Reconsidering bang history
As much as I like the idea of bang history expansion in the shell, I probably end up escaping “!” much more than I use it.
Archive: Posts by Year
2023
Prepend, don’t append, PATH
I’ve seen this mistake too often to remain silent any longer.
zsh: confounded by zshcompletions
Seems like this should be easy.
zsh: learning notes (pbnote function)
Learning zsh in public, pbnote function.
It’s Good to Know less
Knowing how to use the ubiquitous shell pager “less” is an essential command line skill.
Previewing github pages with jekyll 4
Getting Ruby 3/Jekyll 4 working with this site was an ordeal. I’m exhausted but delighted.
Compiling Ruby 3 on macOS Ventura
These are the hoops I jumped through to build Ruby on Ventura. There might be other solutions.
Dig in public (zsh) - storing and passing arguments with a variable
This post is a walk-through of methods I used to learn how to pass arguments stored in a variable to a command.
PostgreSQL - scoping parameters in plpgsql
Scope plpgsql parameters with qualified names, e.g. my_function.my_param.
Build In public (zsh) - bindlist v0.2
It’s beginning to feel less like a hack. 
TIL (zsh) - clone a prompt theme
Experimenting with a cloned promptinit theme.
Zsh option parsing examples (gist) Permalink
Everything I know about zparseopts I learned from this gist.
Build in public (zsh) - bindlist
a (hastily hacked together) zsh function to list key bindings
zsh - Dig into key bindings (on macOS)
After a couple years of using zsh and yet another thorough review of key bindings, some observations and recommendations.
Mo’ Better Blog
I now realize writing for myself is the best way for me to share more with others, and that’s what I intend to do. Typos be damned.
zsh tip: describe-key-briefly
The zsh ‘describe-key-briefly’ widget shows the binding of any key.
zsh: generate a compact keybinding list
Hack together an alias to output a compact list of zsh keybindings in the shell.
man2txt
TLDR: man col | col -b
psql tip: set (or pset) options interactively
Tab completion provides builtin cheatsheets for psql settings.
PostgreSQL: Cast a row into an array?
Surely, there’s an easier way.
PostgreSQL: Installing pagila
Step by step: How to install the pagila database in a local postgres cluster.
psql tip: copy by sending output to the clipboard
Redirecting output is a very easy way to copy psql query output.
Dynamic SQL with PostgreSQL
How to execute dynamic SQL in a PostgreSQL procedure, demonstrated with psql queries and meta-commands.
Postgres: a question of order
Is text created by generated_series always aggregated in numerical order?
Comments on PostgreSQL COMMENT
Take a look at the postgres COMMENT command, a convenient method for documenting database objects.
Learning in public: pgtab
Sample PostgreSQL database for JSON tabular data packages
Self-concatenating table
Probably a terrible idea, but I couldn’t resist trying.
psql: how to paste data into a table
\copy mytable from stdin + paste + \. + enter
Importing multiline JSON objects into PostgreSQL
Summary and examples of what I’ve learned about loading multiline JSON objects into postgres
Loading JSON into Postgres (learning notes)
Lesson: load JSON as binary to avoid (strange) problems with escaped characters
2022
Dig into zsh: How to Function (part 2)
Learn how to configure zsh to load functions from a directory using $fpath and autoload.
Dig into zsh: How to Function (part 1)
A hands-on exploration of writing a shell function in zsh.
Tangled Up in Encoding
Fixing invalid byte sequences in UTF8 text with sed.
Learning how to use Postgres procedures
Personal learning notes
Set Up PostgreSQL for Learning with Schemas
Use schemas to organize and work with multiple projects in a single database while learning PostgreSQL.
PostgreSQL - Grant Yourself Limited Superpowers
Using roles in PostgreSQL, it’s easy to give yourself superuser privileges that can be invoked when needed, somewhat similar to using the sudo command on a U...
Install PostgreSQL from source on macOS Permalink
A step-by-step guide for installing PostgreSQL from source on macOS.
Compiling from source on macOS
General directions for installing software from source on macOS.
Random shell (zsh) history stuff
Some things about shell (zsh) history I don’t want to forget.
Terminal (zsh) shortcuts on macOS
List of useful zsh shortcuts which are enabled by default in the Terminal on macOS.
zsh Shell History - Options
I read the docs so you don’t have to.
zsh Tip: run-help is extremely helpful
Configure zsh to use the run-help function, making it easer to access documentation.
Mastering zsh Permalink
A great resource for understanding how to configure zsh.
regex tester Permalink
Interactive regex tester
Build a blog site with a web browser
Step by step directions for building a blog website using a web browser and GitHub Pages
2021
Minimal Mistakes - Notices Permalink
Minimal Mistakes Notices examples.
Missing Semester – Version Control (video) Permalink
This is a great introduction to git which helped me tremendously with a clear explanation of what’s going on under the hood.
MIT – Missing Semester IAP 2020 [video playlist] Permalink
“We’ll teach you how to master the command-line, use a powerful text editor, use fancy features of version control systems, and much more!” (videos)
Installing Jekyll on macOS Monterey
Here are a couple of errors I encountered and managed to solve while trying to install Jekyll with the builtin version of ruby on macOS Monterey.
Command Line Tutorial: Usage in Linux and macOS Permalink
“The essential command line tutorial for beginners. Learn how to navigate your computer with the CLI to modify files, update permissions and more.”
Jekyll - First Impressions
I’m impressed.
Quick-Start Guide - Minimal Mistakes Permalink
I’ll be returning to these docs often for a while.