The Elements of Computing Style
200+ Tips for Busy Knowledge Workers
Nowadays everybody knows how to use a computer. Smart people learn how to use it with style: effectively, efficiently, and, yes, enjoyably. Become one of them!
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- If it doesn't work, try it again
- If it doesn't work, try it in a different way
- Search for the least common term
- ChatGPT, GIYF, RTFM,
- Finish one task before proceeding to the next
- Leave work unfinished
- Keep multiple work queues
- Avoid distractions
- Plan, measure, and report your work
- Don't leave it for the last minute
- Comment your work
- Keep note files with your work
- Version before big changes
- “Save As” before modifying
- Automate
- Spell check
- Correct on paper
- Learn those correction symbols
- Mind map
- Use each program for what it does best
- Find answers with AI
- Get guidance from AI
- Research with AI
- Draft texts with AI
- Analyze data with AI
- Brainstorm with AI
- Draft images with AI
- Create videos with AI
- Learn with AI
- Code with AI
- Improve AI responses with prompt engineering
- Improve AI responses with custom instructions
- Get access to a premium AI service
- Beware of AI errors and hallucinations
- Start your search with Wikipedia
- Find it next time
- Use phrase searches
- Search sites through Google
- Search using an image
- Let the web vote
- Ask StackExchange
- Cast wide nets to locate an email address
- The internet never forgets
- Judge your online sources
- URLs are your friends
- Locate orphan pages through link queries
- Bookmark sparingly
- Make your bookmarks accessible
- Save web links with your other files
- Shorten your links
- Let your group vote
- Read email once a day
- Turn-off email alerts
- File incoming email
- File incoming email as you read it
- Don't file all incoming email
- Don't file outgoing email
- Create subfolders
- Create shortcut-accessible folders
- File to multiple folders
- Link folders with placeholder messages
- Automate filing
- Don't read spam
- Don't fall for hoaxes
- Send reminders to yourself
- Reply to mail you sent
- Read the recipient lists
- Detach attachments
- Don't email during holidays
- Use multiple mail search strategies
- Use meaningful Subject lines
- Don't begin a new subject by replying to an old email
- Quote appropriately when replying
- Check your quoted text when adding recipients
- Don't mix private and public distribution lists
- Don't Bcc
- Arrange for replies to go where they should
- Don't put in an email what you don't want to see in public
- Flames belong to the cooler
- Sandwich critique within praise
- Reread before pressing send
- Write short messages as a Subject line
- Save time with VSRE
- Save effort by replying with delegation
- Send mass email through a Bcc
- Retire people from a discussion with a Bcc
- Use read receipts with care
- Avoid gratuitous attachments
- Share large files using cloud-based services
- Don't edit documents over email
- Don't plan meetings over email
- Introduce people
- DON'T YELL
- Bookmark with undo
- Outline
- Beware of the changes you track
- Don't align with whitespace
- Paragraph breaks aren't for vertical spacing
- Break pages declaratively
- Employ styles
- Utilize references
- Use the thesaurus
- Automate the table of contents generation
- Automatically convert between upper and lowercase
- Paste as unformatted text
- Search and replace formatting
- Search all word forms
- Search with wildcards
- Search for special elements
- Track changes
- Avoid embedded elements and links
- Useful shortcuts
- Replace your calculator with the spreadsheet
- Use multiple worksheets
- Structure your spreadsheet for calculations
- Name your data
- Keep an extra row
- Organize your data with Excel's tables
- Vlookup isn't rocket science
- Don't show numbers with meaningless precision
- Apply formatting to whole rows and columns
- Auto-complete your labels
- Average by selecting
- Have others fill-in your spreadsheets
- Plan two minutes per slide
- Skip slides when in a hurry
- Avoid running text
- Use charts
- Add graphics
- Use full-screen images
- Use appropriate fonts
- Avoid fancy layouts and effects
- Use a master style
- Don't read your slides
- Use both screens
- No live demos
- Arrange for backup equipment
- Verify your setup
- Setup accessible backups
- Use fonts wisely
- Avoid table rules
- Know your symbols
- Prefer charts over tables over text
- Prefer scalable formats
- Avoid underlined text
- Avoid uppercase sequences
- Don't be too clever
- Use professional-designed styles
- Use meaningful file and folder names
- Organize your files
- Sort files by date
- Link files with shortcuts
- Beware of attachments
- Don't reply to spam and malware senders
- Cleanup your replies to misclassified spam
- Beware of phishers
- No one will give you millions by email
- Don't click on all hyperlinks
- Select unguessable passwords
- Don't reuse passwords
- Apply security fixes
- Get over it
- Think before you post
- Browse privately
- Encrypt sensitive data
- Use strong encryption
- Beware of cloud services
- Arrange for plausible deniability
- Don't encrypt more than you need
- Consider your trails
- Don't throw away your personal data
- Backup your data
- Store backups off-site
- Keep multiple backup copies
- Backups are backups
- Online backups are also backups
- Backup your smart devices
- Keep your data together
- Test your backups
- Take care of those pictures
- Choose long-lasting file formats
- Test your data when changing equipment
- Separate personal from work data
- Consider the data of your reports
- Consider the data of your family
- Packing list
- Carry a USB stick on you
- Backup before you travel
- Phone through Skype
- Don't rely on network access
- Arrange for network access before you leave
- Ask your hotel for a power brick
- Don't buy more than you need
- Consider noise, space, and weight
- Make your phone a Wi-Fi hotspot
- First unplug the mains plug
- Don't leave stuff around your laptop's keyboard
- Desk phone on your right, coffee on your left
- Sleep, stand by, hibernate
- Don't rely on obsolete equipment
- Use a second monitor
- Invest in a broadband connection
- Wire your house
- Reduce clutter through hubs
- Consider a printer's cost per page
- Choose appropriate service and extended warranties
- Remove batteries after swimming
- Log your changes
- Keep these installation disks
- Upgrade before the EOL
- Save money and hassle with open source software
- Avoid installing and using software that comes bundled with hardware devices
- Beware of laptops
- Build a docking station
- Remove your chair's handles
- Use keyboard shortcuts
- Create your own keyboard shortcuts
- Keyboard smarts
- Windows shortcuts
- Mac shortcuts
- Tile your windows
- Phone, email, chat
- Use a headset
- Exercise
- Contribute to online communities
- Avoid addictive endeavors
- Rip your CDs
- Centralize your media content
- Digitize your kids' art
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