202006 - notes about tools.md

Conan (on Windows)

• conan search <name> -r conan-center

What I liked :

• easy install through python's pip

What I don't like :

• not very intuitive
• default installs as x64 while cmake builds default to x86
  • needs cmake -A x64 ...
• not easy to use 'installed' libs in projects that are not conan-aware
  • -DZLIB_LIBRARY="C:/Users/<me>/.conan/data/zlib/1.2.11/_/_/package/3fb49604f9c2f729b85ba3115852006824e72cab\lib\zlib.lib" -DZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR="C:/Users/<me>/.conan/data/zlib/1.2.11/_/_/package/3fb49604f9c2f729b85ba3115852006824e72cab/include"

SnowTrack (Windows, v0.10.48, 2022/02)

Tried to use versionning to store and compare images batch rendered with different versions of settings/software :

• Easy to setup and use
• Wish I could set more comprehensive text for version description (only one-line title 'supported')
• Wish I could compare images from two different versions
• => Won't help me here...

SmartSVN (on Mac)

What I don't like :

• Commit will try to add unversionned files by default, could not see a way to disable this feature

XCode

(from Xcode 11 & 12, march 2021)

• One can have multiple versions at the same time :
  • download the xip file from Apple Developper web site
  • extract the contents
  • rename the extracted XCode to something else, and move to Applications
• One should be able to run on a new iOS device from an old Xcode
  • did not really work on Xcode 11 patched to run on iOS 14... I did not pursue my tests
  • copy the relevant Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/DeviceSupport subfolders, from the new Xcode
  • into the old Xcode (same folder)
  • start at least once the new Xcode, so that it can get the debug symbols from the connected device

Time tracking

Clockify

First service I used, for 3 months.

I liked :

• dead simple to use
• CSV file export that can be easily processed (durations stored as numerical values, e.g. '2.5' for 2h30min)
• responsive support

I disliked :

• UI is only as responsive as the network (even in mobile app), caused me entering wrong data when using the mobile app on slow networks
• Coalesced time entries are too visually similar to single time entries, caused me trouble when trying to edit, especially on slow mobile networks

Toggl

Not used, only quickly tested - looks like a clone of Clockify (or is it the reverse) ?

I liked :

• looks simple to use, like clockify

I disliked :

• CSV export cannot be processed/summed easily (duration values stored as strings, e.g. "02:30:00" for 2h30)
• Could not find where to set "24 hours" time values, I lost when using "AM"/"PM" times (it was in Account not in Settings)

Time squared

Not used, only quickly tested, only provides an Android app.

I liked :

• can be used without account, with local data only

I disliked :

• "billing centric", it defaults to attributing a price on every time entry
• CSV export does not seem handy to process afterwards (stores time entries durations as string, e.g. configurable "2h30" or "2,5h")