seconds using nothing but my terminal, tmux and Vim.

Manage and Create Diagrams of Your SQL Database for Free with DBeaver

In this 5 minute video, we'll go over how to view entity relationship diagrams and modify your data with an open source database tool.

Getting Copy / Paste to Work in WSL with tmux and Terminal Vim

Getting your system clipboard to work with tmux and Vim can be tricky. Here's a short video showing how to set it all up.

Writing and Previewing Markdown in Real Time with Vim 8+

Here's a short video going over my workflow for writing Markdown documents with Vim. The preview is styled using GitHub's CSS.

Getting Productive with Vim in a Week without Hating It

One of the best ways to learn anything is to immerse yourself in it and try to solve your problems as they come up. Vim is no different.

Remap and Set Global Hotkeys on Windows 10 with Auto Hotkey

Remapping and overriding global hotkeys can be tricky, but here's an easy way to do it with a tool called AHK.

Launching WSL Programs from a Right Click Windows Menu

A common use case for this would be opening a specific file with terminal Vim by right clicking a file in Windows explorer.

Vim Is Saving Me Hours of Work When Writing Books & Courses

When writing a book or course, you deal with hundreds of thousands of words and Vim helps you manage that in a sane way.

I Tried Linux as My Main Dev Environment but Was Forced Back to Windows

For years I've been running Linux in VMs or WSL but I wanted to give native Linux a shot. It didn't work out due to audio issues.

A Linux Dev Environment on Windows with WSL, Docker, tmux and VSCode

I've spent a full year using WSL and I am still convinced it is the ultimate development environment set up if you use Windows.

ConEmu vs Hyper vs Terminus vs MobaXTerm Terminator vs Ubuntu WSL

About 2 months ago I started using Hyper but after really getting a chance to use it, I found it to be unusable, at least on Windows.

Optimize Your Programming Decisions for the 95%, Not the 5%

Many years ago I used to optimize a lot of my programming decisions for 'what if' conditions or the 5%. That was a mistake.

My Favorite VSCode Extensions and Settings

VSCode has a ton of great extensions and useful settings. Here's a list of extensions that I have installed and how VSCode is configured.

Switching from ConEmu to Hyper as a Windows Terminal

About a month ago I was getting upset with a few ConEmu bugs and with no resolution in sight, I switched to Hyper.

Fuzzy Search Your Bash History in Style with fzf

If you spend a lot of time in a terminal then knowing how to search your history efficiently saves a ton of time. Here's how.

Temporarily Edit Text on Any Website

When making certain types of edits on a page, having an instant feedback loop directly in your browser is really beneficial.

80 Characters per Line Is a Standard Worth Sticking to Even Today

I would still use 80 characters per line even if I had a 4k monitor. This is especially true for web development.

Waking Up to 1GB of Free Disk Space on Your Primary SSD

Learn how to figure out exactly where your disk space is going with WinDirStat because the built in Windows 10 tools do not do their job.

Insert Multiple Cursors at the Start of Every Line with VSCode

Who would have thought, after 22 years of using a keyboard I learned a new trick by multi-tapping the Home key.

Setting Up a Python Development Environment with and without Docker

Part of being a developer includes setting up your computer so that you can develop the applications you want to write.

Automatic Offline File Backups with Bash and Rsync

Not backing up your files could lead to data loss in the future. Here's how to do offline backups with a few lines of Bash.

Boosting Software Developer Productivity with a Clipboard Manager

Being able to select and paste more than 1 clipboard item at a time is a huge time saver. Here's a few apps for each major OS.

Fixing exec format errors with Docker ENTRYPOINT Scripts on Windows

You may have gotten cryptic errors when trying to use ENTRYPOINT scripts in your images while running Windows. Here's how to fix them.

Access Documentation from Your Code Editor with Dash or Zeal

Learn how to access documentation from popular web frameworks and libraries straight from your favorite code editor.

Switching to VSCode from Sublime Text

Sublime Text served me well for many years but I finally made the switch to VSCode because the pros out weighed the cons.

Run the First Edition of Unix (1972) with Docker

In this article you'll see how to run a PDP-11 simulator through Docker to interact with Unix as it was back in 1972.

Using WSL and MobaXterm to Create a Linux Dev Environment on Windows

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is ready for prime time. You no longer need a VM to run graphical Linux apps on Windows.

Setting Up Docker for Windows and WSL to Work Flawlessly

With a couple of tweaks the WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux, also known as Bash for Windows) can be used with Docker for Windows.

ngrok, lvh.me and nip.io: A Trilogy for Local Development and Testing

Learn how to accept webhooks on your local web server, work with subdomains on localhost and test Let's Encrypt without a domain name.

Build Your Own 8x4 Foot Whiteboard for $15 (Instead of $200+)

Buying a large whiteboard from a retailer will cost $200+ USD, but you can build your own for $15 and all you need are a few screws.

Configuring Your Code Editor for Docker

Learn how to get syntax highlighting and more with Docker related files for Sublime Text 3, VSCode, Atom, Emacs and Vim.

Docker Tip #13: Get Docker for Windows and VirtualBox Working Together

Docker for Windows uses Hyper-V. Having Hyper-V installed prevents you from running VirtualBox or VMWare VMs. Here's a workaround.

Should You Install Docker with the Docker Toolbox or Docker for Mac / Windows?

If you're running macOS or Windows you have a few options for installing Docker. There's even a third way too, and we'll compare them here.

The Tools I Use

Here's a list of software and hardware that I use on a regular basis as a developer and video creator. I will be keeping it updated.

How to Pick a Good Monitor for Software Development

Buying a new monitor is stressful because there's so many things to understand. After reading this article, you will know what to look for.

Ancient Babylonians May Have Invented IRC 2,000+ Years Ago

Ancient civilizations were using forms of IRC to communicate ideas and solve problems. Learn why IRC is great for programmers today.

Who Else Wants to Boost Their Terminal Productivity with tmux?

tmux allows you to save your terminal sessions and split your terminal into multiple windows. It's one of my favorite tools.

Plain Text and Google Keep Is a Killer Combo for Notes and Organization

Stop wasting time with complicated note taking applications and give Google Keep a shot. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Configure Your Code Editor to Be a Very Productive Writing Tool

I use Markdown for so many different things. Become an expert with Markdown after seeing how to configure your code editor to use it.

I Almost Rage Bought a MacBook Pro

Learn how I blew an entire weekend formatting my computer, playing with the Windows Subsytem for Linux and a Hackintosh, then almost bought a MBP.

Transform a Toshiba Chromebook CB35 into a Linux Development Environment with GalliumOS

Learn how to upgrade and transform a Chromebook to run GalliumOS, which is a native Linux based OS designed for Chromebooks.

See How Virtual Desktops Let You Get More Done in Less Time

There are a number of free virtual desktop tools for all major platforms that you can be using right now to boost your productivity.

Why Sublime Text 3 Is Still My Preferred Code Editor

I am still using Sublime Text 3 in 2017 because it stands up to my high demands as a full time developer and content creator.

25 Sublime Text 3 Packages for Polyglot Programmers

A recap and showcase of 25 Sublime Text 3 packages I use on a day to day basis as a developer who uses multiple technologies.

Results after Using a Standing Desk for 3 Months

I built a standing desk a few months ago and here's what I've experienced since then.

Managing Your Passwords on the Command Line in Linux with pass

Learn how to easily encrypt and organize all of your passwords on the command line using a great little program called 'pass'.

Create an Awesome Linux Development Environment in Windows with VMware

Set up a seamless Linux development environment in Windows using the free version of VMware.

Build a Home Made Standing Desk for 50 Dollars in 10 Easy Steps

Learn exactly how to build a custom standing desk without being a handyman. No saws required!