Jiri Stribny has released a free, online, and modern command-line handbook aimed at both beginners and experienced users. The handbook covers a wide range of topics from basic navigation and file manipulation to more advanced concepts like shell scripting, process management, and using the command line effectively with cloud services like AWS. It focuses on practical examples and aims to be a comprehensive resource, updated for the current computing landscape, including discussions of newer tools and best practices. The handbook encourages interactive learning through built-in exercises and code examples that readers can experiment with directly in their terminal.
A5 is a minimal note-taking app for macOS built with SwiftUI. It focuses on simplicity and speed, featuring a distraction-free interface with markdown support, iCloud syncing, and a customizable appearance including various themes. The project is open-source and available on GitHub.
Hacker News users discussed the practicality and limitations of the A5 cipher, particularly its vulnerability to known-plaintext attacks due to its short key length. Several commenters pointed out that while simple to implement and understand, its insecurity makes it unsuitable for any real-world application beyond educational purposes. The discussion also touched upon the value of learning about such ciphers for pedagogical reasons, helping to illustrate fundamental cryptographic concepts. Some users shared resources and tools for cracking A5, further emphasizing its weakness. The overall sentiment was that A5 serves as an interesting learning tool, but its historical significance outweighs its practical use in modern cryptography.
Itter.sh is a minimalist micro-blogging platform accessed entirely through the terminal. It supports basic features like posting, replying, following users, and viewing timelines. The focus is on simplicity and speed, offering a distraction-free text-based interface for sharing short messages and connecting with others. It leverages Gemini protocol for communication, providing a lightweight alternative to web-based social media.
Hacker News users discussed Itter.sh, a terminal-based microblogging platform. Several commenters expressed interest in its minimalist approach and the potential for scripting and automation. Some saw it as a refreshing alternative to mainstream social media, praising its simplicity and focus on text. However, concerns were raised about scalability and the limited audience of terminal users. The reliance on email for notifications was seen as both a positive (privacy-respecting) and negative (potentially inconvenient). A few users suggested potential improvements, like adding support for images or alternative notification methods. Overall, the reaction was cautiously optimistic, with many intrigued by the concept but questioning its long-term viability.
Fui is a lightweight C library designed for directly manipulating the Linux framebuffer within a terminal environment. It provides a simple API for drawing basic shapes, text, and images directly to the screen, bypassing the typical terminal output mechanisms. This allows for creating fast and responsive text-based user interfaces (TUIs) and other graphical elements within the terminal's constraints, offering a performance advantage over traditional terminal drawing methods. Fui aims to be easy to integrate into existing C projects with minimal dependencies.
Hacker News users discuss fui, a C library for framebuffer interaction within a TTY. Several commenters express interest in its potential for creating simple graphical interfaces within a terminal environment and for embedded systems. Some question its practical applications compared to existing solutions like ncurses, highlighting potential limitations in handling complex layouts and input. Others praise the minimalist approach, appreciating its small size and dependency-free nature. The discussion also touches upon the library's suitability for different tasks like creating progress bars or simple games within a terminal and comparing its performance to alternatives. A few commenters share their own experiences using similar framebuffer libraries and offer suggestions for improvements to fui.
Void is a free and open-source modern modal editor built with extensibility in mind. Written in Zig, it aims to provide a fast and responsive editing experience with a focus on keyboard-centric navigation. Key features include multiple cursors, persistent undo/redo, syntax highlighting for a variety of languages, and an embedded scripting language for customization and automation. Void is still under heavy development but strives to be a powerful and flexible alternative to existing editors.
Hacker News users discuss Void, an open-source alternative to Cursor, focusing on its licensing (AGPLv3) as a potential barrier to broader adoption. Some express skepticism about the viability of an open-source code generation assistant succeeding against closed-source competitors with more resources. However, others see the potential for community contributions and customization as Void's key advantages. The discussion touches on privacy concerns surrounding telemetry and the importance of self-hosting for sensitive code. A few comments also delve into technical details, including the choice of programming languages used (Rust and Tauri) and the potential use of local models to improve performance and privacy. Several users express interest in trying Void or contributing to its development.
Whippy Term is a new cross-platform (Linux and Windows) GUI terminal emulator specifically designed for embedded systems development. It aims to simplify common tasks with features like built-in serial port monitoring, customizable layouts with multiple terminals, and integrated file transfer capabilities (using ZMODEM, XMODEM, YMODEM, etc.). The tool emphasizes user-friendliness and aims to improve the workflow for embedded developers by providing a more visually appealing and efficient terminal experience compared to traditional options.
Hacker News users discussed Whippy Term's niche appeal for embedded developers, questioning its advantages over existing solutions like Minicom, Screen, or PuTTY. Some expressed interest in its modern UI and features like plotting and command history search, but skepticism remained about its value proposition given the adequacy of free alternatives. The developer responded to several comments, clarifying its focus on serial port communication and emphasizing planned features like scripting and protocol analysis tools. A few users highlighted the need for proper flow control and requested features like configuration profiles and SSH support. Overall, the comments reflect a cautious curiosity about Whippy Term, with users acknowledging its potential but needing more convincing of its superiority over established tools.
Brush is a new shell written in Rust, aiming for full POSIX compatibility and improved Bash compatibility. It leverages Rust's performance and safety features to create a potentially faster and more robust alternative to existing shells. While still in early development, Brush already supports many common shell features, including pipelines, globbing, and redirections. The project aims to eventually provide a drop-in replacement for Bash, offering a modern shell experience with improved performance and security.
HN commenters generally express excitement about Brush, praising its Rust implementation for potential performance and safety improvements over Bash. Several discuss the challenges of full Bash compatibility, particularly regarding corner cases and the complexities of parsing. Some suggest focusing on a smaller, cleaner subset of Bash functionality rather than striving for complete parity. Others raise concerns about potential performance overhead from Rust, especially regarding system calls, and question whether the benefits outweigh the costs. A few users mention looking forward to trying Brush, while others highlight similar projects like Ion and Nushell as alternative Rust-based shells. The maintainability of a complex project like a shell written in Rust is also discussed, with some expressing concerns about the long-term feasibility.
Nnd is a terminal-based debugger presented as a modern alternative to GDB and LLDB. It aims for a simpler, more intuitive user experience with a focus on speed and ease of use. Key features include a built-in disassembler, register view, memory viewer, and expression evaluator. Nnd emphasizes its clean and responsive interface, striving to minimize distractions and improve the overall debugging workflow. The project is open-source and written in Rust, currently supporting debugging on Linux for x86_64, aarch64, and RISC-V architectures.
Hacker News users generally praised nnd for its speed and simplicity compared to GDB and LLDB, particularly appreciating its intuitive TUI interface. Some commenters noted its current limitations, such as a lack of support for certain features like conditional breakpoints and shared libraries, but acknowledged its potential given it's a relatively new project. Several expressed interest in trying it out or contributing to its development. The focus on Rust debugging was also highlighted, with some suggesting its specialized nature in this area could be a significant advantage. A few users compared it favorably to other debugging tools like gdb -tui and even IDE debuggers, suggesting its speed and simplicity could make it a preferred choice for certain tasks.
This GitHub repository showcases a collection of monospaced bitmap fonts evocative of early computer displays. The fonts, sourced from old terminals, operating systems, and character ROMs, are presented alongside example renderings to demonstrate their distinct styles. The collection aims to preserve and celebrate these historic typefaces, offering them in modern formats like TrueType for easy use in contemporary applications. While emphasizing the aesthetic qualities of these fonts, the project also provides technical details, including the origin and specifications of each typeface. The repository invites contributions of further old-timey monospaced fonts to expand the archive.
Hacker News users discuss the nostalgic appeal and practical considerations of monospaced fonts designed to evoke older computer displays. Some commenters share alternative fonts like Hershey Vector Font, ProggyCleanTT, and OCR-A, highlighting their suitability for specific applications like terminal use or achieving a retro aesthetic. Others appreciate the detailed blog post accompanying the font's release, discussing the challenges of creating a font that balances historical accuracy with modern readability. The technical aspects of font creation are also touched upon, with users noting the importance of glyph coverage and hinting for clear rendering. Some express a desire for variable width versions of such fonts, while others discuss the historical context of character sets and screen technology limitations.
Stavros Korokithakis built a custom e-ink terminal using a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a Pimoroni Inky Impression 7.7" display, and a custom 3D-printed case. Motivated by a desire for a distraction-free writing environment and inspired by the now-defunct TRMNL project, he documented the entire process, from assembling the hardware and designing the case to setting up the software and optimizing power consumption. The result is a portable, low-power e-ink terminal ideal for focused writing and coding.
Commenters on Hacker News largely praised the project for its ambition, ingenuity, and clean design. Several expressed interest in purchasing a similar device, highlighting the desire for a distraction-free writing tool. Some offered constructive criticism, suggesting improvements like a larger screen, alternative keyboard layouts, and the ability to sync with cloud services. A few commenters delved into technical aspects, discussing the choice of e-ink display, the microcontroller used, and the potential for open-sourcing the project. The overall sentiment leaned towards admiration for the creator's dedication and the device's potential.
Atuin Desktop brings the power of Atuin, a shell history tool, to a dedicated application, enhancing its runbook capabilities. It provides a visual interface to organize, edit, and execute shell commands saved within Atuin's history, essentially turning command history into reusable, executable scripts. Features include richer context like command output and timing information, improved search and filtering, variable support for dynamic scripts, and the ability to share runbooks with others. This transforms Atuin from a personal productivity tool into a collaborative platform for managing and automating routine tasks and workflows.
Commenters on Hacker News largely expressed enthusiasm for Atuin Desktop, praising its potential for streamlining repetitive tasks and managing dotfiles. Several users appreciated the ability to define and execute "runbooks" for complex setup procedures, particularly for new machines or development environments. Some highlighted the benefits of Git integration for version control and collaboration, while others were interested in the cross-platform compatibility. Concerns were raised about the reliance on Javascript for runbook definitions, with some preferring a shell-based approach. The discussion also touched upon alternative tools like Ansible and chezmoi, comparing their functionalities and use cases to Atuin Desktop. A few commenters questioned the need for a dedicated tool for tasks achievable with existing shell scripting, but overall the reception was positive, with many eager to explore its capabilities.
Nerdlog is a fast, terminal-based log viewer designed for efficiently viewing logs from multiple hosts simultaneously. It features a timeline histogram that provides a visual overview of log activity, allowing users to quickly identify periods of high activity or errors. Written in Rust, Nerdlog emphasizes speed and efficiency, making it suitable for handling large log files and numerous hosts. It supports filtering, searching, and highlighting to aid in analysis and supports different log formats, including journalctl output. The tool aims to streamline log monitoring and debugging in a user-friendly terminal interface.
Hacker News users generally praised Nerdlog for its speed and clean interface, particularly appreciating the timeline histogram feature for quickly identifying activity spikes. Some compared it favorably to existing tools like lnav and GoAccess, while others suggested potential improvements such as regular expression search, customizable layouts, and the ability to tail live logs from containers. A few commenters also expressed interest in seeing features like log filtering and the option for a client-server architecture for remote log viewing. One commenter also pointed out that the project name was very similar to an existing project called "Nerd Fonts".
OpenAI Codex CLI is a command-line interface tool that leverages the OpenAI Codex model to act as a coding assistant directly within your terminal. It allows you to generate, execute, and debug code snippets in various programming languages using natural language prompts. The tool aims to streamline the coding workflow by enabling quick prototyping, code completion, and exploration of different coding approaches directly from the command line. It focuses on small code snippets rather than large-scale projects, making it suitable for tasks like generating regular expressions, converting between data formats, or quickly exploring language-specific syntax.
HN commenters generally expressed excitement about Codex's potential, particularly for automating repetitive coding tasks and exploring new programming languages. Some highlighted its utility for quick prototyping and generating boilerplate code, while others saw its value in educational settings for learning programming concepts. Several users raised concerns about potential misuse, like generating malware or exacerbating existing biases in code. A few commenters questioned the long-term implications for programmer employment, while others emphasized that Codex is more likely to augment programmers rather than replace them entirely. There was also discussion about the closed nature of the model and the desire for an open-source alternative, with some pointing to projects like GPT-Neo as a potential starting point. Finally, some users expressed skepticism about the demo's cherry-picked nature and the need for more real-world testing.
The author argues that man pages themselves are a valuable and well-structured source of information, contrary to popular complaints. The problem, they contend, lies with the default man reader, which uses less, hindering navigation and readability. They suggest alternatives like mandoc with a pager like less -R or specialized man page viewers for a better experience. Ultimately, the author champions the efficient and comprehensive nature of man pages when presented effectively, highlighting their consistent organization and advocating for improved tooling to access them.
HN commenters largely agree with the author's premise that man pages are a valuable resource, but the tools for accessing them are often clunky. Several commenters point to the difficulty of navigating long man pages, especially on mobile devices or when searching for specific flags or options. Suggestions for improvement include better search functionality within man pages, more concise summaries at the beginning, and alternative formatting like collapsible sections. tldr and cheat are frequently mentioned as useful alternatives for quick reference. Some disagree, arguing that man pages' inherent structure, while sometimes verbose, makes them comprehensive and adaptable to different output formats. Others suggest the problem lies with discoverability, and tools like apropos should be highlighted more. A few commenters even advocate for generating man pages automatically from source code docstrings.
The Unix Magic Poster provides a visual guide to essential Unix commands, organized by category and interconnected to illustrate their relationships. It covers file and directory manipulation, process management, text processing, networking, and system information retrieval, aiming to be a quick reference for both beginners and experienced users. The poster emphasizes practical usage by showcasing common command combinations and options, effectively demonstrating how to accomplish various tasks on a Unix-like system. Its interconnectedness highlights the composability and modularity that are central to the Unix philosophy, encouraging users to combine simple commands into powerful workflows.
Commenters on Hacker News largely praised the Unix Magic poster and its annotated version, finding it both nostalgic and informative. Several shared personal anecdotes about their early experiences with Unix and how resources like this poster were invaluable learning tools. Some pointed out specific commands or sections they found particularly useful or interesting, like the explanation of tee or the history of different shells. A few commenters offered minor corrections or suggestions for improvement, such as adding more context around certain commands or expanding on the networking section. Overall, the sentiment was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciation for the effort put into creating and annotating the poster.
Zxc is a Rust-based TLS proxy designed as a Burp Suite alternative, featuring a unique terminal-based UI built with tmux and Vim. It aims to provide a streamlined and efficient intercepting proxy experience within a familiar text-based environment, leveraging the power and customizability of Vim for editing HTTP requests and responses. Zxc intercepts and displays TLS traffic, allowing users to inspect and modify it directly within their terminal workflow. This approach prioritizes speed and a minimalist, keyboard-centric workflow for security professionals comfortable with tmux and Vim.
Hacker News users generally expressed interest in zxc, praising its novel approach to TLS interception and debugging. Several commenters appreciated the use of familiar tools like tmux and vim for the UI, finding it a refreshing alternative to more complex, dedicated tools like Burp Suite. Some raised concerns about performance and scalability compared to established solutions, while others questioned the practical benefits over existing, feature-rich alternatives. A few commenters expressed a desire for additional features like WebSocket support. Overall, the project was seen as an intriguing experiment with potential, though some skepticism remained regarding its real-world viability and competitiveness.
Xan is a command-line tool designed for efficient manipulation of CSV and tabular data. It focuses on speed and simplicity, leveraging Rust's performance for tasks like searching, filtering, transforming, and aggregating. Xan aims to be a modern alternative to traditional tools like awk and sed, offering a more intuitive syntax specifically geared toward working with structured data in a terminal environment. Its features include column selection, filtering based on various criteria, data type conversion, statistical computations, and outputting in various formats, including JSON.
Hacker News users discuss XAN's potential, particularly its speed and ease of use for data manipulation tasks compared to traditional tools like awk and sed. Some express excitement about its CSV parsing capabilities and the ability to leverage Python's power. Concerns are raised regarding the dependency on Python, potential performance bottlenecks, and the limited feature set compared to more established data wrangling tools like Pandas. The discussion also touches upon the project's early stage of development, with some users interested in contributing and others suggesting potential improvements like better documentation and integration with other command-line tools. Several comments compare XAN favorably to other similar tools like jq and miller, emphasizing its niche in CSV manipulation.
Lilly is a TUI text editor built with Rust that aims to offer a modern, performant, and customizable alternative to Vim and Neovim. It prioritizes extensibility through plugins written in Lua, offering a familiar experience for Neovim users. Featuring built-in Language Server Protocol (LSP) support, tree-sitter for syntax highlighting, and asynchronous execution for responsiveness, Lilly seeks to combine the speed and efficiency of a terminal interface with the advanced features of modern GUI editors. The project is actively under development and welcomes contributions.
Hacker News users discuss Lilly, a TUI editor and potential Vim/Neovim alternative, focusing on its Lua extensibility and clean slate design. Some express excitement about a modern, scriptable TUI editor, praising its apparent performance and the potential of Lua for customization. Others question its long-term viability given the established competition, and some debate the merits of modal vs. non-modal editing. Several commenters highlight the difficulty of attracting users away from entrenched editors, while others suggest Lilly could find a niche among those seeking a simpler, more easily customized TUI experience. A few express interest in specific features like the integrated file explorer and fuzzy finder. Overall, the comments show cautious optimism tempered by an awareness of the challenges faced by new text editors.
The Ncurses library provides an API for creating text-based user interfaces in a terminal-independent manner. It handles screen painting, input, and window management, abstracting away low-level details like terminal capabilities. Ncurses builds upon the older Curses library, offering enhancements and broader compatibility. Key features include window creation and manipulation, formatted output with color and attributes, handling keyboard and mouse input, and supporting various terminal types. The library simplifies tasks like creating menus, dialog boxes, and other interactive elements commonly found in text-based applications. By using Ncurses, developers can write portable code that works across different operating systems and terminal emulators without modification.
Hacker News users discussing the ncurses intro document generally praised it as a good resource, especially for beginners. Some appreciated the historical context provided, while others highlighted the clarity and practicality of the tutorial. One commenter mentioned using it to learn ncurses for a project, showcasing its real-world applicability. Several comments pointed out modern alternatives like FTXUI (C++) and blessed-contrib (JS), acknowledging ncurses' age but also its continued relevance and wide usage in existing tools. A few users discussed the benefits of text-based UIs, citing speed, remote accessibility, and lower resource requirements.
XPipe is a command-line tool designed to simplify and streamline connections to various remote environments like SSH servers, Docker containers, Kubernetes clusters, and virtual machines. It acts as a central hub, allowing users to define and manage connections with descriptive names and easily switch between them using simple commands. XPipe aims to improve workflow efficiency by reducing the need for complex commands and remembering connection details, offering features like automatic port forwarding, SSH agent forwarding, and seamless integration with existing SSH configurations. This effectively provides a unified interface for interacting with diverse environments, boosting productivity for developers and system administrators.
Hacker News users generally expressed interest in XPipe, praising its potential for streamlining complex workflows involving various connection types. Several commenters appreciated the consolidated approach to managing different access methods, finding value in a single tool for SSH, Docker, Kubernetes, and VMs. Some questioned its advantages over existing solutions like sshuttle, while others raised concerns about security implications, particularly around storing credentials. The discussion also touched upon the project's open-source nature and potential integration with tools like Tailscale. A few users requested clarification on specific features, such as container access and the handling of jump hosts.
Presenterm is a terminal-based presentation tool that uses Markdown for content creation. It leverages the power of Markdown's simplicity for writing slides and integrates seamlessly with the terminal environment, making it lightweight and portable. Presenterm supports features like syntax highlighting, custom themes, and speaker notes, allowing for dynamic and engaging presentations directly within the terminal. This offers a minimalist and efficient alternative to traditional graphical presentation software, particularly appealing to developers and command-line enthusiasts.
Hacker News users generally praised Presenterm for its simplicity and minimalist approach to terminal-based presentations. Several commenters appreciated its reliance on standard Markdown, making it easy to create and edit presentations without learning a new syntax. Some highlighted the benefit of having presentations version-controlled alongside code in Git repositories. Others suggested potential improvements, such as adding support for speaker notes, theming, and transitions. A few pointed out existing alternatives like mdp and remarked on the trade-offs between terminal-based presentations and more feature-rich GUI options. The discussion also touched upon the niche use case of presentations within a terminal environment, with some finding it ideal for code-heavy talks and demos.
Shelgon is a Rust framework designed for creating interactive REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) shells. It offers a structured approach to building REPLs by providing features like command parsing, history management, autocompletion, and help text generation. Developers can define commands with associated functions, arguments, and descriptions, allowing for easy extensibility and a user-friendly experience. Shelgon aims to simplify the process of building robust and interactive command-line interfaces within Rust applications.
HN users generally praised Shelgon for its clean design and the potential usefulness of a framework for building REPLs in Rust. Several commenters expressed interest in using it for their own projects, highlighting the need for such a tool. One user specifically appreciated the use of async/await for asynchronous operations. Some discussion revolved around alternative approaches and existing REPL libraries in Rust, such as rustyline and repl_rs, with comparisons to Python's prompt_toolkit. The project's relative simplicity and focus were seen as positive attributes. A few users suggested minor improvements, like adding command history and tab completion, features the author confirmed were planned or already partially implemented. Overall, the reception was positive, with commenters recognizing the value Shelgon brings to the Rust ecosystem.
Bcvi allows running a full-screen vi editor session over a limited bandwidth or high-latency connection, such as a serial console or SSH connection with significant lag. It achieves this by using a "back-channel" to send screen updates efficiently. Instead of redrawing the entire screen for every change, bcvi only transmits the differences, leading to a significantly more responsive experience. This makes editing files remotely over constrained connections practical, providing a near-native vi experience even with limited bandwidth. The back-channel can be another SSH connection or even a separate serial port, providing flexibility in setup.
Hacker News users discuss the cleverness and potential uses of bcvi, particularly for embedded systems debugging. Some express admiration for the ingenuity of using the back channel for editing, highlighting its usefulness when other methods are unavailable. Others question the practicality due to potential slowness and limitations, suggesting alternatives like ed. A few commenters reminisce about using similar techniques in the past, emphasizing the historical context of this approach within resource-constrained environments. Some discuss potential security implications, pointing out that the back channel could be vulnerable to manipulation. Overall, the comments appreciate the technical ingenuity while acknowledging the niche appeal of bcvi.
Nebu is a minimalist spreadsheet editor designed for Varvara, a unique computer system. It focuses on simplicity and efficiency, utilizing a keyboard-driven interface with limited mouse interaction. Features include basic spreadsheet operations like calculations, cell formatting, and navigation. Nebu embraces a "less is more" philosophy, aiming to provide a distraction-free environment for working with numerical data within the constraints of Varvara's hardware and software ecosystem. It prioritizes performance and responsiveness over complex features, striving for a smooth and intuitive user experience.
Hacker News users discuss Nebu, a spreadsheet editor designed for the Varvara computer. Several commenters express interest in the project, particularly its minimalist aesthetic and novel approach to spreadsheet interaction. Some question the practicality and target audience, given Varvara's niche status. There's discussion about the potential benefits of a simplified interface and the limitations of traditional spreadsheet software. A few users compare Nebu to other minimalist or unconventional spreadsheet tools and speculate about its potential for broader adoption. Several also inquire about the specifics of its implementation and integration with Varvara's unique operating system. Overall, the comments reflect a mixture of curiosity, skepticism, and cautious optimism about Nebu's potential.
Electro is a fast, open-source image viewer built for Windows using Rust and Tauri. It prioritizes speed and efficiency, offering a minimal UI with features like zooming, panning, and fullscreen mode. Uniquely, Electro integrates a terminal directly into the application, allowing users to execute commands and scripts related to the currently viewed image without leaving the viewer. This combination aims to provide a streamlined workflow for tasks involving image manipulation or analysis.
HN users generally praised Electro's speed and minimalist design, comparing it favorably to existing image viewers like XnView and IrfanView. Some expressed interest in features like lossless image rotation, better GIF support, and a more robust file browser. A few users questioned the choice of Electron as a framework, citing potential performance overhead, while others suggested alternative technologies. The developer responded to several comments, addressing questions and acknowledging feature requests, indicating active development and responsiveness to user feedback. There was also some discussion about licensing and the possibility of open-sourcing the project in the future.
Calendar.txt outlines a simple, universal calendar format based on plain text. Each line represents a day, formatted as YYYY-MM-DD followed by optional event descriptions separated by tabs. This minimalist approach allows for easy creation, parsing, and manipulation by any text editor or scripting tool, promoting interoperability across diverse platforms and applications. The post emphasizes the benefits of this format's portability, version control friendliness, and longevity, contrasting it with proprietary calendar systems that often lock users into specific software or data formats. The suggested structure allows for complex recurring events and to-do lists with simple extensions, making it adaptable to various scheduling needs.
Hacker News users discuss the minimalist approach of calendar.txt, appreciating its simplicity and portability. Some highlight its alignment with the Unix philosophy of doing one thing well. Others suggest improvements like adding support for recurring events or integration with other tools. A few users express skepticism, finding the plain text format too limiting for practical use, while others champion its accessibility and ease of parsing. The discussion also touches upon alternative calendar solutions and the benefits of plain text for archiving and data longevity. Several commenters share their personal workflows incorporating plain text files for task management and scheduling.
This blog post details how to automatically remove macOS-specific files (.DS_Store and ._*) from external drives upon ejection. The author uses a combination of AppleScript and a LaunchAgent to trigger a cleanup script whenever a volume is ejected. The script leverages dot_clean to efficiently delete these often-annoying hidden files, preventing their proliferation on non-macOS systems. This automated approach replaces the need for manual cleanup and ensures a cleaner experience when sharing drives between different operating systems.
Commenters on Hacker News largely appreciated the simplicity and directness of the provided AppleScript solution for removing macOS-specific files from external drives upon ejection. Some highlighted the potential for data loss if used carelessly, especially with networked drives or if the script were modified to delete different files. Others offered alternative solutions, including using dot_clean, incorporating the script into a Hazel rule, or employing a shell script with find. The discussion also touched upon the annoyance factor of these files on other operating systems and the historical reasons for their existence, with some suggesting that their prevalence has diminished. A few commenters mentioned more robust solutions for syncing and backing up, which would obviate the need for such a script altogether.
iterm-mcp is a plugin that brings AI-powered control to iTerm2, allowing users to interact with their terminal and REPLs using natural language. It leverages large language models to translate commands like "list files larger than 1MB" into the appropriate shell commands, and can even generate code snippets within the terminal. The plugin aims to simplify complex terminal interactions and improve productivity by bridging the gap between human intention and shell execution.
HN users generally expressed interest in iterm-mcp, praising its innovative approach to terminal interaction. Several commenters highlighted the potential for improved workflow efficiency through features like AI-powered command generation and execution. Some questioned the reliance on OpenAI's APIs, citing cost and privacy concerns, while others suggested alternative local models or incorporating existing tools like copilot. The discussion also touched on the possibility of extending the tool beyond iTerm2 to other terminals. A few users requested a demo video to better understand the functionality. Overall, the reception was positive, with many acknowledging the project's potential while also offering constructive feedback for improvement.
Teemoji is a command-line tool that enhances the output of other command-line programs by replacing matching words with emojis. It works by reading standard input and looking up words in a configurable emoji mapping file. If a match is found, the word is replaced with the corresponding emoji in the output. Teemoji aims to add a touch of visual flair to otherwise plain text output, making it more engaging and potentially easier to parse at a glance. The tool is written in Go and can be easily installed and configured using a simple YAML configuration file.
HN users generally found the Teemoji project amusing and appreciated its lighthearted nature. Some found it genuinely useful for visualizing data streams in terminals, particularly for debugging or monitoring purposes. A few commenters pointed out potential issues, such as performance concerns with larger inputs and the limitations of emoji representation for complex data. Others suggested improvements, like adding color support beyond the inherent emoji colors or allowing custom emoji mappings. Overall, the reaction was positive, with many acknowledging its niche appeal and expressing interest in trying it out.
SRCL (Sacred React Components Library) is an open-source React component library designed to create web applications with a terminal-like aesthetic. It provides pre-built components like command prompts, code editors, and file explorers, allowing developers to easily integrate a retro terminal look and feel into their projects. SRCL aims to simplify the process of building terminal-inspired interfaces while offering customization options for colors, fonts, and interactive elements.
HN users generally expressed interest in SRCL, praising its unique aesthetic and potential usefulness for specific applications like monitoring dashboards or CLI visualization tools. Some questioned its broader appeal and practicality for complex web apps, citing potential accessibility issues and limitations in interactivity compared to standard UI elements. Several commenters discussed the technical implementation, suggesting improvements like using a virtual DOM for performance and offering alternative rendering approaches. Others drew comparisons to existing projects like Blessed and React Ink, highlighting SRCL's web-focused approach as a differentiating factor. A few users also expressed concerns about the long-term viability of such a niche project.
Summary of Comments ( 16 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44126612
HN commenters largely praised the Command Line Handbook for its modern approach, covering newer tools and techniques omitted from older resources. Several appreciated the inclusion of practical examples and the focus on interactive use. Some suggested additions, including coverage of specific tools like
jq,fzf, andripgrep, more detail on shell scripting, and explanations of underlying concepts like the filesystem hierarchy. A few pointed out minor typos or formatting inconsistencies. The overall sentiment was highly positive, with many expressing their intent to use the handbook themselves or recommend it to others.The Hacker News post "Show HN: I wrote a modern Command Line Handbook" at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44126612 generated a moderate amount of discussion, with several commenters expressing appreciation for the resource and offering suggestions for improvement.
One of the most compelling comments highlighted the importance of focusing on the conceptual underpinnings of the command line, rather than just presenting a collection of commands. This commenter advocated for explaining concepts like standard input/output/error, pipes, and redirection early on, emphasizing that understanding these fundamental concepts is crucial for effectively utilizing the command line. They argued that mastering these principles allows users to extrapolate and combine commands creatively, rather than just memorizing individual commands.
Another user suggested incorporating information about shell scripting, particularly using Bash or Zsh. They believed that introducing basic scripting could significantly enhance the handbook's value by empowering users to automate tasks and create more powerful workflows.
Several commenters praised the handbook's clear and concise writing style, finding it accessible and easy to understand. The modern focus, including coverage of tools like
fd,ripgrep, andfzf, was also well-received.Some suggestions for improvement included adding more interactive elements, such as exercises or quizzes, to reinforce learning. Another commenter requested a section on common command-line utilities for tasks like managing archives, working with images, and performing system administration tasks.
One user expressed a desire for more platform-specific information, particularly for Windows users, recognizing that many command-line tools behave differently across operating systems. They pointed out the growing popularity of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and suggested including guidance on using it effectively.
Finally, a few comments pointed out minor typos and formatting issues, demonstrating the community's engagement with the project and their willingness to contribute to its improvement. Overall, the comments reflect a positive reception to the handbook and provide valuable feedback for its continued development.