feat: first semester tips and tricks, things to try

.vitepress/config.mts

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
                         { text: 'Exam (Preparation)', link: '/exams' },
                         { text: 'Buildings', link: '/buildings' },
                         { text: 'Semester Planning', link: '/semester-planning' },
+                        { text: 'Things to consider / try', link: '/things-to-try' },
                         { text: 'Reference / Useful links', link: '/reference' },
                     ]
                 }

ersties/semester1-tips.md

@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ Chances are that if you are reading this, you are starting with ETH, so here a f
 - Make sure to switch exercise classes if you don't like a TA's teaching style. You don't have to change the registration on MyStudies, you can go to any class you like.
 - Don't hesitate to ask questions in exercise classes
 
+::: warning DISCLAIMER
+Semester 1 is *not* indicative of the workload in later semesters. It is (by far) the highest workload semester.
+:::
+
 ## Discrete Maths (DM)
 <small>Managed via Moodle</small>
 

ersties/things-to-try.md

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Things to consider / try
+## LaTeX / Typst
+While handing in hand-written notes is accepted in almost all cases, it is still a good idea to hand things in that are typeset using LaTeX or Typst.
+For LaTeX, you may use my LaTeX helpers, found at https://github.com/janishutz/latex
+
+
+## Linux
+Development is *much* easier on Linux compared to Windows in about 95% of cases. There even are some courses where you absolutely *need* to use Linux (though you can use WSL also).
+Installing new dev tools is as easy as running a single command (such as `pacman -S <pkgname>` or `apt install <pkgname>`), or updating a config file (in case of Nix),
+no need to click "Next" a lot of times, it all *just works*.
+Docker is also a first-class citizen, Virtual Machines are much faster, etc.
+
+
+## Tiling Window Managers
+Using a mouse is *objectively* slow if you use things on a regular basis.
+Always fighting to put windows into the correct position using a mouse can get annoying and time consuming if you use them all day, every day.
+
+This is where tiling window managers come into play. They automatically split your screen and you can navigate between windows entirely using a keyboard.
+Good examples include `bspwm`, `i3` (an `sway` for Wayland), `Hyprland` (albeit that isn't *necessarily* a full-blown tiling WM), `dwm` and more.
+
+
+## NeoVim (or Emacs)
+Using a good text editor will massively improve your developer experience and speed.
+Thus, choosing a fast editor is important. VSCode, JetBrains IDEs or Sublime Text are the "easy", slow and boring options, which are called "user friendly" options.
+
+User friendly in general refers to applications that are easily approachable, by providing a legible, good looking graphical interface, while sacrificing usability,
+speed and customizability, thus meaning that the user isn't *really* in control of the software.
+
+User focused software on the contrary is meant to be easily and extensively configurable and (typically) highly extensible.
+This means that the application is minimal by design, only providing features that the greatest portion of users will use.
+In the case of NeoVim, this means that things like AI completion are not included at all and need to be added using plugins.
+Language Servers on the other hand can be added natively because it is an entirely optional feature, as is syntax highlighting,
+which most, if not all developers use.
+
+If you are to give NeoVim (or Vim, or Emacs or another terminal editor) a try, just be aware that they have a *very* steep learning curve compared to things like VSCode.
+However, if you push through, you will gain superpowers, and your IDE won't use half a gigabyte or more of RAM just sitting there.