Welcome to the second edition of Productivity tips for .NET developers. This time around, we didn’t just stick to the Uno Platform team—we reached out to fellow developers from the .NET community to hear how they stay productive. From discovering creative ways to use new tools to sticking with those tried-and-true habits, these tips offer something for everyone.
Daren May
We asked for 3 tips and ended up with 5 — talk about being productive!
Top 3 Productivity Tips (+2 bonus tips):
Customize Visual Studio Window Title: Use the "Customize Visual Studio Window Title" extension to display repository and branch as well as the solution name in the VS title bar. This helps keep track of multiple instances of Visual Studio, repositories, and branches.
Embrace Command-Line and Scripting: Don't overlook the power of the command-line and scripting. Visual Studio, build systems, and Git have many powerful command-line options. Invest time in learning their full capabilities and a scripting environment like PowerShell to enhance your workflow.
Ask Questions Freely: Don't be afraid to ask questions, regardless of your position or seniority. No one knows everything, and your team, peers, and the community can all assist when an answer doesn't spring to mind. Remember, the only dumb questions are the ones that aren't asked!
Invest in Ergonomics: Pay attention to the ergonomics of your working environment. Factors like monitor height, standing desks, comfortable and supportive chairs, mouse, and keyboard can have a huge impact on your productivity and well-being over time.
Continuous Learning: Keep learning as nothing stands still in our field. What's considered best practice today might become legacy implementation tomorrow. Stay updated with the latest developments in the .NET ecosystem.
Follow Darren on: GitHub & Twitter
Leomaris Reyes (Microsoft MVP)
Top 3 Productivity Tips:
Resting is Part of Being Productive: Recognize that rest is crucial for productivity. An overworked brain doesn't function properly. When you take breaks and disconnect completely, your brain gets to rest. This can significantly improve your efficiency when you return to work.
Take Care of Your Mental Health: Pay attention to your mental health as much as your physical health. Listen to what your body tells you, whether good or bad. Don't hesitate to seek therapy when feeling exhausted, ask for a vacation when tired, or say "I can't" when overwhelmed.
Learn to Say No: Saying no is not a bad thing; it's both human and professional. Avoid overcommitting by saying yes to everything. Being selective about your commitments allows you to be 100% responsible for the tasks you do take on, leading to better quality work and less stress.
*Follow Leomaris on *AskXammy& Twitter
Andres Pineda
Top 3 Productivity Tips:
Spend time learning your tools: Whatever tool you use to work, learn your way around it. You might not believe the amount of time you can save by using the shortcuts that are part of your developer environment.
Keep easy wins: We only sometimes have the chance to work on things that keep us motivated or when we have been working for a long time on the same task. In such situations, I often tackle low-hanging tasks that, after completion, will provide a sense of progress.
Organize your work around your most productive hours: There are times when you are more productive. Block that time in your calendar to focus solely on work
Follow Andres on: GitHub& Twitter
These productivity tips offer a range of strategies to help you work smarter, not harder. Whether it's leveraging new tools, improving ergonomics, or simply learning to say 'no,' there's something here for everyone to improve their workflow.
Have your own tips to share? We’d love to hear them! Drop your tips in the comments below and follow Uno Platform for more insights and updates from the .NET developer community.
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