HN Theater @HNTheaterMonth

ORG-MODE ORG-MODE ORG-MODE Jeff, everything you do could be done with org-mode by using a key combination. it would also add a calender with an agenda and schedule and and and and the main thing: it's a text file just like what you are using. this is a nice how to (no relation to me) https://youtu.be/SzA2YODtgK4

⬐ q1w2

I'm using a markdown big file. What features in org-mode are really worth making me look at it?

⬐ xenodium

Org is pretty rich. Folks often pick and choose different bits. There's a great writeup that gives a fairly extensive tour: Org Mode - Organize Your Life In Plain Text! http://doc.norang.ca/org-mode.html

⬐ themodelplumber

Isn't org mode less portable though? My understanding was that you need an editor plus appropriate tooling for it to really shine, which to me is similar to saying "productivity software" and less like text editing.

⬐ lytefm

I wouldn't say that it's less portable than using your custom txt file file format.

But sure, in order to really make it shine and you'll want to use Emacs and something like orgzly on the phone.

⬐ xenodium

I'm working on making org more portable (at least bring parts to iOS), via https://plainorg.com and flathabits.com.

Karl Voit is doing the hard work of rallying folks to promote org markup outside of Emacs and hopefully create a diverse ecosystem under the Orgdown proposal https://gitlab.com/publicvoit/orgdown

⬐ dempedempe

I have yet to try PlainOrg, but loved your app, Flathabits!

⬐ xenodium

Thank you. Nice to hear that!

⬐ kworks

Plainorg is awesome. Keep up the great work. The app has enabled me to use the org-mode based plaintext productivity system I've found most effective on my phone. Super useful.

Incidentally, the system I use is from Mark Forster's 'Autofocus' constellation of productivity experiments. Unfortunate that his work is not more widely known because it's quite effective (for me at least).

Here's a link to the version I use: http://markforster.squarespace.com/blog/2021/11/16/the-final...

⬐ xenodium

> Plainorg is awesome. Keep up the great work. The app has enabled me to use the org-mode based plaintext productivity system I've found most effective on my phone. Super useful.

Wonderful to hear. Thank you.

⬐ allarm

Org Mode was the reason why I switched to Emacs and my only regret is I did not do it sooner. Personal diary, organizer, knowledge base with literate programming blocks, many, many other things - everything is in one tool, crosslinked, in plain text, version controlled. It is the tool I have been looking for my whole life, I've no idea how I missed it earlier, it could have made me a better organized person long time ago.

Emacs learning curve is steep, obviously, but it worth the time and effort. There are configuration frameworks that make the initial steps somewhat easier (i.e. Doom Emacs). Also, Emacs community is awesome and super friendly.

⬐ BostonEnginerd

Harry did a great job organizing Emacs Boston while he was out here.

This was a really well done talk.

⬐ loopz

Best intro, and one where I didn't go into meta-key flashbacks and turned off the video before the end. Worth the watch just to get an idea of what org-mode offers.

Pro of emacs: It takes care of your whole life.

Con of emacs: It really does take over your whole life.

If we're going to have AGI one day, it's probably going to evolve from emacs.

⬐ DoomHotel

I think it'd be more appropriate if the post bore a great red label: 'WARNING: EMACS!!!'

⬐ DoomHotel

Nobody likes Monty Python references?

I guess I shoulda known, my Simpsons one got downvoted too. Well, lessons learned, I guess.

⬐ zikzak

I am in recovery so that would help me.

⬐ sva_

I love org mode. Eversince I started using it, I became really motivated and efficient at further tweaking my emacs config. One of these days I'll actually make use of it all.

> why literate programming isn't more popular is beyond me

I saw this topic brought up in a video I was watching yesterday https://youtu.be/SzA2YODtgK4?t=1519

There are 2 reasons:

1. Programmers and code review tools are not very good at making sure comments and documentation are updated when code is.

2. People see literate programming as primarily for documentation-focused or teaching purposes.

The statistics in the article we're commenting on suggest that more software systems should be documentation/teaching focused, since the "learning the system" phase is where most of the time goes.

⬐ imtringued

I will admit that I am in group 2. I always saw it as something exclusively used for teaching. I have a project that I basically abandoned because of a lack of free time and there is little hope that my friend will understand the code base without my help. If literate programming can help with that project I'll be sold on it.

⬐ vanderZwan

> 2. People see literate programming as primarily for documentation-focused or teaching purposes.

I agree. Specifically, it's for teaching my future forgetful self what the hell this bit of code is supposed to do. Especially if waterbed theory appears to apply and it's inherently a juggling act of interlocked complex systems.

Org-mode[0] is the best merge I've found between plain text and more powerful workflow/scheduling features.

I synchronize to android using Orgzly[1].

If I wasn't on Emacs as my main editor, I would just use plain text. There have been efforts to get Org-mode working in other editors, but I don't know how good they are.

The benefits of plain text are more important to me than the benefits of the special features. I've used a lot of todo apps, and some of them are very good for specific tasks, but most aren't adaptable enough for my needs. Eventually I gave up and went to plain text, and was happy. Org-mode is just a better version of plain text.

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzA2YODtgK4

[1]: http://www.orgzly.com/