Invisible Automation: Reliable Triggers, Reusable Actions

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "The Shortcuts Field Guide" by David Sparks - This book is mentioned as content David is creating, and he uses Notion AI to check his outline for it.

Tools & Software

• Keyboard Maestro - A core automation tool used by Tim Stringer for Mac automations, particularly with keyboard shortcuts and mouse buttons.
• Zapier - A core automation tool used by Tim Stringer for web automations, especially for connecting web services and workflows.
• Shortcuts - A core automation tool used by Tim Stringer for iPhone and iPad automations, and for wrapping AppleScripts and JavaScripts on the Mac.
• Hazel - An app mentioned for its background automation capabilities, running reliably without constant attention.
• Hookmark (formerly Hook) - An application used for connecting various digital assets like documents, files, folders, and web links, especially useful for creating a central point of reference for related content.
• TinyURL - Used by Tim Stringer to create web links that redirect to application-specific links, particularly when Notion doesn't natively support them.
• Open In - A tool used by Tim Stringer as a default browser to route links to specific applications or web apps based on defined rules.
• Choosy - An alternative to "Open In" that allows users to create rules for sending links to particular web browsers and supports different Chrome profiles.
• Arc Browser - A web browser used by Tim Stringer, featuring "traffic control" to route links to specific profiles based on their content.
• Safari Web Apps - Used by Tim Stringer as a resource-efficient way to access web applications like Notion.
• BetterTouchTool - Used by Tim Stringer to customize trackpad gestures and mouse buttons, combining them with modifier keys for various actions, including application-specific automations.
• KeyCue - An application that displays all keyboard shortcuts and commands for an active application, helping users learn and remember them.
• Alfred - A keyboard launcher and productivity app used by Tim Stringer for quick actions, custom searches, and universal actions to manipulate selected text.
• Raycast - Another popular keyboard launcher mentioned as an alternative to Alfred.
• LaunchBar - Another popular keyboard launcher mentioned as an alternative to Alfred.
• PopClip - A utility that appears when text is selected, offering various actions and text manipulations, including custom plugins.
• OmniFocus - A task manager mentioned by Tim Stringer as part of his content library workflow and in PopClip integrations.
• Things - A task manager mentioned as an alternative to OmniFocus for web integrations.
• Todoist - A task manager mentioned as an alternative to OmniFocus for web integrations.
• Drafts - A text editor mentioned for creating packing lists and its mail drop feature.
• TripIt - An app for managing travel details.
• DEVONthink - Mentioned as a tool that allows for linking to files, similar to Hookmark's functionality for Finder files.
• Asana - A project management tool for which Tim Stringer offers consulting services.
• Make - An online automation platform mentioned as an alternative to Zapier, which Tim Stringer has experimented with.
• If This Then That (IFTTT) - An online automation service mentioned as an early competitor to Zapier, focusing on simpler triggers and actions.
• Airtable - A database tool mentioned in the context of Zapier integrations and how triggers work per record.
• BBEdit - A text editor mentioned as a tool for writing PopClip actions.

People Mentioned

• Tim Stringer (Founder of Technically Simple and Learn OmniFocus) - Guest on the show, discussing his automation philosophies and tools.
• Luke Bodois (Original Developer of Hookmark) - Mentioned as being based in British Columbia and the original developer of Hookmark.
• Stephen Millard (Relay FM contributor and Obsidian expert) - Mentioned for his work on the Automators Obsidian vault and his Alfred plugin conductor.
• Nick (Developer of PopClip OmniFocus plugin) - Mentioned by Tim Stringer for updating the OmniFocus plugin for PopClip.
• Greg (Developer of Drafts) - Mentioned in the context of Drafts' mail drop feature and the potential for overwhelming his mail service with automation errors.

Organizations & Institutions

• Technically Simple - Tim Stringer's company, founded in 2003, offering consulting services for OmniFocus and Asana.
• Relay FM - The podcast network hosting Automators, mentioned in the context of subscription transfers and the feedback form.

Courses & Educational Resources

• Learn OmniFocus - Tim Stringer's membership-based site, founded in 2014, focused on teaching OmniFocus.
• "Using OmniFocus with Note Taking Apps" - A complex course Tim Stringer is currently working on.

Websites & Online Resources

• Hook's Universal Links - A webpage about Hookmark's universal linking capabilities.
• PopClip documentation - A resource for learning about PopClip and creating custom actions.
• Relay FM Automators feedback form (relay.fm/automators) - Where listeners can submit feedback for the final episode.
• Notion (notion.com/automators) - Mentioned as a tool for team collaboration, task organization, and document creation, with a specific URL for trying Notion AI.
• LinkedIn Jobs (linkedin.com/automators) - A platform for hiring professionals, with a specific URL for posting jobs for free.
• Arc Browser Release Notes - Where Arc posts updates and information about their browser.

Other Resources

• Automators Obsidian Vault - A collection of notes and resources related to the Automators podcast, being curated by Stephen Millard.