<p>There is a lot that modern IDEs do well, but uncluttered writing space isn’t one of them. Once you add the various views of your project, the debug window, the source control window and various other important panes you’re left with a tiny viewport into your code. The visual clutter can be disabled of course, but you’ll get it back sooner or later. When you switch back to debug mode or build mode, for example.</p>

<p>Merging a file between SCM branches that is several thousand lines in size and has significant changes in both branches is a good way to have an unpleasant day, even if the SCM that’s being used has good support for cross-branch merging.</p>

<p>I just had the pleasure to do exactly that in a batch file. Some poking around technet gave me the following:</p>

<p>It’s bit of a link roundup from the past couple of months. Most of you probably saw these already as I’d think you’re probably reading the same blogs.</p>

<p>As I enjoy Rands’ writing, I think his new book <a href="http://www.randsinrepose.com/archives/2010/08/02/being_geek.html">Rands In Repose: Being Geek</a> just made it onto my reading list. As soon as I get through the other three books I still have in my ‘must read urgently’ stack.</p>