As part of an automation workflow I’m building around Elgato Stream Deck, I needed a way to size an application window to 16×9. This would be one component of a workflow that would allow me to launch an app, size the window, position it on the screen, and hide all the other windows with the push of a Stream Deck button. The easy part was the Stream Deck configuration. The hard part was the AppleScript–I had never written one.
Synology Running Out Of Space? Empty The Recycle Bin.
While performing end-of-year clean up on lab infrastructure, I discovered my 8 disk Synology array with about 22TB of usable storage was almost out of space. Really? What had I filled all that space with? After a lot of digging around, I found that I had enabled the Recycle Bin on one or more Shared Folders, but had NOT created a Recycle Bin emptying schedule. Here’s how to fix that problem.
Opting Out Of Toxic Culture
When toxicity spills over into my timeline despite my best filtering efforts, my head goes to a bad place. I lose focus on work, finding myself instead brooding on the dark proclamations of the vocal bitter who wield hashtags as cudgels.
The Mythical Eight Hour Workday
With more days than I want falling into a pattern of working more hours than I’d like, I’ve gotten serious about determining what the problem is. Do I need to turn away projects? Should I hire someone to handle some of the load? Am I not embracing the life of a stereotypical small business owner? Or is this just a matter of being inefficient?
Improve Productivity. Shut Off Notifications. (YouTube)
Here’s a short car video where I recommend shutting off notifications as a way to increase productivity. Spoiler alert. That’s pretty much the summary of the entire video, so you can save yourself the four minutes. Or…watch it to get the nuance.
Connecting Python To Slack For Testing, Development, and Chat
The scripting language Python can retrieve information from or publish information to the messaging app Slack. This means you can write a program that puts info into Slack for you, or accepts your queries using Slack as the interface. Useful stuff if you spend a lot of time in Slack, as I do. And hey, chatbots!
Leveraging Desktop Real Estate To Decrease Distractions
In a dual-monitor setup, carefully planned application placement can help avoid broken flow states, improving productivity.
Automating Logistics To Improve Productivity
Automation steps in where humans shouldn’t and software can’t. Tedious, repetitive tasks are best done by carefully programmed robots.