Hasty Briefsbeta

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#productivity

670 stories total

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1 html search engine
5 months ago
- Universal Search Engine with various search functionalities
- Supports news (!N), stock ticker ($TSLA), Wikipedia (!W), GitHub (!G), Reddit (!R)
- Additional utilities like UUID generation and timer
- Displays search results count (0), sources (0), and latency (0MS)
Ideas Aren't Getting Harder to Find
5 months ago
- Productivity growth in advanced economies has been slowing down for fifty years, impacting economic growth and income levels.
- The popular explanation for this slowdown is that we're running out of good ideas, making innovation harder to achieve.
- Research by Nicholas Bloom and colleagues suggests that while productivity growth remains steady, the number of researchers has increased significantly, implying each researcher contributes less.
- Alternative evidence from Teresa Fort and colleagues indicates that idea production, measured by patents, hasn't declined, suggesting the issue lies in market inefficiencies rather than a lack of innovation.
- Market inefficiencies, such as declining allocative efficiency, prevent more productive firms from gaining market share, hindering overall productivity growth.
- The focus should shift from increasing research output to improving market mechanisms that translate innovations into economic gains.
Improving Emacs Screenshots
5 months ago
- Author updated a three-year-old Emacs screenshot tool to improve functionality.
- Improvements include saving screenshots to the current directory instead of a fixed path and allowing filename overrides.
- Added feature to scale down screenshots by specifying a desired width.
- Shared the updated code snippet for the 'frameshot' function, which handles screenshot capture and optional resizing.
- Acknowledged the lack of error checking in the tool, accepting it as a personal utility rather than a production-grade package.
- Highlighted the efficiency of Emacs for quickly developing small, useful tools in under 15 minutes.
AI's real superpower: consuming, not creating
5 months ago
- AI's real superpower lies in consumption, not creation.
- Most people use AI for creation tasks like writing emails or generating reports, missing its potential for consumption.
- Connecting AI to personal knowledge repositories (like Obsidian vaults) allows for deep insights from past notes and reflections.
- AI can uncover patterns and connections in personal data that humans might miss or forget.
- Traditional search methods fail because they rely on exact keywords, whereas AI can query by concept and find patterns across time.
- The real breakthrough is using AI to access and analyze personal knowledge, turning past experiences into actionable insights.
- A simple setup involves storing all thoughts and notes in a system like Obsidian and querying it with AI.
- This approach leads to faster problem-solving, better decision-making, and the discovery of hidden patterns.
- The future of AI is not just as a creator but as a comprehensive reader of personal knowledge.
- Documenting knowledge today is crucial for future AI-assisted retrieval and insight generation.
A tagging system for documentation review comments
5 months ago
- Every review comment appears equally urgent, leading to inefficiencies.
- A tagging system is introduced to prioritize review comments by severity and category.
- Severity levels include 'blocker', 'improvement', and 'optional' to indicate the importance of fixes.
- Categories like 'clarity', 'bug', 'organization', 'style', and 'consistency' provide context for fixes.
- Tagging helps contributors prioritize fixes, reduces overwhelm, and speeds up review cycles.
- The system encourages a shared language for priority, improving review culture.
- Tagging does not address slow reviewers, bad feedback, or replace judgment.
- Implementation is simple: start tagging comments immediately to see quick benefits.
It's all about momentum
5 months ago
- Momentum is crucial in both physics and life.
- Rally driving emphasizes weight transfer and smooth inputs to control the car effectively.
- People resist change, especially as they age, making flexibility difficult.
- Holidays often fail to be restorative due to the disruption of routine and momentum.
- Morning routines set the tone for the day; distractions should be minimized.
- Deep work and creativity require consistent, focused effort rather than sheer willpower.
- Consistency in small daily efforts is more effective than sporadic intense sessions.
Show HN: X writer – Tweet from vs. code without distractions (byok, open source)
5 months ago
- VS Code extension for posting tweets directly from the editor.
- BYOK (Bring Your Own Keys) for credential control.
- Fast posting without leaving VS Code.
- Smart context: select code and right-click to tweet.
- Limit protection with a 17-tweet daily counter.
- Real-time character counter while typing.
- Direct links to published tweets.
- Custom sidebar icon and modern interface.
- Supports English and Spanish.
- Development setup includes watch mode, build, and packaging.
- Requires Twitter API keys and access tokens.
- Credentials stored securely using VS Code's SecretStorage.
- Multiple methods to post tweets: activity bar, smart context, commands.
- Daily tweet limit resets every 24 hours.
- Help and language settings available in the sidebar.
Agent Skills is now an open standard
5 months ago
- Skills introduced in October to teach Claude repeatable workflows.
- New features: easier deployment, discovery, and building of skills.
- Organization-wide management for admins to provision skills centrally.
- Skills directory with partner-built skills from Notion, Canva, Figma, Atlassian, etc.
- Open standard for Agent Skills to work across AI platforms.
- Simplified skill creation with Claude's assistance or direct instructions.
- Preview functionality to understand skill contents before enabling.
- Skills can be managed via Claude Apps, Claude Code, and Claude Developer Platform (API).
- Admins can provision skills org-wide through Admin Settings.
- Monthly developer newsletter for product updates and community spotlights.
Engineers who dismiss AI
5 months ago
- The author initially refused to use AI coding tools, dismissing them as garbage based on a bad experience with ChatGPT in 2022.
- Despite their skepticism, the author acknowledges that AI tools like Claude Code have significantly improved, enabling faster project completion.
- The author contrasts their principled stance against AI tools with their frequent use of Stack Overflow, seeing the latter as different.
- In a previous article, the author argued that AI can write code but cannot replace the role of a software engineer.
- The backlash to the article came from engineers dismissing AI's capabilities outright, rather than acknowledging its potential uses.
- The author suggests that engineers who dismiss AI tools may be threatened by the technology or relying on outdated experiences.
- Modern AI coding tools like Claude Code and Cursor have evolved, offering capabilities like understanding project context and refactoring multiple files.
- While AI tools are imperfect and still produce bugs, the author argues they are far from useless and can significantly boost productivity.
- Engineers who refuse to try modern AI tools risk falling behind those who have integrated them into their workflows.
- The author encourages skeptics to try modern AI tools with an open mind to understand their current capabilities.
Poor Man's Productivity Trick
5 months ago
- Large organizations have complex onboarding processes with specialized software and multiple vendors.
- Startups operate with fewer resources, requiring employees to be frugal and lean in their approach.
- The Rolling Daily Work Tracker (RDWT) is a simple text file method for tracking tasks, with tasks rolling over to the next day if not completed.
- Version 1 of RDWT involves a single text file where tasks are added daily and marked as completed.
- Version 2 of RDWT splits tasks into separate files per date for better organization while maintaining searchability.
- The method proved effective for tracking work over time, even as the company grew and adopted more formal tools like Asana.
- Despite the availability of modern tools with AI integration, the simplicity of a text editor and a structured format can be sufficient for personal projects.
Claude in Chrome
4 months ago
- Claude can now navigate, click buttons, and fill forms in your browser.
- Works with Claude Code and Claude Desktop for development workflows.
- Can complete tasks in the background and run scheduled workflows.
- Examples include pulling metrics from dashboards, organizing Google Drive files, and preparing from calendar events.
- Can compare products across sites and log sales calls to CRM.
- Helps clean up promotional emails by identifying and listing them for review.
- Safety tips include starting with trusted sites and reviewing sensitive actions.
- Avoid using for financial transactions or sensitive personal data.
- Browser AI faces risks like prompt injection attacks; supervision is recommended.
- Encourages feedback to improve Claude's capabilities.
Everyone should be using Claude Code more
4 months ago
- Claude Code is an underrated AI tool for non-technical people, functioning like a local AI agent.
- It can handle large files, run longer than cloud-based AI tools, and is versatile for various tasks.
- Installation involves using Terminal on Mac or Windows with specific commands.
- Popular uses include clearing computer storage, improving image quality, downloading YouTube videos, and organizing files.
- Non-technical users leverage Claude Code for brainstorming domain names, finding leads, conflict avoidance analysis, and system diagnostics.
- Other creative uses include cleaning up invoices, organizing thoughts, writing job descriptions, and synthesizing customer call transcripts.
- Claude Code aids in improving writing, working with audio files, creating self-driving documentation, and generating changelogs.
- It also helps in building presentations, analyzing competitors' ads, and creating self-improving feedback loops.
I Program on the Subway
5 months ago
- Moving to NYC has increased time demands, reducing time for side projects.
- Commuting takes an hour daily, now used for programming.
- Subway programming lacks normal setup but reduces distractions, aiding focus.
- Limited internet access is manageable with subway WiFi stops.
- Embedded code projects can't be tested fully, promoting deeper thought.
- Subway environment limits full brain capacity, but busywork remains feasible.
- Complex tasks are handled by sketching diagrams in a notebook.
- Laptop theft is unlikely due to the cheap, used ThinkPad.
- Programming in public sparks conversations and potential friendships.
- Finding a seat is a current limitation, prompting creative solutions like wearable tech.
- Programming on the subway builds resilience to distractions and is worth trying.
Go Gray, Not Cray: Why You Should Grayscale Your Phone
4 months ago
- Setting your phone to grayscale can reduce screen time by making it less visually appealing.
- Grayscale mode can extend battery life as color pixels consume more energy.
- Notifications become less urgent and stressful without vibrant colors.
- Eye strain and headaches may decrease with a gentler grayscale display.
- Grayscale can reduce anxiety from read receipts in messaging apps.
- The initial adjustment to grayscale may be challenging, but benefits include improved productivity and health.
Addiction, ADHD, Discipline and Obsession
4 months ago
- The author hasn't missed a morning workout in almost a decade, viewing it as an addiction rather than discipline.
- Many founders discuss being diagnosed with ADHD as adults and finding Vyvanse helpful.
- Taking Vyvanse can reveal ADHD: clarity and calmness vs. feeling like you're on methamphetamines if you don't have ADHD.
- Nicotine has a similar but short-lived effect compared to ADHD medication.
- ADHD isn't about inability to focus but difficulty acquiring focus, leading to hyperfocus once engaged.
- The author's life patterns stem from an addictive personality driven by obsessions, not discipline.
- Questions whether these traits are linked to ADHD, being on the spectrum, or just personality, possibly a mix of all.
Your Inbox Is a Bandit
4 months ago
- The article discusses the concept of treating your email inbox as a multi-arm bandit problem, where you must choose between exploring new messages or exploiting known ones.
- Traditional strategies like Inbox Zero or Getting Things Done are critiqued as either unattainable or overly complex for the author's needs.
- The author's personal context involves routing most communications through email, avoiding other messaging platforms to centralize their workflow.
- Two main categories of problematic emails are identified: administrative tasks ('death by a thousand cuts') and personal emails that require thoughtful replies.
- The author rejects the use of Gmail's Snooze feature due to its inefficiency in managing distractions and adding stress.
- A solution is proposed: creating a dedicated Gmail label called 'DBTC' (Death By a Thousand Cuts) for non-urgent, distracting emails to be processed during scheduled 'DBTC-time'.
- The DBTC system allows for batch processing of emails without the distraction of new messages or the need to decide when to handle each one.
- The method is extended to other communication platforms and task managers, applying the same principle of scheduled, focused processing.
- The author reports success with this system since March 2021, noting improved focus and reduced stress during work hours.
One year of keeping a tada list
4 months ago
- A tada list, or to-done list, tracks daily accomplishments to shift focus from pending tasks to completed ones.
- Monthly pages include daily entries and a summary drawing highlighting key achievements.
- Examples of accomplishments: starting a Substack, learning CSS, creating a component library, and drafting posts on linear algebra.
- Pros: Reinforces accomplishments and shows how past efforts enable current successes, like creating Minnesota landscape cards after extensive watercolor studies.
- Cons: Daily pressure to achieve something notable and maintaining the list over a year became burdensome, leading to decreased consistency.
- Conclusion: The tada list serves as a valuable artifact of progress, though its continuation depends on balancing benefits with the effort required.
Golfing Is Not Rowing
4 months ago
- Some activities like rowing, knitting, cycling, etc., have smooth progress bars where effort leads to proportional progress.
- Golf is different; it involves coarse actions with few swings per game and no fine adjustments between swings.
- Golf-like processes are characterized by mulligans (do-overs), useful when success is chaotic and sensitive to initial conditions.
- Linear incrementalism fails in golf-like activities where brute force or small steps can't resolve fatal flaws.
- Programs like NaNoWriMo can mislead writers because the initial phase of writing a book often involves thinking/planning/researching, not just writing.
- Creative processes (writing, entrepreneurship, sculpting, programming) are more like golfing than rowing—chaotic and unpredictable.
- Unlike golf, creative work lacks structured environments (fairways, greens) and has higher stakes with no second chances.
- In creative work, there's no scorekeeping, so take as many mulligans as needed.
Publishing your work increases your luck
4 months ago
- Luck is when something unexpected and good happens to you.
- Increase your Luck Surface Area by doing things and telling people about them.
- Publishing your work increases the chances of good luck finding you.
- Doing the work is essential; start small if you're stuck.
- Share your work publicly to build a reputation and inspire others.
- Publishing is a skill that improves with practice.
- Good outcomes from sharing include recognition, opportunities, and new connections.
- The formula for luck: Do the work + Tell people = More luck.
Show HN: Mysti – Claude, Codex, and Gemini debate your code, then synthesize
4 months ago
- Mysti is a VS Code extension that integrates multiple AI coding tools (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini) for enhanced coding assistance.
- Features Brainstorm Mode where two AI agents collaborate to provide more robust solutions by debating and synthesizing ideas.
- Supports 16 specialized personas (e.g., Architect, Debugger, Security-Minded) to tailor AI responses to specific needs.
- Works with existing AI subscriptions (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) without additional costs.
- Offers a modern chat interface with syntax highlighting, markdown support, and mermaid diagrams.
- Provides configurable settings for AI providers, access levels, and brainstorm modes.
- Includes quick start options via VS Code command palette or marketplace installation.
- Collects anonymous usage data for improvement, respecting VSCode's telemetry settings.
- Licensed under Business Source License 1.1 (BSL 1.1) for personal/educational use, with commercial use requiring a separate license.

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#productivity

1 html search engine

Ideas Aren't Getting Harder to Find

Improving Emacs Screenshots

AI's real superpower: consuming, not creating

A tagging system for documentation review comments

It's all about momentum

Show HN: X writer – Tweet from vs. code without distractions (byok, open source)

Agent Skills is now an open standard

Engineers who dismiss AI

Poor Man's Productivity Trick

Claude in Chrome

Everyone should be using Claude Code more

I Program on the Subway

Go Gray, Not Cray: Why You Should Grayscale Your Phone

Addiction, ADHD, Discipline and Obsession

Your Inbox Is a Bandit

One year of keeping a tada list

Golfing Is Not Rowing

Publishing your work increases your luck

Show HN: Mysti – Claude, Codex, and Gemini debate your code, then synthesize