This is my favorite topic. I am a developer, and almost exclusively use terminal for anything (will use terminal as web browser if it's secure and not cumbersome). The main app is Vim (though I've moved to neovim).
Other TUI (Terminal User Interface) apps that can I'd rather use than GUI apps are:
- tig and lazygit rather than any Git GUI apps like Sublime Merge, Tower, etc.
- visidata rather than any CSV/data processing software
- nnn rather than any Finder alternatives, or any bulk renaming tools
That's all that I can remember now, but I do lot of stuff in terminal. I still use GUI apps, like task manager and reminder, web browser, emails, calendars... But the fact that many TUI apps satisfy my needs shows how powerful terminal is, and how dedicated the apps maintainer are.
I use the venerable vim (though now supervim, a neovim bundle) almost daily. I’ve used some variation of vi/vim now for decades. The muscle memory is strong.
I’m not a developer, but have a comp sci background.
Interesting! So do you use Vim as your default text editor/writing app for everything?
I use Markdown for everything possible, so notes are often a folder of text files, if not longer form using iaWriter.
The iTerm programs I use the most are:
- nnn a great file browser/manager
- neovim with SpaceVim
- HomeBrew
- Fish as my shell with StarShip
- fig which is half command line and half gui but all great!
- gitmoji-cli to get my git commits looking good.
And a lot more. I use the iTerm as my terminal and it is always open and being used. I've recently been learning to use tmux as well, but not as good at using it. Life is learning!
Looks like nnn is popular!
Oh yeah, hard to imagine using terminal without brew.
fig looks amazing—an autocomplete/command palette for the terminal? That'll save a ton of googling.
Ohh an Electron-based terminal, interesting! What's your favorite thing about it?
Hey guys, first post here. As part of my work, I have to deal with and respond to a lot of incoming messages from different chats: Linkedin/WhatsApp/Signal/IG. I try to use Unreads/Archive features...
Markdown is the most popular way to format plain text. Add common characters like asterisks and dashes to text, much like how you might format a quick store list in your notes app or add emphasis ...
Or do you use the Linux subsytem in Windows, emulation tools like DosBOX and WINE, or mobile device emulator/simulators? What's your favorite ways you've used virtual machines and emulation?
Ohh I need to give visidata a shot; that looks super handy.
What do you find best about those terminal Git apps versus either the default git commands or GUI apps?