From Pen and Paper to CLI Wizards: Underrated Tools That Power Daily Workflows

In a recent Hacker News discussion, users shared their most valued underrated tools, revealing a fascinating mix of low-tech staples and specialized software that significantly enhance their daily workflows and cognitive processes. The conversation underscored that often the most effective tools are not the flashiest, but those that reliably solve problems and aid focus.

The Enduring Power of Analog and Foundational Tools

Several users championed the humble pen and paper. Qem described it as unbeatable for deep reasoning and clear problem-solving, offering a "flow" and distraction-free environment that keyboards can't replicate. Sourabhsss1 echoed this, stating that first thoughts often land on paper despite suggestions to use online note-taking tools. User jll29 expanded on this theme, listing "pen," "paper (especially A5 notebooks as lab diaries)," "reading," "listening," "writing," and "drawing" as fundamental, underrated tools.

Command-Line Champions: Efficiency at Your Fingertips

The command line interface (CLI) and its utilities received significant praise for their power and efficiency.

• renameutils (specifically qmv): der_philipp, who hosts a German podcast on CLI tools called "Terminal Treff," highlighted qmv from the renameutils package. It solves the annoyance of file renaming by opening your favorite editor with the names of all files you want to rename. Modifications are made in the editor, and upon closing, the files are renamed. He started the podcast to share his love for such time-saving CLI tools.
• z: Recommended by scary-size, z (https://github.com/rupa/z) helps you "jump around" directories by tracking your most used directories and allowing quick navigation with partial names.
• Coreutils: nunez pointed out that tools like grep and cat are foundational, essentially holding "the world up."
• Other CLI Helpers: leosanchez mentioned a suite of tools:
  • lefthook for managing githooks.
  • justfile for creating and running project-specific commands, as an alternative to typing long commands (prompting a question about its comparison to Taskfile).
  • sleek for formatting SQL.

Digital Tools for Productivity, Learning, and Accountability

Beyond the terminal, specific applications and services were noted for their unique benefits:

• Beeminder: tootyskooty uses Beeminder for personal accountability through commitment contracts, finding it helpful for staying on track with goals and providing an extra push on low-willpower days.
• Anki: Also mentioned by tootyskooty, Anki, a spaced repetition system, was lauded for its effectiveness in long-term knowledge retention. While popular in language learning, its application extends to retaining information from papers and other learning materials. The user has been creating cards for almost a decade, emphasizing its role in multiplying the long-term value of learning.
• Readwise Reader: Briefly mentioned by rasulkireev, this tool is known for its capabilities in managing and reviewing reading materials.

Structured Thinking and Knowledge Management

Effective note-taking and idea organization are crucial, and users shared their preferred systems:

• Zettelkasten: cl42 found a formal Zettelkasten approach fantastic for generating ideas, hypotheses, and essay topics, significantly boosting intellectual productivity. While requiring rigor, the system involves searching notes via text/exact matches, regular review, and tagging. An LLM layer is a potential future addition.
• Plain Text Files: jll29 also listed "plain text files (together with text editors and UNIX tools)" and "full text search" as key components of their toolkit, aligning with the Zettelkasten philosophy of simple, interconnected notes.

Security-Focused Systems

For users prioritizing security:

• Qubes OS: fsflover recommended Qubes OS, a security-oriented desktop OS designed with a clever architecture and reliance on hardware-assisted virtualization to minimize vulnerabilities. While no specific personal exploits contained were cited, a forum link was provided discussing deployments by entities with serious security stakes.

Overall, the discussion painted a picture of a diverse toolkit, where classic methods hold their own alongside modern software, all contributing to more effective and focused work.