Akshay Dhan

Akshay Dhan

Senior Research Fellow at Computer Science Unit, ISI Chennai centre

3 Life-Changing Software That Transformed My Productivity and Organization

3 minute read

Published:

In the vast realm of software, there are a few gems that have had a profound impact on my life. Let me share with you the three software applications that have significantly transformed the way I work and boosted my productivity.

Vim

Vim, an incredibly powerful and efficient text editor, has revolutionized my workflow. Vim follows the philosophy of modal editing, allowing you to navigate, edit, and manipulate text swiftly. The learning curve may be steep, but once you grasp the basics, you’ll witness a significant boost in your editing capabilities. Vim offers countless features, including macros, plugins, and extensive customization options, making it a versatile tool for any text editing task.

Git - The Stupid Tracker

Git, the renowned version control system, has become an integral part of my development workflow. Initially, I started using Git to track changes in my programs, but it has evolved into much more than that. Git’s ability to create branches, merge code changes, and collaborate streamlined my work and provided a safety net for my projects. With Git, I can experiment fearlessly, revert to previous versions, and collaborate seamlessly. Its impact on my productivity and code management cannot be overstated.

Protip: You can use your USB as a remote repository by following this guide.

Parallel

Parallel computing has become essential for handling large-scale data processing and computations. The command-line tool parallel has been a game-changer for me in this regard. With parallel, I can distribute tasks across multiple CPUs or cores, unlocking the full potential of my system’s resources. By executing commands or scripts in parallel, parallel significantly reduces the overall execution time and improves efficiency. It has empowered me to tackle data-intensive tasks more effectively and expedite complex computations.

Bonus - tmux

While not directly a software application, tmux has been a critical tool in my workflow. tmux is a terminal multiplexer that allows me to manage multiple terminal sessions within a single window. With tmux, I can create and switch between different terminal panes and windows, detach and reattach sessions, and run commands in the background. This enables me to organize my work environment effectively, run long-running tasks without interruption, and maintain multiple work contexts simultaneously.

Conclusion

These three software applications—Vim, Git, and parallel—along with the bonus tool tmux, have had a profound impact on my productivity and efficiency. Whether it’s text editing, code management, parallel computing, or terminal session management, these tools have transformed the way I work and have become indispensable parts of my daily workflow. I encourage you to explore these applications and see how they can enhance your productivity and streamline your work processes.

So, why not give them a try? Discover the power of Vim, embrace the efficiency of Git, harness the capabilities of parallel, and supercharge your workflow with tmux. Embrace these transformative tools and unlock your full potential as a productive and efficient programmer.

You May Also Enjoy

Managing Multiple Email Addresses: A Solution

1 minute read

Published:

The tribulations of academia lie in our continued reliance on emails. An unencrypted multitude of email addresses abounds, yet the challenge remains in managing them all. … – anon

Some of my favorite xkcd comics.

less than 1 minute read

Published:

Everyone requires a stress release to avoid mental and physical breakdowns. Enter xkcd, Randall Munroe’s webcomic. If science, math, or programming tickle your funny bone, the stick-figure comics are a must-read. Indulge in xkcd at your leisure and utilize explainxkcd for clarifications and don’t overlook the captions. Here are a few of my all-time favorites.

Navigating Misinformation: A Digital Survival Guide

3 minute read

Published:

In today’s digital age, we find ourselves in a constant battle against the relentless waves of misinformation. The information landscape has evolved significantly over the years, and with the advent of social media and advanced technologies, the challenges have grown exponentially. To stay afloat and make informed decisions, we need a digital survival guide. The story of news media and propaganda has a long history, but it has reached new heights in the digital era. Misinformation, or false and misleading information, is disseminated at an unprecedented scale, thanks to social media. The information landscape is in a constant state of flux, and this discussion has never been more pertinent than in today’s global context.

The Intersection of Atheism, Science, and Belief: Reflections Inspired by Kushi

3 minute read

Published:

I recently watched the Telugu romantic comedy film “Kushi” (2023), and its portrayal of atheists sparked some intriguing thoughts that I felt compelled to share. In the movie, the character representing an atheist is depicted as a “science believer,” which, from my perspective, falls short of capturing the essence of atheism. Allow me to elaborate on this matter further. There’s a distinction between what we can call a “strong atheist” and a “science supporter.” A strong atheist, based on the classification by renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, is a person who asserts with 100% certainty that there is no God. However, even in this extreme case of atheism, one should not automatically assume a strong inclination toward science. The reason I emphasize the distinction between a “supporter of science” and a “believer” is rooted in the core tenets of scientific thinking. Science is fundamentally about inquiry, skepticism, and the pursuit of knowledge based on empirical evidence. It is not a system of belief but a conceptual tool for understanding the world. In science, one cannot merely believe; one must question in order to comprehend.