I've been learning programming at my own pace, bouncing between web development projects and dipping into game development. The issue is my setup has become chaotic; I have tons of programs scattered across three drives (2TB and two 1TB drives). Since I also use my PC for gaming and recording, I've got multiple "steamapps" folders everywhere.
When I start a new project or decide to learn a new language like Ruby, it's a struggle to figure out what I already have installed and what might need downloading. With tools like WSL, Docker, and various game engines (Unity, UE5, Godot) all mixed up, I'm at a loss.
I thought about getting a dedicated laptop for programming, but I'd prefer a way to have a fresh, isolated environment on my current setup. Ideally, I'd like to use the available storage on my PC without it getting cluttered. Is there a way to maintain a clean slate for each project and avoid the overwhelm?
1 Answer
You don’t need an extra laptop to get that clean feeling! The key is creating isolated environments rather than just adding more hardware. Tools like WSL, Docker, or even just having dedicated project folders with their own setups can go a long way. When you finish a project, just delete its entire folder or container and your system stays organized.
If you’re looking to get a clearer view of your dependencies and setups before diving in, I sometimes track my environments with tools like blackbox.ai. It helps map out what you need before installing more software. Trust me, isolating your projects will save you a ton of stress without needing new gear!
That's what I'm thinking too! I'd love to make my current setup less chaotic. What tools would you suggest for retroactively organizing software I've already installed?