How to succeed as a developer with 13" MacBook screen
8 Tips and Tools to simplify your coding workflows and ditch the workstation
Introduction
The notion that you can only be effective as a programmer with a workstation is false. With Covid-19 and the shift to remote, there are more advantages to maintaining a tight development workflow on your laptop than ever.
A productive coding environment doesn’t require three large monitors, an ergonomic keyboard, and a cushy office chair. Productivity in programming is about allowing ample opportunity to let code flow when it wants, whether that’s in bed at 3:00 am, or in Greece after a fantastic meal.
How?
The biggest challenge working with a smaller screen is managing many windows with limited real estate. You must rely on efficient allocations of spaces and a reduction in the number of switches required to accomplish a task (e.g. copy-and-paste).
Here’s how to deal with it…
Prerequisites: Memory
At its core, it’s a memory game. If you have trouble recalling high-priority information you saw 1 minute ago, lower-specificity pieces of information from 10 minutes past, and general information read 2 hours ago, you may struggle on a laptop.
Note: Trackpad actions below are using default gesture triggers. You can easily change these to suit your tastes by navigating to System Preferences > Trackpad > More Gestures.
- Toggle Mission Control first
Three-finger swipe up on trackpad
Throughout the day you’ll find yourself utilizing code editors, terminals, internet browsers, video and messaging apps, remote desktops, the file browser, and more all open at once. If I remember the general differences between each of the types of windows, I can easily make a good guess as to what I’m looking for at any given time, even when they’re minimized on my 13-inch screen.
Mission Control displays a high level overview of your current workspace. When in doubt, I always start with this, as it’s the closest analog to having a larger screen.
2. Peacock VS Code
Assign colors to your code editor windows so they’re easy to distinguish on Mission Control.
3. Try Magnet for splitting screens
control + option + [arrow direction] will snap your current window to 1/2 the current screen width either landscape or portrait mode.
If you like to keep third party apps to a minimum, macOS’s Split View is an option here. However, you’ll probably find that system clunky and limited.
4. Move full screen windows and VMs to alternate desktops
control + command + F to toggle for current window
Four-finger swipe left or right on the trackpad to switch
Your full screen windows can live in their own desktops. Each are accessible at the top of Mission Control, or by swiping on the trackpad. Click the green Enter/Exit Full Screen button at the top left of any window or use shortcut control + command + F to toggle. Generate entirely new desktop workspaces by hitting the plus (+) button at the top of Mission Control.
5. Flycut Copy + Paste
shift + command + V
Copy at will, use Flycut to paste anything from your clipboard’s history. I set it to always have my most recently pasted be the first option listed. You can copy multiple items and paste them in sequence as well.
6. Browser windows by category or task
Grouping tabs related to a specific task or domain will help you stay focused. Keep social media or news feed tabs separate from productive tools and information. The fewer distractions on screen, the better!
7. Use Minimize to hide windows
command + M
If you don’t need something at the moment but may need access within a few hours, minimize it. Like Mission Control, you can still preview the window if you hover the bottom bar.
8. Clean up after every medium-sized task
command + Q
If you’re finished with a window or tab, close it. The laptop strategy can stall if you end up with over 40 windows or tabs at a time. Browser History is your friend when you accidentally close a tab or window. If you’re unsure you’ll need something later, wait till you’re done with a particular task then close all tabs/windows related to it.
