SnippetsLab is great. You can put anything you want in it, but it is really intended for code snippets. I use it to keep all my notes related to programming as well as terminal commands and computer setup stuff – for example, all the steps that I would follow if I were to set up a new Mac, complete with download links.
While I could keep other “non-computer” snippets in there, too, I refrain from making it bloated with unrelated content. This way, whenever my mind says, “How did I do that computer thing last month?”, I simply go straight to SnippetsLab.
One of the most useful ones is I plug in a CLI which generates random data to use when I need to make fake data at work. It’s just an expand away which really speeds up something I do multiple times a day
I second Espanso for Mac. I love how light and fast it is.
I haven’t tried the one built into Raycast (even though I use Raycast), but I’m hoping it will be included in the iOS version, which is supposed to be going into TestFlight soon. I need something better than iOS’s mediocre default text replacement.
I use TextExpander. I’ve used it so very long, since the first release, that it’s part of much of what I do, and haven’t looked at alternatives
Re-used paragraphs for support email, email templates, note-taking templates, HTML and CSS bits, filler text of various kinds (text meant to be replaced), manuscript abbreviations expanded for translations, my-I-can-never-spell-this-right corrections of my favorite [cough] misspellings, bits of text for book production, like figure labels, writing templates, bibliographic data for standard editions of texts I cite frequently, data for forms, data about my mom I’m asked for frequently, like current medications.
I gave up on the iOS versions several years ago. I will probably try them again at some point, but I’m not in a hurry.
Question though when you say snippets, what exactly do you mean by that? I have a hard time justifying an app specifically like snippet lab when I use UpNote as my Not
E taking out
I like having dates in my format yyyy-mm-dd and the built in iOS can’t do this. I ended up using phrase express PhraseExpress on the App Store on iOS/ipad which is free. It has a Mac app as well which is free if you join beta or up to 10 “snippets” but then it just gives an initial nag warning goes away after 10 seconds.
I love this forum and will try to reply to everyone. If I miss your response, I apologize I need a taller screen.
@NiKoBeaR, “When you say snippets, what exactly do you mean by that?” I was using the language of the tools. However, the real thing is that I don’t know what else I could be using them for. I see the clever templated invoicing email illustrated on the Snippety website and think it’s cool. Then I realize I don’t need that specific feature.
@lsamberg, a rational human, would do exactly that: settle on Alfred.
@dustinknopoff and @Synchronicity Espanso, I haven’t looked at that in eons. Oh, the fun I can have avoiding real work. Raycast for iOS – I wonder if that will tempt me away from Alfred.
@Medievalist I keep looking at TextExpander since I want iOS support, but I am turned off by the subscription cost.
@NiKoBeaR@sridhar and @MevetS Typinator - I love the Ergonis people. Oh, and it has extensions for crazy things like auto-correct for common misspellings.
@jmanko16 Opps missed you in the first set of comments - PhraseExpress looks closer to Keyboard Maestro than a snippets tool with its macros. It tempts because it claims to bring a clipboard to iOS/iPadOS.
I have used TextExpander for years, but at some intend to move on from it, either using Alfred or checking out Typinator. I have never found TextExpander to work properly on iOS, or only erracticly, so I’ve never really used snippets on my phone or tablet.
This year I added SnippetsLab to the mix as I needed a place to keep an ever expanding collection of ChatGPT prompts along with a variety of markdown templates for various apps. I was actually keeping many of these as Drafts actions—another possibility—but it felt like I was overloading Drafts. What I discovered and really like about this app is the organizational structure with folders, subfolders, smart folders, and tags, allowing you to organize your snippets in whatever way makes sense to you. It also allows you to add a note/comment to a snippet, which can also be useful. There’s also a handy Alfred workflow allowing you to find and copy the text of an item in SnippetsLab.
Snippets aside, this is a great idea from @cavalierex:
computer setup stuff – for example, all the steps that I would follow if I were to set up a new Mac, complete with download links.
I feel like I just have that checklist in my head, but having it as a document in some format would be a good idea.
