Cortex 169: John Gruber – State of the Workflow
100 snips
Jul 17, 2025 
John Gruber, the insightful writer behind Daring Fireball, joins the conversation to delve into his creative process. He shares how he transforms ideas into polished articles and the emotional connection he feels using traditional tools like pen and paper. Gruber candidly discusses the nuances of remote work dynamics post-pandemic, his personal preferences for writing setups, and humorous anecdotes on procrastination. The dialogue also touches on the responsibilities of public commentary in the tech space, making for a thought-provoking and engaging discussion.
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John's Main Computer Setup
- John uses a maxed-out 2021 MacBook Pro as his main computer and finds no speed difference with newer models.
- He values the nanotexture display for reducing sunlight glare, mirroring his studio display setup.
Effective Idea Capture Tips
- Capture ideas across a diaspora of places including a pocket notebook and a simple notes app named Tot.
- Use plain text and minimal structure for bookmarking ideas to easily search and recall them later.
Writing Long Articles Strategy
- Don't over-outline or over-prepare longer articles; the article often becomes its own outline.
- Write down unfinished thoughts at the bottom to expand later as you continue writing.
