Here's how to conditionally update an object in JavaScript.Best wayThis is the best method for conditionally updating an object for two reasons:It's copy-on-write, avoiding mutation of the object.It uses the most expressive syntax available to accomplish that.function update(obj) { return { ...obj, ...

Here's how to use search/copy/paste vim key bindings in the terminal.Enter Vim ModeIn Alacritty, to enter vim mode, type:Ctrl-Shift-SpaceVim SearchThen you're free to search, like you usually would in vim. Search with:/ mytermThen myterm will be searched in reverse direction, last buffer references ...

Here's how to abort a fetch based on a timeout.Sometimes you want to stop a fetch request mid request. Perhaps, for instances, there's not a timeout on the backend server. You could be fetching... forever.There's not a timeout option to pass to fetch. Instead, you get to light up the "fetch signal":...

Here's a method for diffing two files side by side in neovim.Git has its own diff, and there are many 3rd-party utilities. But sometimes you want to diff two files that are not under version control. You can use the diff command, but the output is difficult to read.Neovim has its own diff mode (see ...

Here are a couple ways to run only one elixir test at a time.Start New Mix ProjectThe simplest way to get an Elixir project set up for testing is with mix, which comes with Elixir distributions.mix new my_projectRun All TestsTo run all tests, by default, you run:mix testThis will execute all *_test....

Here's a way to run Elixir tests in watch mode. "Watch mode" is where your tests will re-run automatically when src changes.Start New Mix ProjectThe simplest way to get an Elixir project set up for testing is with mix, which comes with Elixir distributions.mix new my_project3rd-Party Library Support...

Here's how to quickly delete many local git branches.Over time, as we work, there are many git branches that pile up on our local machine. To see them:git branchDelete One Branch at a TimeTo delete one branch at a time, we name the branch and pass a -D option:git branch -D my-branchDelete Many Branc...

By this definition, React is a framework.The DefinitionI recently read a definition I like for "framework" vs "library". He acknowledges first that "framework" and "library" are squishy terms. From the htmx blog:Library - 3P code whose API does not significantly influence the rest of the application...

How to format a USB Drive for FAT32.See USB drivesPlug your USB drive in, and you'll see a new device show up. Run lsblk and see something like:NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS ... sda 8:0 1 961M 0 diskThere it is. /dev/sda is our USB drive.Format FAT32Fat32 is a pretty good filesystem for a...

Here's a way to empty the trash from the terminal.Trashed files simply sit in a hidden folder in your home directory. Delete it for good, and trash is emptied:rm -rf ~/.local/share/TrashCheck your before/after disk usage with df.

Here's how to permanently change the hostname in Linux.It's simple enough:hostnamectl set-hostname mynewhostnameThen see what it's set to:hostname

Here's how to catch errors thrown from inside a setTimeout callback.Uncaught ErrorErrors thrown within setTimeout are especially squirrely. This is because the callback function is asynchronously. Explained by Node docs:This will not work because the callback function passed to fs.readFile() is call...

Here's how to make a type-safe alternative to .filter(Boolean) in TypeScript.Boolean FilterIn JavaScript, there's a nice little short-hand for filtering non-nulls. If I have a sparse array:const arr = ['a', undefined, 'b', null, 'c']I can get rid of the nulls like this:arr.filter(Boolean).forEach(ch...

Here's a way to remove duplicate files using a cli tool.Install fdupesThere are many tooling options. I have used fdupes to good effect.Get it:sudo apt install fdupesInteractive phasesIf you want to delete the duplicate files in the current directory, run this command:fdupes . -dThis will detect dup...

Here's a tool to render markdown in the terminal.InstallThe tool is called glow. Get it!To install in Ubuntu derivatives:sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings curl -fsSL https://repo.charm.sh/apt/gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/charm.gpg echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/charm.gpg] ...

For quick and dirty editing of audio and video in the terminal, ffmpeg can do the job.DaVinci isn't around, or you don't want to leave the lovely ascii of the terminal. Go find ffmpeg.Cutting Clips with ffmpegffmpeg can copy or transcode video. If you give it a start and/or stop timestamp, it can do...

To reference or use a type that's defined in a Promise, the Promise must first be unwrapped.The utility type that we need is Awaited. It takes a generic T.Here it is in action. This all type-checks:type A = string type B = Promise type C = Awaited // typeof b is Promise const b: B = Promise.resolve(...

What my experience with Github Copilot has been so far.After a monthI have been using copilot.vim for a month. I was skeptical to start. I wanted to see if it would be a worthwhile productivity tool for me. Or would it help me write bugs faster?After a month, I think it's a net positive. It's a valu...

Here's a way to deal with serializing undefined in NextJS getStaticProps function.NextJS RequirementThe docs say that the props returned from getStaticProps must be serializable:It should be a serializable object so that any props passed, could be serialized with JSON.stringify.Ok, what does "serial...

Gamification of conumser or even business software is overplayed.This sounds only slightly better than "making our product sticky". Egh. That one's the worst. But gamification of things that aren't games isn't much better and means about the same thing.Get people to come back over and over again. Bu...

Here are some tips to cut down on Systemu76 laptop fan noise.I have yet to find a perfect solution. The System76 Oryx Pro spins up too much and too loudly for my taste. I've done a few things to try and help.Remove High CPU ProcessIf you're fan spins up, it's because something's hot. CPU is a likely...

Being on time is important to being professional, the meaning of which includes being respectful of others.In most professional work, there's occasion to call collaborators together. We set up a calendar invite with a start and stop time. That collaboration should start at the latest by the start ti...

Here's how to install Erlang on Ubuntu 22.04. Maybe works for versions before/after; I have not tested.Erlang Version ManagerFirst, pick a source for erlang. I recommend you use asdf, the best version manager around.Install asdf Pluginsasdf plugin add erlang asdf plugin add elixirPotentially Optiona...

Here's how to mark or label a window and focus on that window by mark name.What is usual and obvious in much i3 documentation and blogging is how to navigate directionally (focus the window to the top, left, etc). Most i3/configs include examples for these bindings. But there is a fabled way of navi...

How does one keep the grid cells centered on the page?If your grid content matches your grid cell width, no problem. But there are other scenarios; Here's one: The grid is full container width, but the content floats in the middle, not stretching to the width of the cell.2 ColumnsIf we have two colu...

Here's how to map AltGr to type special characters in Linux.I wanna be cute and write "niños" in my posts, but how do I get that fancy tilde to show up over the 2nd "n" (ñ, called "enye")? Or, I want to write résumé, but I just keep starting again.These little tidbits put over the letters are diacri...

Here is a way to render a React component in the browser only when using NextJS.To render on the client only, wrap your component in a dynamic import.With this component in my-component.ts:'use client' import React from 'react' export interface MyComponentProps {} export function MyComponent(props: ...

Here's how to add an app, script or any command to dmenu.Often you'll need to add your own command to dmenu because it's not put there automatically for you, as when you install from a package manager. Maybe, for instance, you need a little script that wraps the starting of an app with flags, as is ...

Here's a method to run an AppImage on Pop!_OS that worked for me.An AppImage is a file that contains a Linux that will supposedly "run anywhere". It probably does, who knows. But for me, I had trouble with running one that I tried recently.Looking for help, I found some that suggested using fuse to ...

Here's a way to config i3 specific to a computer within a single i3 config file.This is a version of this article's solution with a few more basics for a n00b like me.Set a HostnameFirst, we must identify our particular computer. We'll do this by setting a hostname. I'll call my host rexkwando:hostn...