6 ms·

If there is one tool (if I can call it that) that changed my life, it is Org Mode. I was a Vim guy who in a desperate attempt to get digitally organised was for

If there is one tool (if I can call it that) that changed my life, it is Org Mode. I was a Vim guy who in a desperate attempt to get digitally organised was forced to give Org Mode a try and got sucked into Emacs. I now live better organised, with far less anxiety and remain unfazed at the multi-tasking demands of the corporate world, all thanks to this major mode.

sam29681749 2y ago
What specifically about emacs org mode made you more organised?
MarkMarine 2y ago
I’m a recent convert to emacs, the experience with clojure is just so much better. The best experience I’ve ever had programming with a tool honestly. Org mode is a bit of a mystery to me thus far, collapsible sections are great but could you expand on what is so helpful to you and how you use it?
- canistel 2y ago
  Keep track of all TODOs in one's life. You can create TODO items and schedule them. You tag them (similar to hashtags) too. Now, if I want to see the list to things to be done today (or any day for that matter), Org Mode will generate the agenda for you. You can filter your agenda/TODOs - for example, if you are getting into a call with Team X, you can filter with "teamx" to get the list of items marked against the team. You can of course add checklists under tasks (sub items), and notes too. Recurring schedule is supported. Keeping notes. Org Mode doubles up as an Outliner. You can keep hierarchical notes in a single large file. You can mix-in tables (with support for LISP formulae) for tabular data. You can embed images and LaTeX too. You can convert your notes to HTML or Markdown in a jiffy. There are shortcuts for instant note taking. You can archive sections that are no longer required. I have stopped using mindmaps and now rather rely on Org. It can handle tree-structured information very well. As a calendar. You can also add diary-remind reminders. Remember one's wedding anniversary (and Spouse's birthday) to save one's marriage. As with everything in Emacs, configurable and extensible (with ELisp). Almost every method and every variable is Global. This is of course crazy, but the power that this proffers is enormous. I learn something new about Org Mode every now and then. I do not consider myself as a power user, as I am sure there is still much left to be explored. https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/refcards/pdf/orgcard.pdf https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/refcards/pdf/orgcard.pdf
  - globular-toast 2y ago
    Good summary. One thing to note about org is it's not opinionated. Even the word "Todo" is up to you, in fact you can just tell it a bunch of "not done" keywords and a bunch of "done" ones. Over the years I've tweaked these. For example I use STARTED for tasks that I've begun but not yet finished, because I hate starting things but but not finishing them. I've set my agenda views to display these right at the top. Similarly I've added more resolutions like DELEGATED. This flexibility means you can bend it to rather odd requirements. For example, in my current job I'm required to track time against project codes, but I have to scale the proportion against the hours I'm contracted for (it's a tax thing, I'm told). Org supports clocking in/out of things. It doesn't know what those things are, they are just items in the outline. So I structure my todos under the project codes then track time against those tasks or just directly to the project. Then I have an agenda view which shows me totals for each project and a column scaling the proportions to the total contracted hours over the period. But you might have completely different requirements. You might want a flat backlog and to "refile" tasks into "sprints" when they get properly defined then set a deadline on the whole sprint. Org supports it all because it doesn't really care that much. Seeing people struggle with the likes of Jira becomes rather comical.
- vim-guru 2y ago
  You might also like the org-babel features of creating executable code-blocks. You can even mix languages by using the output of one block as the input to another. Welcome to the future of 2012 ;) I made one such document a while back with mostly Clojure, if you want to have a look: https://github.com/dnv-opensource/reagent-flow/ https://github.com/dnv-opensource/reagent-flow/
wild_egg 2y ago
I keep hearing anecdotes like this and truly want to give Emacs a shot. Do you use it exclusively on a PC? My big blocker is that a significant portion of my time is on a phone rather than a computer these days and I have to think that all the chording with Emacs would get impossibly cumbersome. Anyone here have a good way to leverage Emacs on the go?
- canistel 2y ago
  I faced this problem too. I am a Linux user personally, but use Windows at work. I am not a phone person, but do use it regularly. I sync org files to phone (using Syncthing) and use Orgzly to access these from Android. Although it is possible to install Emacs in Android as a terminal tool in Termux or even as a GUI tool, you need to connect a keyboard to do something sensible. Long story short, if your phone is your daily driver, Emacs may not be for you as it is keyboard oriented. But if you are a computer person who occasionally uses the phone, there are ways to get by.
  - heehaw 2y ago
    I have managed to get org mode working with emacs android port. big help was keyboard designer keyboard. I was able to set C-x and M-x for single touch. And added some keys as per requirements. https://www.keyboarddesigner.com/index.php?page=24 https://www.keyboarddesigner.com/index.php?page=24
  - dotancohen 2y ago
    I moved from Orgzly to Orgro. Now updating the files on the phone is exactly like any other note-taking phone application (for better or worse). It's not as good as experience as the Emacs desktop, but no worse than anything else on the phone.
    - kreyenborgi 2y ago
      I also use orgro, it's very nice for reading the headings and minor edits. For more complicated edits (date stuff, moving around trees) I use the organice build that works with SyncThing https://github.com/200ok-ch/organice/issues/932#issuecomment-1599279267 https://github.com/200ok-ch/organice/issues/932#issuecomment... Neither are full org mode, but good enough for reading notes and minor edits/captures on the go.
noufalibrahim 2y ago
I've been an Emacs user since 2000 or so. Got introduced to org when it first came out and it (along with ledger for accounts) have taken over my life. The phone did make it a little challenging but before that I used a notebook and dumped it into org at the end of the day. I've been doing something similar with my phone now. A lot of people refer to org-mode as the gateway drug for Emacs and it truly is that.
agumonkey 2y ago
I use org mode as simple outline or table but so far the organization part still evades me.. I guess I'm too chaotic still to understand how to make real good use of it.
- bananapub 2y ago
  it's not very complicated - it's an outliner mashed into an ad-hoc wiki in your editor, and also lets you mark up things as "tasks" with optional "scheduling". you can just outline things in to it, then when an item congeals enough to become a task, <S-right> on it to add a TODO tag and now org mode can be an organiser - put it in the agenda agenda, specify a workflow (TODO->PENDING->DONE; TODO->ABANDONED, etc), schedule it, emit it in to an ical file, etc etc. probably the nicest part of org is that you don't pay for things you don't use - using it as a just a nice way of organising bullet points works fine, and then there are a jillion optional features around it.
  - agumonkey 2y ago
    Oh I've tuned the hell out of it, the issue lies above I guess, cause I keep accumulating tasks in various states, sometimes clocked or not.. and then it's hell to manage cleaning what's what.
- tetris11 2y ago
  I've been using Org-Mode for over 10 years. There is no one way. You start off first writing simple outlines, and then you start creating todos, and then maybe you start to look at agendas to organize your todos (note: I rarely do this). The biggest game changer for me was org-roam. It's essentially a database of all my files where I can add snippets or link to other files, or whatnot. The TODO stuff I use a rough general guide of where I am, but I do not strictly adhere to it. Essentially: Make Org-Mode work for you and your mindset, don't feel the need to bend to it.
  - agumonkey 2y ago
    I should try roam, it might help with my scattered brain (or maybe it will make it worse :) do you know good videos of people demonstrating their workflow habits ?
ews 2y ago
org is absolutely the gateway drug to the whole Emacs ecosystem. I started using org after 16 years on vim and slowly found myself replacing my entire text/code workflow with it. I stopped using vim at all about 5 years ago and I never looked back.

sam29681749 2y ago

What specifically about emacs org mode made you more organised?

MarkMarine 2y ago

I’m a recent convert to emacs, the experience with clojure is just so much better. The best experience I’ve ever had programming with a tool honestly. Org mode is a bit of a mystery to me thus far, collapsible sections are great but could you expand on what is so helpful to you and how you use it?

canistel 2y ago
Keep track of all TODOs in one's life. You can create TODO items and schedule them. You tag them (similar to hashtags) too. Now, if I want to see the list to things to be done today (or any day for that matter), Org Mode will generate the agenda for you. You can filter your agenda/TODOs - for example, if you are getting into a call with Team X, you can filter with "teamx" to get the list of items marked against the team. You can of course add checklists under tasks (sub items), and notes too. Recurring schedule is supported. Keeping notes. Org Mode doubles up as an Outliner. You can keep hierarchical notes in a single large file. You can mix-in tables (with support for LISP formulae) for tabular data. You can embed images and LaTeX too. You can convert your notes to HTML or Markdown in a jiffy. There are shortcuts for instant note taking. You can archive sections that are no longer required. I have stopped using mindmaps and now rather rely on Org. It can handle tree-structured information very well. As a calendar. You can also add diary-remind reminders. Remember one's wedding anniversary (and Spouse's birthday) to save one's marriage. As with everything in Emacs, configurable and extensible (with ELisp). Almost every method and every variable is Global. This is of course crazy, but the power that this proffers is enormous. I learn something new about Org Mode every now and then. I do not consider myself as a power user, as I am sure there is still much left to be explored. https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/refcards/pdf/orgcard.pdf https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/refcards/pdf/orgcard.pdf
- globular-toast 2y ago
  Good summary. One thing to note about org is it's not opinionated. Even the word "Todo" is up to you, in fact you can just tell it a bunch of "not done" keywords and a bunch of "done" ones. Over the years I've tweaked these. For example I use STARTED for tasks that I've begun but not yet finished, because I hate starting things but but not finishing them. I've set my agenda views to display these right at the top. Similarly I've added more resolutions like DELEGATED. This flexibility means you can bend it to rather odd requirements. For example, in my current job I'm required to track time against project codes, but I have to scale the proportion against the hours I'm contracted for (it's a tax thing, I'm told). Org supports clocking in/out of things. It doesn't know what those things are, they are just items in the outline. So I structure my todos under the project codes then track time against those tasks or just directly to the project. Then I have an agenda view which shows me totals for each project and a column scaling the proportions to the total contracted hours over the period. But you might have completely different requirements. You might want a flat backlog and to "refile" tasks into "sprints" when they get properly defined then set a deadline on the whole sprint. Org supports it all because it doesn't really care that much. Seeing people struggle with the likes of Jira becomes rather comical.
vim-guru 2y ago
You might also like the org-babel features of creating executable code-blocks. You can even mix languages by using the output of one block as the input to another. Welcome to the future of 2012 ;) I made one such document a while back with mostly Clojure, if you want to have a look: https://github.com/dnv-opensource/reagent-flow/ https://github.com/dnv-opensource/reagent-flow/

wild_egg 2y ago

I keep hearing anecdotes like this and truly want to give Emacs a shot. Do you use it exclusively on a PC? My big blocker is that a significant portion of my time is on a phone rather than a computer these days and I have to think that all the chording with Emacs would get impossibly cumbersome. Anyone here have a good way to leverage Emacs on the go?

canistel 2y ago
I faced this problem too. I am a Linux user personally, but use Windows at work. I am not a phone person, but do use it regularly. I sync org files to phone (using Syncthing) and use Orgzly to access these from Android. Although it is possible to install Emacs in Android as a terminal tool in Termux or even as a GUI tool, you need to connect a keyboard to do something sensible. Long story short, if your phone is your daily driver, Emacs may not be for you as it is keyboard oriented. But if you are a computer person who occasionally uses the phone, there are ways to get by.
- heehaw 2y ago
  I have managed to get org mode working with emacs android port. big help was keyboard designer keyboard. I was able to set C-x and M-x for single touch. And added some keys as per requirements. https://www.keyboarddesigner.com/index.php?page=24 https://www.keyboarddesigner.com/index.php?page=24
- dotancohen 2y ago
  I moved from Orgzly to Orgro. Now updating the files on the phone is exactly like any other note-taking phone application (for better or worse). It's not as good as experience as the Emacs desktop, but no worse than anything else on the phone.
  - kreyenborgi 2y ago
    I also use orgro, it's very nice for reading the headings and minor edits. For more complicated edits (date stuff, moving around trees) I use the organice build that works with SyncThing https://github.com/200ok-ch/organice/issues/932#issuecomment-1599279267 https://github.com/200ok-ch/organice/issues/932#issuecomment... Neither are full org mode, but good enough for reading notes and minor edits/captures on the go.

noufalibrahim 2y ago

I've been an Emacs user since 2000 or so. Got introduced to org when it first came out and it (along with ledger for accounts) have taken over my life. The phone did make it a little challenging but before that I used a notebook and dumped it into org at the end of the day. I've been doing something similar with my phone now. A lot of people refer to org-mode as the gateway drug for Emacs and it truly is that.

agumonkey 2y ago

I use org mode as simple outline or table but so far the organization part still evades me.. I guess I'm too chaotic still to understand how to make real good use of it.

bananapub 2y ago
it's not very complicated - it's an outliner mashed into an ad-hoc wiki in your editor, and also lets you mark up things as "tasks" with optional "scheduling". you can just outline things in to it, then when an item congeals enough to become a task, <S-right> on it to add a TODO tag and now org mode can be an organiser - put it in the agenda agenda, specify a workflow (TODO->PENDING->DONE; TODO->ABANDONED, etc), schedule it, emit it in to an ical file, etc etc. probably the nicest part of org is that you don't pay for things you don't use - using it as a just a nice way of organising bullet points works fine, and then there are a jillion optional features around it.
- agumonkey 2y ago
  Oh I've tuned the hell out of it, the issue lies above I guess, cause I keep accumulating tasks in various states, sometimes clocked or not.. and then it's hell to manage cleaning what's what.
tetris11 2y ago
I've been using Org-Mode for over 10 years. There is no one way. You start off first writing simple outlines, and then you start creating todos, and then maybe you start to look at agendas to organize your todos (note: I rarely do this). The biggest game changer for me was org-roam. It's essentially a database of all my files where I can add snippets or link to other files, or whatnot. The TODO stuff I use a rough general guide of where I am, but I do not strictly adhere to it. Essentially: Make Org-Mode work for you and your mindset, don't feel the need to bend to it.
- agumonkey 2y ago
  I should try roam, it might help with my scattered brain (or maybe it will make it worse :) do you know good videos of people demonstrating their workflow habits ?

ews 2y ago

org is absolutely the gateway drug to the whole Emacs ecosystem. I started using org after 16 years on vim and slowly found myself replacing my entire text/code workflow with it. I stopped using vim at all about 5 years ago and I never looked back.