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I started sshing into my desktop at home to write code. I've never been so liberated. I can literally code from any computer I borrow (friends or library) and p

I started sshing into my desktop at home to write code. I've never been so liberated. I can literally code from any computer I borrow (friends or library) and pick up exactly where I left off (tmux session) with the same text-editor configuration (vim) instantly. I realized that my previous desire to have the latest macbook so excessive, and now I'm happy with just a light and durable $200 chromebook. I teach a few people how to code, and I created accounts on my desktop for them to ssh into and they are loving it as well.

firefistace77 8y ago
I second this. I did this while I was at University and it helped not only ease up my backpack (went from carrying a big gaming computer on my back to a 2 pound chromebook) but it also allowed me to work almost anywhere anytime cause of the battery life and the fact that essentially the entire campus was connected. Couple this with some x-forwarding for GUIs and you got basically the same high end computer anywhere you go. Highly recommend giving it a go.
- kazinator 8y ago
  Do the same. Android tab + BT keyboard + SSH. I've coded in coffee shops, airport terminals, you name it.
- songzme 8y ago
  wow it's so awesome you started doing this in College. I wish someone would have taught me this back then, could have saved a few thousand dollars and headache from picking and buying laptops.
gizmo385 8y ago
How did you get your company to agree to this? I feel like most companies would immediately shut this down since you're storing company secrets on a non-approved computer.
- kazinator 8y ago
  Your company has no say regarding "ssh into my desktop at home".
- songzme 8y ago
  I don't do company work on my desktop. Instead, I use company computer to ssh into a company cloud to do my coding (All of the company I've worked at either has their own cloud instance or aws/googlecloud/azure flavor). Again, same benefits, I can code on any of my coworker's computer. lol. Sometimes I ssh into my personal desktop to do personal work from my company computer.
toxik 8y ago
Until the latency spikes, heh.
- songzme 8y ago
  it happens, but its rare. I've been doing this for a year and no way I'm going back.
theWheez 8y ago
What environment/language do you primarily code in?
- songzme 8y ago
  nodejs + python. Vim as a text editor for everything, including mobile dev with react-native. Expo for React-Native is godsend.
zschallz 8y ago
You may be able to host your development environment cheaper. Hetzner works out to be almost the same price as electricity of keeping my desktop up all the time for me.
QuasiAlon 8y ago
1) I may sound like a total n00b, but don't you find it hard to code only from a command line environment? I mean, you can't use IDEs with SSH, right? 2) I'm going to be that guy that chimes in and says you have to be careful with code you write on company's time / using company equipment. So, be careful with that.
- songzme 8y ago
  1) I'm mostly using vim. Been using it for development for the past 6 years and loving it. 2) Thanks! Duly noted.
- firefistace77 8y ago
  So you actually can but it can be a pain tbh... Here is a link describing it https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/12755/how-to-forward-x-over-ssh-to-run-graphics-applications-remotely https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/12755/how-to-forwar... Of course with latency and all that sending x windows can slow it down a bit (and there was some weird stuff with me and my Chromebook with it, but I got it work in the end) But! It definitely is possible, and once it's set up and everything it can become really helpful/useful Not too sure security wise how it fairs but I figured if it's just for homework and on campus it should be fine for the most part, and ssh is secure (hence the name :D ) so it should be fine
- Dolores12 8y ago
  emacs works great in tmux session and i consider it as a very powerful IDE.

firefistace77 8y ago

I second this. I did this while I was at University and it helped not only ease up my backpack (went from carrying a big gaming computer on my back to a 2 pound chromebook) but it also allowed me to work almost anywhere anytime cause of the battery life and the fact that essentially the entire campus was connected. Couple this with some x-forwarding for GUIs and you got basically the same high end computer anywhere you go. Highly recommend giving it a go.

kazinator 8y ago
Do the same. Android tab + BT keyboard + SSH. I've coded in coffee shops, airport terminals, you name it.
songzme 8y ago
wow it's so awesome you started doing this in College. I wish someone would have taught me this back then, could have saved a few thousand dollars and headache from picking and buying laptops.

gizmo385 8y ago

How did you get your company to agree to this? I feel like most companies would immediately shut this down since you're storing company secrets on a non-approved computer.

kazinator 8y ago
Your company has no say regarding "ssh into my desktop at home".
songzme 8y ago
I don't do company work on my desktop. Instead, I use company computer to ssh into a company cloud to do my coding (All of the company I've worked at either has their own cloud instance or aws/googlecloud/azure flavor). Again, same benefits, I can code on any of my coworker's computer. lol. Sometimes I ssh into my personal desktop to do personal work from my company computer.

toxik 8y ago

Until the latency spikes, heh.

songzme 8y ago
it happens, but its rare. I've been doing this for a year and no way I'm going back.

theWheez 8y ago

What environment/language do you primarily code in?

songzme 8y ago
nodejs + python. Vim as a text editor for everything, including mobile dev with react-native. Expo for React-Native is godsend.

zschallz 8y ago

You may be able to host your development environment cheaper. Hetzner works out to be almost the same price as electricity of keeping my desktop up all the time for me.

QuasiAlon 8y ago

1) I may sound like a total n00b, but don't you find it hard to code only from a command line environment? I mean, you can't use IDEs with SSH, right? 2) I'm going to be that guy that chimes in and says you have to be careful with code you write on company's time / using company equipment. So, be careful with that.

songzme 8y ago
1) I'm mostly using vim. Been using it for development for the past 6 years and loving it. 2) Thanks! Duly noted.
firefistace77 8y ago
So you actually can but it can be a pain tbh... Here is a link describing it https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/12755/how-to-forward-x-over-ssh-to-run-graphics-applications-remotely https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/12755/how-to-forwar... Of course with latency and all that sending x windows can slow it down a bit (and there was some weird stuff with me and my Chromebook with it, but I got it work in the end) But! It definitely is possible, and once it's set up and everything it can become really helpful/useful Not too sure security wise how it fairs but I figured if it's just for homework and on campus it should be fine for the most part, and ssh is secure (hence the name :D ) so it should be fine
Dolores12 8y ago
emacs works great in tmux session and i consider it as a very powerful IDE.