Where is my simple productivity app?
Thursday, March 20th, 2008
Everyone has a different tool they use for productivity. Everyone likes to manage their data differently. I’m not a fan of Microsoft Word or complicated document writers. If I need to get thoughts written down I fire up Textmate or Ultra-Edit, depending on the computer I’m using. A simple unformatted TXT file can be read on any platform and requires the least editing to make it into a presentable document, its all I use. What I want is a productivity tool built around those files. I don’t want something to incorporate them, just manage them. I don’t want a new text editor, I like Textmate. So far I have several tools that can get me there, but not everything
- Data gathering - Textmate/Ultra-Edit for editing, I can do a quick append to a text file with Quicksilver as well.
- Processing - if I can settle on a naming convention then I can use Hazel to manage those text files, pushing them into folders as needed. No known solution for this on the PC.
- Presentation - this is trickier. I want an “always on top” text viewer independent of Textmate. I use Stickies in developer mode from the Dashboard to keep a note in my face. I want that functionality, but that it opens an aesthetically pleasing text file as needed.
- Backup/Storage - I’m fairly ok having a folder on my laptop that I can zip up and toss on a USB drive or email to myself, thereby allowing me to share data.
I want a cloud solution, maybe Hazel + Transmit could do it for me, or even Transmit with its dock upload option… I’ll have to research it. Then have a server side app that presents those notes easily to the web. The kicker I think is the “Sticky Publisher” that keeps information in my face.
