This is how A simple script can improve your perceived IQ

Jokes aside, message platforms UI is the worst. Sure, it comes from the IM (instant message) mindset of short messages; long ones are for emails. But that is not the case anymore, and my slack messages are becoming longer and longer 90% of the times. (this is true for the XMPP ones too btw, as messages have replaced emails for the SAME goal)

If communication is asynchronous, you need to communicate effectively: the burden must be on the writer, not the reader. That’s because you (as writer) want to convey you are capable and you understand deeply the matter at hand. A bad UI can make you frustrated so you won’t be as effective as you could.

Enter vitmp. I don’t remember where I saw it but it basically is a bash script such that:

  1. creates a temp file XYZ.md
  2. opens a new term with $EDITOR opened at XYZ.md
  3. let you edit the file
  4. when you close the the $EDITOR it copies the file content on the clipboard

This improves communication 100X I think. The reason being that every message is now an email: you have time to think, modify, with the full power of an editor (such as vim). Then you Ctrl+V in the text field and press Enter

Try it and look how easier it will be to communicate and think from now on

InB4 “what about mobile?”