Let's talk CLI/TUI and Developer Workflows!

I’m looking to refresh my local toolkit and I’m curious: what are the absolute "must-have" CLI or TUI programs in your current rotation?

Whether it's a specialized utility for a specific language, a terminal-based interface for a common service, or a workflow-changing alias, I want to hear about it. I’m especially interested in tools that prioritize keyboard-driven navigation and accessibility.

My Current Favorites:

To get the ball rolling, here are a few tools I’ve been leaning on lately:

• uv — Fast, reliable Python package and project management.
• fzf & ripgrep — The classic duo for fuzzy finding and searching.
• tmux — For session management and persistent terminal workspaces.
• jq / yq — Essential for wrangling JSON and YAML without leaving the prompt.

What about you?

1. What is one tool you've discovered recently that you can't live without?
2. Are there any TUI-based clients for web services (like Mastodon, GitHub, or RSS) that you recommend?
3. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" script or small utility?

Mentions & Groups

@programming
@linux @terminal_u_i@lemmy.ml @selfhosted

Hashtags

#CLI #TUI #Terminal #OpenSource #FOSS #Programming #DevTools #Linux #SysAdmin #Workflow #Python #Backend #ArchLinux #KeyboardDriven #Accessibility #SoftwareDevelopment #TechTalk

#Blind #XMPP users on #Windows, what chat app do you use? I just set up a #Snikket instance and phone number through JMP.chat. Tried #Gajim and it didn't seem accessible.
@mastoblind @main

Hi all! I'm considering giving #RSS another try because I haven't been able to find a news app that works well for me. Before I jump back in, I'd love your advice on a few things:

1. What RSS reader do you use and recommend?

I'm #Blind and use the #NVDA #ScreenReader, so strict keyboard accessibility is a must. I mainly read on my PC, though a companion mobile app would be a nice bonus. Does your reader play nicely with screen readers?

1. How do you actually find feeds?

The last time I tried RSS, discovering good feeds was a huge roadblock for me. Are there directories, search tools, or tricks you use to track down the RSS links for sites you like?

1. Do you have any tips for curation and avoiding overwhelm?

I want to avoid the "huge pile of unreads" problem. How do you organize your feeds so they don't require high-energy maintenance?

Any tips are greatly appreciated!

#Accessibility #Tech #News #WebAccessibility #AssistiveTech @mastoblind @main

Question to other #NVDA #ScreenReader users: What clipboard manager do you use? I've been using Ditto, but the labeling in the keyboard shortcuts settings is horrible and making it really hard to set them. When I used it on my last PC, I had JAWS, which reads the field names better, but I've chosen not to install that on this PC.
#Blind #Accessibility #Windows #Windows11 #ClipboardManager @main @mastoblind

Any Tintin++ users out there willing to share tips? This is the only #MUD client I can get working on #Stormux, and to be honest, the scripting just to add a simple trigger and the error messages are confusing to me. I'm trying to set up some simple triggers for Erion MUD and having a hard time figuring out what I'm doing.
#MUDClients #MUDClient #tintin #orca #ScreenReader #Linux #archlinuxarm @mastoblind @main

Question to #blind #linux users: I'm stuck using my #RaspberryPi500 as my computer for a bit because my PC quit working. Can anyone recommend a #Mastodon client? I'm on #Stormux, based on #ArchLinuxArm.
#accessibility #orca #ScreenReader @mastoblind @main

@doubletap I'm listening to today's episode ("The Best NVDA Add-ons and Keyboard Tricks You Need") and really enjoyed the discussion around #NVDA workflows and keyboard customisation. I smiled when one of you mentioned struggling to remap an Applications key on a Keychron, because I ran into exactly the same issue after buying my Keychron shortly after Christmas.
What finally worked for me was not using the Menu / Applications keycode directly at all. Even though it's exposed in the Keychron Launcher, it didn't actually do anything reliably on Windows with NVDA.
Instead, I created a macro for Shift+F10, which is the standard Windows keyboard equivalent for the context menu and is very screen-reader friendly. In the Keychron Launcher, I went to Macro, selected a macro slot, chose Start Recording, pressed Shift+F10, stopped recording, and then assigned that macro to the key I wanted.
One important gotcha I ran into: the launcher shows what look like “duplicate” key entries in the macro (for example multiple F10s or Shift appearing twice). Those aren't mistakes. They're the key-down and key-up events. If you delete them, you can end up with Shift getting stuck. Leaving the macro exactly as recorded solved that for me.
Once I did this, the key worked reliably everywhere I’ve tried it, like File Explorer, browsers, and with NVDA, and it's honestly been more dependable than trying to use the Applications key directly. Thought I'd share in case it helps others listening to this episode or experimenting with Keychron keyboards.
#ScreenReader #Accessibility #Blind #keyboard @mastoblind @main

@FastSM I'm noticing a couple issues with #FastSM, and I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if they're bugs.
First, when I try to update using check for updates or the new update popup, I get:
Failed to download or apply update: [WinError 5] Access is denied: 'C:\Users\lanie\Apps\FastSM\FastSM-update\FastSM\_internal\enchant\data\mingw64\bin'
Second, search doesn't seem to work reliably. I'll do a search for a hashtag and get an empty timeline that never loads anything.
Has anyone else noticed either of these?
@mastoblind @main

Okay, this is weird. I enabled streaming for home and notifications in #FastSM, restarted the app, and now my home timeline is just...gone. I know I didn't hide it or anything. Has anyone else seen this? I even tried restarting the app a second time. It's still gone.#accessibility #ScreenReader #Mastodon @main @mastoblind @FastSM

How is everyone doing this evening? I'm sitting in bed drinking my medical food shake, listening to music, with a few #IncrementalGames idling, and maybe doing a bit of #Python practice on #Codecademy.
I'm not 100% yet, but I feel stronger than I've felt in a while. I don't particularly care for the taste of these shakes, but my mom and I are working on ways to improve them. It's also a relief not having to worry about whether food will stay down or whether I'm getting the nutrients I need.
I'm also still using and enjoying #FastSM for #Mastodon on #Windows. It's been working well for me so far.
Accessibility / tech note for fellow screen reader users:
If you use #NVDA with #MicrosoftEdge (and possibly #GoogleChrome) and have been dealing with freezes or heavy lag, especially when you have multiple tabs or web apps open, check whether you have the BrowserNav add-on installed. I was experiencing some pretty severe freezes, sometimes to the point where NVDA would become unresponsive for minutes. Disabling BrowserNav made a noticeable difference for me right away, including being able to keep more tabs open without issues.
#Accessibility #ScreenReaders #BlindTech #Disability #ChronicIllness #AssistiveTechnology #WebAccessibility
@main @mastoblind

Accessibility-focused Mastodon question.
I’m currently using the Enafore web client and generally like it. I’ve been seeing some chatter about FastSM, and I’m curious how it compares in real use.
Has anyone here used Enafore and then switched to FastSM? If so, how is it with a screen reader, and what feels different or better (or worse)?
I don’t have much energy for trial-and-error right now, so firsthand experiences would be especially helpful.
#Mastodon #Accessibility #ScreenReaders #BlindTech @mastoblind @main

I bought myself a new keyboard with Christmas money, and after just a day of using it, I'm honestly kind of stunned by how much of a difference it's making.
I picked up a Keychron K10 Max from Amazon and got it yesterday, and I don't think I ever want to go back to a membrane keyboard again.
For context: before this, I was using a Logitech Ergo K860. It's a split, membrane keyboard that a lot of people like for ergonomics, and it did help in some ways — but for me, it was also limiting. My hands don't stay neatly parked in one position, and the enforced split often worked against how I naturally move. It also wasn't rechargeable, and the large built-in wrist rest (which I know some people love) mostly became a dirt-collecting obstacle that I had to work around.
Another big factor for me is that I often work from bed. That means my keyboard isn't sitting on a perfectly stable desk. It's on a tray, my lap, or bedding that shifts as I move.
The Logitech Ergo K860 is very light, which sounds nice on paper, but in practice it meant the keyboard was easy to knock around, slide out of position, or tilt unexpectedly. Combined with the split layout, that meant I was constantly re-orienting myself instead of just typing.
The Keychron, by contrast, is noticeably heavier — and that turns out to be a feature. It stays put. It doesn’t drift when my hands move. It feels planted in a way that reduces both physical effort and mental overhead. I don't have to think about where the keyboard is; I can just use it.
For a bed-based workflow, that stability matters more than I realized.
With chronic pain, hand fatigue, and accessibility needs, keyboards are not a neutral tool. They shape how long I can work, how accurately I can type, and how much energy I spend compensating instead of thinking.
This new keyboard feels solid, responsive, and predictable in a way I didn't realize I was missing. The keys register cleanly without requiring force, and the feedback is clear without being harsh. I'm not fighting the keyboard anymore. It's just doing what I ask.
What surprised me even more is how much better the software side feels from an accessibility perspective. Keychron's Launcher and its use of QMK are far more usable for me than Logitech Options Plus ever was. Being able to work with something that’s web-based, text-oriented, and closer to open standards makes a huge difference as a screen reader user. I can reason about what the keyboard is doing instead of wrestling with a visually dense, mouse-centric interface.
That matters a lot. When your primary interface to the computer is the keyboard, both the hardware and the configuration tools need to cooperate with you.
I know mechanical keyboards aren't new, but this is my first one, and I finally understand why people say they'll never go back. For me, this isn't about aesthetics or trends. It's about having a tool that respects my body and my access needs and lets me focus on the work itself.
I'm really grateful I was able to get this, and I'm genuinely excited to keep dialing it in. Sometimes the right piece of hardware, paired with software that doesn’t fight you, doesn’t just improve comfort. It quietly expands what feels possible.
#Accessibility #DisabledTech #AssistiveTechnology
#ScreenReader #NVDA
#MechanicalKeyboards #Keychron
@accessibility @disability @spoonies @mastoblind