Thanks Rik, yes that's precisely the problem - 90,000 tiny wee files in a node folder for each project, plus composer's vendor etc. I think I need to get better at workflows too TBH, as it's not uncommon for me to sit down and get stuck on a bug for x minutes without realising I forgot composer install or similar.

I had a number of laptops broken by my children so decided >1k for a decent development machine was quite a risk! So last year I went to China (or rather, GearBest) and bought a Chinese machine that clones the macbook design for about $500 - www.gearbest.com/laptops/pp_6… - it has a fantastic screen, reasonable fanless processor and 8GB ram, + the equivalent spec would have been 2-3x the price at retail in the UK. I love it, tho I do miss a faster CPU from time to time, and have had no real issues, though some have reported build quality problems.

The Xiaomi Pro 15 gets pretty well reviewed for a more powerful Chinese laptop - and the spec is roughly the same as you'd pay $2k for from Dell or similar - but as with any of these Chinese models you can expect little to no customer support or after sales service so spending almost 1k for a machine with no warranty might feel a bit nuts.

If you're happy with the risks of buying overseas then techtablets.com seems to do pretty fair reviews, might be worth a look?

I use clicky.com for quick simple sites. For something like a saas I find mixpanel is more useful as you can see what people are doing, not just tracking pageviews. Piwik may be worth a look too but I haven't installed it in about 8 yrs?

🤔

Maybe look into something like EmailOctopus and Amazon SES - your costs for a big list would be considerably lower

For tests and short term stuff I generally throw up a 5-10$ droplet on DO. But for anything mid to long term I like to get a dedicated at OVH, Online.net or the French section of OneProvider.com as the server specs are so far above anything VPS for the same money

More seriously, unless you're looking to brand the site completely differently I like the way 'beta' can also be read as 'better' - so betawork, betajobs, betalife.. all taken but 2 are pretty much undeveloped. Might be worth a quick email offer of $250 or so and see if it goes anywhere?

siliconvalets.com ? :P

I like the idea of shields, but how about a way to earn back your streak? Eg skip a day, you need to clear x tasks on your day back to catch up. Miss two, you need to do 2x tasks. Potentially this could be based on your normal velocity so if you already do 5 tasks a day you might need ten to catch up.. could be a good monday motivator!

First of all congrats - you're in a pretty unique position to see more of your kids than many working families

I have 3 kids from 1-6 yrs old so have seen a different impact at different stages. There definitely has been a psychological trigger that has increased my motivation and made me focus more on goals - eg do I focus on something boring yet sustainable long term, or play with this short-term thing that's fun? Likewise, I'm more conscious of the time I waste at the screen - I don't mind working long hours but I hate days where I did nothing yet stayed plugged in rather than leaving my desk and spending time with the family.

With smaller children, I think you really need to fit your days around them, particularly if you work at home. It's important to speak openly with your partner about what times to work and what times to play to ensure you are supporting them enough and not disappearing into code for days on end, but also to ensure that you do get some time for solid focus. If you can't have a room where you can shut the door its worth looking for some desk space somewhere nearby where you can go to get in the zone.

If you've had a bad night, don't beat yourself up or demand too much of yourself - far better to pick something small and easy to work on so you get a sense of achievement, or just have a personal/family day and take a walk then rest up to get more done the next day.
I also let my health go a bit with the first two kids - you end up feeling both family and your work need a lot of time so neglect both your physical and mental health, so make sure you both get time to exercise and to see friends.

As children get older and first nursery then school routines become part of your life things change again. I find the morning school run to be less of a chore than I thought as I now see it as a way to ensure I go outside, get some fresh air and exercise each day. The regular morning starts seem to help everyone in the house sleep better and insomnia is less of an issue too, as everyone is basically tired all the time! :)
I generally now try and work from when I've dropped them at school to some time between 4 and 6 depending on what's happening at work and home (sickness, tiredness etc).

I also try my best to switch off when I'm done for the day and not check my phone/stats/laptop etc, but that's not always as successful as I'd like. I aim to only work in the evenings after their bedtimes if there's something really important - after all, the time you and your partner get alone is very precious and important to your wellbeing too so make the most of it!