Lenovo ThinkPad x220

my cheap to-go dev machine

Since incorporating my company, I don't do much code professionally. As a manager, I spend most of my work time in meetings and planning sessions. Because of that, I backed up the system image and repurposed this machine as a Soloable Everquest Machine.

Introduction

My fancy Macbook Pro is too expensive. Considering I like to work from some weird locations, I started looking for a machine to carry with me that would not attract crackheads like fireflies. It had to be cheap, sturdy, and easily fixed if broken. This document outlines what I come up with.

Specs

Packages

Redshift — Flux like application. Help my sore eyes.
Lilyterm — My original plan was to use something like st, but I really needed something a bit more user-friendly. Lilyterm is lighweight and good enough.
Google Chrome (aur)
DWM — Compiled from source. Perfect.
Dropbox + CLI— Selective syncing — sharing org files mostly.
GIT / Openssh — Must have
Acpi — For battery usage
Alsa-utils — Sounds management
Emacs — :wink:
upower — Better battery life
fasd (aur) — Console navigation
fzf — Console autocomplete
pick — Simple password management—just the essential passwords for to-go work.
xlockmore-blank (aur) / xautolock — Auto locking after idle time
xbindkeys — Enabling TP volume keys
packer (aur) — Easily install AUR packages
unclutter — Hide mouse after a while
ssmtp — Configured with gmail. Used to send emails using dmenu
slack + dunst for notifications — Work communication

In house solutions

clipd — my clipboard manager solution

Missing pieces

Backblaze like backup

Replaced by other tech

Skype — Using skype on the phone

Misc

Machine name: Brakebills — Taken from Lev Grossman's novel The Magicians
Remapped capslock to control
My usual setup is to use 3 tags:
- tag 1 for emacs
- tag 2 for consoles
- tag 3 for chrome
Typeface is usually Triplicate T3C