Notes on computer tricks

What is this?

This is just an opinionated list.

It is how I use the computer based on my experience.

Your choices may differ. But hopefully something of what I do may serve you.

Also, I am willing to improve this. So, happy to hear from your own findings.

Sharpen the saw

The computer is a tool you use many hours a day. It pays off to gradually learn to become more efficient

• Spend some time reflecting on how you work every now and then
• Visit the options of your applications and the help pages
• Learn keyboard shortcuts
• Have a single install
  • Work remotely (Chrome remote)
  • Have a backup system (Gdrive, install the client)

Learn to find help

You don’t need to know everything. But you must know how to ask questions.

• Stack overflow
• Forums / help pages of your application

Be organized

• Define a directory structure that works for you in Gdrive and stick with it. This is mine →
• Entropy grows over time. Good to clean up once every month or two

My selection of software

• VScode as the editor AND terminal AND git client AND ssh
• OneNote for my notes (knowledge database)

Other:

• Chrome as browser (+Chrome remote desktop, + LastPass, +Adblock Plus)
• Inkscape for some drawings (Powerpoint for most, however; also Tikz)

My selection of online applications

• Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Gdocs, Gsheets. Use google file stream
• Quire for task management
• GitHub for version control
• Overleaf for latex

Quire

List of things I want to tell you about, so I won’t forget:

• Shortcuts, F1
• Your task list
• Changing views
• Searching
• Connection with GCalendar
• Description and comments
• Markdown
• Mobile App

Windows 10

Just some life-changing shortcuts:

• WIN+E: open the file explorer
• WIN+SHIFT+S: capture a section of current screen as an image (into the clipboard)
• WIN+V: clipboard history
• WIN+1/2/3/etc: open the nth app pinned to the taskbar
• WIN+L: lock your computer
• WIN+P: project screen menu

Other useful things:

• AutoHotKey: a small program to enter common text strings with a shortcut (e.g. “Universidad Carlos III de Madrid”)
  • Let me show you! Here is my template
• Windows subsystem for linux: run a linux distro inside windows. Quite useful for development (see here)
• C:\Users\(you)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent: a dynamic directory with shortcuts will all recent files and directories
  • Worth creating a shortcut to it in the file explorer quick access!

VSCode

• Best text editor?
• F1 or CTRL + SHIFT + P for the command palette
• Many useful extensions: julia/matlab/markdown/project manager/remote

Overleaf

• F1: open command palette (similar to vscode’s CTRL+SHIFT+P)
• CTRL+ALT+(left / right): add the (previous / next) instance of current word to current selection (multiple cursors)

• Use the EP2 bibTeX files: Add New file

  From another project

• Can use files (e.g. with list of packages and macros) defined in another project likewise

LaTeX

• DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) define your own macros for symbols and common code blocks. Macros can have arguments (defining default values is also possible). Examples:

\newcommand{\dd}{\mathrm{d}}
\newcommand{\tensor}[1]{\overline{\overline{#1}}}

• A file with common macros can be found in ep2 overleaf projects