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Build Your Developer OS: Automate, Curate, Dominate

#devjournal #linux #rust #githubcopilot

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Now, read the article below!

What if your dev tools worked together like an operating system?
Not 50 open tabs. Not endless bookmarks.
A true workflow system made of handpicked tools, bundles, and automations — all serving you.

This isn’t another “Top 50 Tools” article.
This is your guide to building a Developer OS — your custom productivity machine that eliminates decision fatigue, speeds up dev work, and saves your brainpower for shipping cool things.

🔧 Step 1: Choose Your Dev Kernel — the Workspace Core

🧠 Goal: Centralize your thinking, not scatter it.

Pick one system where everything begins — notes, ideas, project plans, daily tasks.

Great options:

  • Notion: For flexible docs, dashboards, and task management
  • Obsidian: For local-first markdown knowledge base + Zettelkasten-style notes
  • Logseq: For devs who like outlining and bidirectional linking

Pro tip: Start every dev day in your kernel. One place. No chaos.

🛠️ Step 2: Install Modular Tools — Your Dev Utilities

🧠 Goal: Solve dev-specific problems fast.

Like installing apps on your OS, here are modular tools that plug into your workflow:

Task Tool Why It’s Great
API testing Hoppscotch Fast, collaborative Postman alternative
JSON formatting JSON Crack Visual, interactive, beautiful
Regex RegExr Real-time testing + community examples
Image optimization Squoosh Compress images in your browser
Markdown preview StackEdit Real-time MD editor that syncs with Google Drive

💡 Pro move: Save these in a "Dev Tools" page inside your Notion or Obsidian vault. Add personal notes next to each tool. It becomes your instant-use toolbox.

🧩 Step 3: Add Code Bundles & Snippets — Your Dev Shortcuts

🧠 Goal: Stop rewriting boilerplate.

Here’s how to maintain your own codebase of shortcuts:

  • Use GitHub Gists to store one-off snippets and API calls
  • Build a Snippets repo per language/framework (like snippets-react, snippets-flask)
  • Use Raycast (Mac) or Espanso (cross-platform) to trigger code/text templates with shortcuts

📦 Where to get bundles to start:

🤖 Step 4: Automate the Boring Stuff

🧠 Goal: Free your time. Let robots help.

Start small:

  • Auto-generate README.md from prompts using ChatGPT or readme.so

  • Use Zapier or Make to:

    • Auto-backup your Gists to Notion
    • Send starred GitHub repos to your Trello board

  • Create CLI aliases for routine tasks (e.g., gpush = git add + commit + push)

🪄 Bonus: Use Alfred or Raycast to search docs, run scripts, or create workflows instantly.

📚 Step 5: Sync Knowledge & Learning

🧠 Goal: Don’t just collect tutorials — organize wisdom.

Use a system like:

  • Read → Summarize → Store → Reuse

📖 Sources:

✍️ Capture takeaways:

  • Use Obsidian or Notion
  • Tag with #concept, #howto, #bugfix, etc.
  • Reuse for blogging, documentation, or mentoring

🔁 Step 6: Version-Control Your Life

🧠 Goal: Track your learning, progress, and experiments.

Dev OS = dev brain + dev habits. Track:

  • Daily goals in a Notion template
  • Weekly review in markdown (week-review.md)
  • Code wins in a private GitHub repo called dev-journal

🗂️ Optional:

  • Use GitJournal on mobile to sync markdown notes via Git
  • Try CodeTime to track coding hours

⚙️ Step 7: Make It Fun & Sustainable

Even devs need dopamine. Add playful touches:

  • Add emoji tags to projects (🔥 side-hustle, 👾 fun, 🧪 experiment)
  • Use ambient music via lofi.cafe
  • Run daily challenges like “no Google, only DevDocs” or “build in public week”

Add a README to your own brain.
Structure. Describe. Build systems. Your Dev OS is a forever evolving workspace.

🤓 Final Dev OS Checklist

✅ A thinking system (Notion/Obsidian)
✅ Tool vault with links, uses, backups
✅ Snippet library + boilerplate repos
✅ Daily driver automations
✅ Learning capture system
✅ Versioned personal dev journal
✅ Playful workflow, not burnout

😅 Emoji Debug Log

  • 🤯 When you realize you've reinvented your workflow 17 times
  • 🤖 When your automation pings your Notion with every starred repo
  • 🛠️ When gpush becomes your best friend
  • 📦 When you ship a site using a prebuilt starter in 10 mins
  • 🧠 When your Dev OS starts feeling smarter than you

⚡ Your Turn

Drop a comment with:

  • Tools in your Dev OS
  • How you organize your dev life
  • Favorite bundle or automation

If this helped you think differently about productivity, share it with your dev team or side project crew. Let’s build smarter, not just harder. 💥

💬 Over to You!

Have you tried combining Astro and Next.js before?
Or built a SaaS with a split-stack like this?
Share your pain. Or your gain.👇

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