LEARNING
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest technologies?
Pablo - I enjoy reading blog posts, following YouTubers, and experimenting with new technologies.
Henry - YouTube, podcasts, and my colleagues are my main sources. Sometimes, I read posts on LinkedIn, but it can be tiring to find 'a grain of gold in the sand'.
Dave - I engage in meetups, discussions with other developers, and watch tech and coding YouTube channels.
Seongkuk - I subscribe to tech-related YouTube channels that interest me. You can find high-quality videos on YouTube!
What resources do you recommend?
Pablo - For blog posts, I highly recommend daily.dev (https://daily.dev/). As for YouTubers, I follow many, but if I had to recommend just one, it would be ThePrimeagen (https://www.youtube.com/@ThePrimeTimeagen).
Henry - I believe it's hard to find a single YouTube channel that covers everything. That’s why I follow different creators for different topics - frontend, backend, AI, cybersecurity, and cloud - each in their own niche. Plus, I watch content in multiple languages. It might seem scattered, but it works for me! Some of my favourites are: Primeagen, DevOps Toolbox, Coderized, CodeOpinion, freeCodeCamp, Hussein Nasser.
Dave - YouTube has an endless supply of coding videos, and there are plenty of great software blogs worth reading. Some notable mentions include: ThePrimeTime, Sebastian Lague (coding adventures), Nathan Baggs, The Coding Sloth, freeCodeCamp, CodeAesthetic and mycodeschool, to name just a few!
Seongkuk - Youtube, and personally, I find LogRocket blog posts very interesting (https://blog.logrocket.com/).
TOOLS & AUTOMATION
What are your favourite productivity tools for coding and development?
Pablo - I’m a big fan of productivity tools. As a Vim/Neovim evangelist, I prefer terminal-based applications, but I also use some GUI tools. Some of my favorites include:
- Homerow – For a mouseless workflow
- Raycast – Spotlight on steroids
- Aerospace – Window management
- Obsidian – A second brain for note-taking
You can find all my personal configurations here: https://github.com/pablobfonseca/dotfiles
Henry - Our team is pretty much evenly split, with half using Vim and the other half using VS Code: Pablo & Seongkuk use Vim, while Joe & Dave prefer VS Code. I contribute perfectly to this 50/50 ratio because I use both. I work with VS Code, incorporating Vim motions + the terminal + ShortCat. This setup makes me quite flexible - I can rely entirely on the keyboard when needed while still benefiting from VS Code’s visualisation.
I appreciate having a visual understanding of the codebase, especially while I’m still learning it. That said, I’m open to transitioning more towards Vim as I become more comfortable with advanced bindings, motions, and workflows.
Dave - Keyboard shortcuts, Hammerspoon, and VS Code.
Seongkuk - Homerow, Karabiner-Elements, and Aerospace. With this combination, you can ditch your mouse entirely. As long as you have a keyboard and can see your screen, you can use your laptop - faster than ever.
How do you manage and organise your development environment for efficiency?
Pablo - I have a GitHub repository with all my essential configurations. As mentioned earlier, I try to keep everything in the terminal for a seamless workflow.
Henry - I don't. There is this famous German quote that goes something like "order is always good, but only a genius can master the chaos". Now, I'm not saying I'm a genius, but I like the idea behind the quote!
Dave - Large monitors with multiple open windows, whiteboard diagrams, and quick app switching for seamless transitions.
Seongkuk - Whenever I find something that improves my development efficiency - whether it's a tool or a better way of doing things - I make a note of it and actively use it until it becomes second nature. A couple of years ago, I realised I needed a better way to manage my development environment. So, I started building my own program to simplify the installation and setup process on macOS, allowing me to configure everything with just a few selections. I hope to have it ready soon - stay tuned! 👀
How do you handle task management?
Pablo - I use GitHub Issues.
Henry - GitHub Issues for work, and calendar + my memory for everything else. Notion can be quite useful at times, but I don’t use it that often.
Dave - I jot things down everywhere - notepads, windows, sticky notes - whatever is closest at the time!
Seongkuk - The CTO assigns tasks to me on GitHub, breaking them down into smaller parts. Before I start working, I refine them further in my own words and outline the steps in order in my physical notebook. I also keep a text file that I can quickly open with a shortcut in Vim, allowing me to take quick notes without any delay or distraction from my work.
CODING SHORTCUTS & BEST PRACTICES
What are some underrated keyboard shortcuts / best practices that every developer should know?
Pablo - In my opinion, every developer should be comfortable with the terminal and their operating system. Knowing your tools well can significantly boost your efficiency.
As Abraham Lincoln once said, “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe”.
Henry - I believe this is very individual for every developer. I don’t have anything to add beyond what’s already been mentioned!
Dave - Clean code with minimal comments. Clear separation of functions and good variable naming. Code should read like documentation - its purpose should be obvious at a glance. Lots of unit tests to ensure stability.
Seongkuk - I can't think of any underrated keyboard shortcuts, but in Vim, macros are incredibly useful and can greatly improve efficiency.
How do you optimise your editor setup for speed and efficiency?
Pablo - I use Vim/Neovim (btw).😜 I truly believe that every developer should at least try Vim motions. Even if you don’t want to use Vim/Neovim, most modern editors support Vim keybindings, which can enhance your workflow.
Henry - Vim motions.
Dave - I don’t worry too much about optimising my editor, apart from a few quality-of-life plugins like autocomplete and TypeScript, Go, and Ruby LSPs.
Seongkuk - Ask Pablo - he's my team lead (and also a Vim guy). I’m currently learning from him. He knows what he’s doing!
What are some unconventional but effective productivity hacks you’ve learned over time?
Pablo - Learn touch typing. Master your tools. Avoid using the mouse whenever possible.😁
Henry - Spend time learning to type correctly and fast.
Dave - Keep detailed notes every day on anything useful - weird bugs, new shortcuts, troubleshooting steps, fixes, and discoveries. Reviewing them later can save time when facing similar issues.
Seongkuk - Make your work environment as comfortable as possible - your seating position, typing posture, monitor placement, and overall setup. Small adjustments can boost productivity.
What’s one thing you wish you knew earlier that would’ve made you a more productive developer?
Pablo - I wish I had become familiar with terminal tools from the very beginning. It can be challenging at first, but it pays off in the long run.
Henry - I wish I had known earlier how much fun working in tech with a great team can be - I wouldn’t have pursued my previous career.
Dave - Taking more notes and staying better organised from the start.
Seongkuk - That most of our work can be done without using a mouse, with the help of the right software.
