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I remember notepad++ from way back in the day. Haven't used it since my shift to Linux in 2006, but it used to be the only editor worth talking about for Window

I remember notepad++ from way back in the day. Haven't used it since my shift to Linux in 2006, but it used to be the only editor worth talking about for Windows. I was blown when I discovered column mode. I think I learnt to think about editing as an operation through it. It's carried forward to my vim usage now as well. I've seen Devs not make maximum use of these features and while I do respect their choices, I have to (embarrassingly) admit, it annoys me. I don't show it of course, but whenever a junior comes to me and asks me how I type fast or how I use so many shortcuts I make sure I take the time to teach them. I owe that paradigm largely to Notepad++. Owe the dev a lot.

pbowyer 6y ago
I've never learned them because I've never been shown. I've ended up in column mode accidentally and not figured out why it's useful. Any tutorials/videos you recommend to juniors?
- stonecharioteer 6y ago
  Thanks for asking. Despite the memes about vim and emacs, I'd recommend learning Vim. Not because it's better but because Vim, or Vi, is everywhere. And the way you move in vim can be enabled on the terminal. type vimtutor into your terminal in any Linux box and you should get an interactive editor to teach you how to use vim. Do that. And please learn touch typing. I typed with 3 fingers for 15 years before teaching myself how to TouchType. It's been a gift. I can type in the dark without Backlit keys. I can also use split ergonomic keyboards with ease. keybr.com for learning. Also, look up vimcasts for vim. Two books I recommend is No Starch Press's The Linux Command Line and How Linux Works. Both are always appearing on Humble Bundle and they're worth the entire bundle. Another thing I recommend is if you use VSCode, learn how to use the command bar. You get thst with control alt p or F1. Editors like this enable you to do everything through the command bar. It's insane. Additionally, learn stuff like how ctrl r can be used in your terminal to find older commands. Learn how to use your bashrc to set variables. How to debug PATH, and how to add to it. Learn how installing Python through conda is better and easier to maintain on your dev box, and how installing stuff by sudo apt install is actually troublesome. I install everything by downloading and adding to path. It's the best way to roll. Also, one last thing. Remap your caps lock to escape. Learn to use your shift keys. Spare your pinky. Hit me up on twitter if you need help. I use the same ID.
  - stjohnswarts 6y ago
    Yeah I was a pretty heavy np++ user on windows until I went over to vim (I had been using pico/nano on unix). After I switched to linux and a month or so with vim I didn't look back and install it everywhere I work :) . I especially like spacevim distribution.
breakfastduck 6y ago
Notepad++ is probably the most frequently useful Windows app I use day to day. I dont use it as an IDE but literally as a notebook, as well as editing the odd xml / json / sql etc. Just a fantastic multi-purpose Notepad application.
kemiller2002 6y ago
Understanding the tools available to you is key. I admit, I get frustrated as well at the same thing. Not really that people don't know it, but the fact that they choose to actively not learn it. The same thing goes for the command line with me. People look at me and wonder how I can do things so quickly and effortlessly. When I tell them I have used the tools available at my disposal, they look at me with a puzzled expression like "It's too much work." Few people get that I am not better at my job because I'm smart. I'm better because I have more time to focus on important things, because I spend so much less time on menial operations.
codeulike 6y ago
I just discovered Notepad++ macros today. Need to put speechmarks and a comma around every line? Record a macro, then repeat it N times. Brill.
- TimSchumann 6y ago
  I must admit, I have never heard the word speechmarks until just now.
  - codeulike 6y ago
    How about inverted commas?
Despacito2019 6y ago
gedit in linux is gret tho!

pbowyer 6y ago

I've never learned them because I've never been shown. I've ended up in column mode accidentally and not figured out why it's useful. Any tutorials/videos you recommend to juniors?

stonecharioteer 6y ago
Thanks for asking. Despite the memes about vim and emacs, I'd recommend learning Vim. Not because it's better but because Vim, or Vi, is everywhere. And the way you move in vim can be enabled on the terminal. type vimtutor into your terminal in any Linux box and you should get an interactive editor to teach you how to use vim. Do that. And please learn touch typing. I typed with 3 fingers for 15 years before teaching myself how to TouchType. It's been a gift. I can type in the dark without Backlit keys. I can also use split ergonomic keyboards with ease. keybr.com for learning. Also, look up vimcasts for vim. Two books I recommend is No Starch Press's The Linux Command Line and How Linux Works. Both are always appearing on Humble Bundle and they're worth the entire bundle. Another thing I recommend is if you use VSCode, learn how to use the command bar. You get thst with control alt p or F1. Editors like this enable you to do everything through the command bar. It's insane. Additionally, learn stuff like how ctrl r can be used in your terminal to find older commands. Learn how to use your bashrc to set variables. How to debug PATH, and how to add to it. Learn how installing Python through conda is better and easier to maintain on your dev box, and how installing stuff by sudo apt install is actually troublesome. I install everything by downloading and adding to path. It's the best way to roll. Also, one last thing. Remap your caps lock to escape. Learn to use your shift keys. Spare your pinky. Hit me up on twitter if you need help. I use the same ID.
- stjohnswarts 6y ago
  Yeah I was a pretty heavy np++ user on windows until I went over to vim (I had been using pico/nano on unix). After I switched to linux and a month or so with vim I didn't look back and install it everywhere I work :) . I especially like spacevim distribution.

breakfastduck 6y ago

Notepad++ is probably the most frequently useful Windows app I use day to day. I dont use it as an IDE but literally as a notebook, as well as editing the odd xml / json / sql etc. Just a fantastic multi-purpose Notepad application.

kemiller2002 6y ago

Understanding the tools available to you is key. I admit, I get frustrated as well at the same thing. Not really that people don't know it, but the fact that they choose to actively not learn it. The same thing goes for the command line with me. People look at me and wonder how I can do things so quickly and effortlessly. When I tell them I have used the tools available at my disposal, they look at me with a puzzled expression like "It's too much work." Few people get that I am not better at my job because I'm smart. I'm better because I have more time to focus on important things, because I spend so much less time on menial operations.

codeulike 6y ago

I just discovered Notepad++ macros today. Need to put speechmarks and a comma around every line? Record a macro, then repeat it N times. Brill.

TimSchumann 6y ago
I must admit, I have never heard the word speechmarks until just now.
- codeulike 6y ago
  How about inverted commas?

Despacito2019 6y ago

gedit in linux is gret tho!