Where do you store your code snippets?

Question

I used to use Snippets Text Database, but now I switched to Evernote. At some point I need to migrate all of my old stuff there too. What about you?

Answer 1

I usually keep them in Visual Studio, although I got a fairly large amount of random .txt files in my Dev-Folder on my hard drive blush

Answer 2

If they're common code patterns I integrate them into my text editor, for context-specific insertion with a few keystrokes. [Textmate Snippets]

If I'm going to discuss a snippet of code, historically I used pastie, but I imagine in the future I'll use gist.

Answer 3

Google Notebook. I have a notebook for code snippits and notes about languages, with each language having its own section. If, someday, that gets too large, I'll just break it down by category (eg languages and scripting languages). It's searchable, I can add comments below the notes, and I can share them with others.

Answer 4

I have MediaWiki installed on a thumb drive (using PortableApps). I use it as a personal knowledge base for code snippets and any other useful programming tidbit I don't want to forget. This way I can take it with me anywhere and pull it up on virtually any computer I'm on.

Answer 5

I use http://snippets.dzone.com/ - helps other people as well (or so I hope)...

Answer 6

I use Instiki, which is a very simple to setup, no frills, WIKI.

You could run this on any disk (e.g. portable USB drive, harddrive) and under any OS (I'm using it under Mac OS X). I keep it running in the background as I am working and switch over to it to add/view any kind of notes (including code snipplets) as needed and it works like a charm.

Answer 7

I have a big folder on my Desktop :), which looks a bit like this:

LJCombined.cs
LJRuby.rb
LJPython.py
LJDelphi.pas
ljcutil.h
LJBashUtil.sh

Yep, that's bash there! It actually has lots of things for using ANSI escape sequences but...
My "system" is designed so that I can just copy them use import LJPython or source LJBashutil.sh. Even in C#. It works quite well for me, because I hate having to get out of "the zone" to open a website or an application - an explorer window or a CMD is much easier.

Answer 8

Some of them I just leave inside programs. I have at this point mostly memorized where the applicable snippets are stored. A few of them I stuck on SO hidden in various questions and answers, some of which are favorited by myself.

Some of them are stuck inside utility classes so that snippet use is not needed at all. DRY is your friend therefore having a lot of snippets lying around is a bad sign.

Answer 9

I'm using snipplr.com to store my code snippets. Mostly because it has a really nice integration with Textmate and an api which makes it possible to integrate it in other tools as well.

Answer 10

If you're running Mac OS X 10.4 or greater, Spotlight works a treat. Just shove them all into one folder (or separate folders). Click on a file, and then press Cmd+I for "Get Info", then put something in the Spotlight comments so you can easily find it later. You don't even have to do that though, if your files are plain text or RTF, Spotlight will look inside the file, so you can just have some text in your snippets like:

// C code to count number of bits in 32-bit integer

int population (unsigned int i)
{
    // code goes here.
}

Answer 11

we use the Snippet Manger in vs08, and keep the .snippet files that could be used company-wide on the fileserver in a common location.

We also (being a share-point studio) have a Team site on our Sharepoint server with a list of snippets where they can be catagorized, sorted, and filtered.

Answer 12

Anything that's really reusable becomes a class in my core library, so I don't really keep a collection of snippets.

And like any good library, I keep it in source control and regularly build new releases. Any of my projects that depend on the library get automatic bugfixes and performance optimizations whenever I release a new version.

Much better than a snippets library, if you ask me.

---

EDIT:

AnonJr's makes a good comment below, basically saying that the weight of the library can become a burden.

I totally agree. My personal core library (in Java) has more than 100,000 lines of code, and very few of my projects actually use all that stuff.

When I distribute an application based on that library, I actually use a dependency-analyzer (GenJar) to build a new JAR file, based only on the classes from that library that I've actually used in the application.

It's all part of the build-script, so I hardly even think about it anymore.

Answer 13

If they're useful, I usually have them somewhere in the source code. If they're common, I put them in appropriate *Utils class (or) in my commons package. If they're made of drinkable magnificentness, I'll think about posting them on Stackoverflow or writing a blog post about it.

Apart from that, I don't really have snippets collection. Too much work maintaining it, and not once have I used some piece of code I thought was worth saving!

Answer 14

I use gist, github's little pal.

Answer 15

If it is a snippet that I use often, for example:

#!/usr/bin/perl

Then I'll throw

map #P O#!/usr/bin/perl

into my .vimrc file. Mapping #P to type out the snippet.

if it's significantly large, I use google notebook.

Answer 16

I like to write it up on my blog for two reasons. It helps me improve my writing and ensures I thoroughly explain the snippet. It also makes it quite accessible from wherever I may be.

Answer 17

I'm using my brain - I've found it the most portable solution, and the lookup speed is unmatched by anything else. If memory assisted by IDE autocomplete can't easily reproduce it, it's probaby too "clever" to belong in production code, or should be part of an API library.

Answer 18

I use CodeKeep, this way my snippets are close at hand. If I'm at the office or at home i always have access to my most valued snippets (and a few thousand others!)

Answer 19

I use GMail and label them with "Code".. Very easy to search and accessible everywhere. Good luck!

Answer 20

As silly as this sounds (and not to put myself on any kind of pedastal), I wrote my own snippet tool. I have to go back and check the links above, but at the time (a year or so ago without SOFLow) I just couldn't find a basic tool that wasn't free, or required me to have some additional IDE or anything installed.

So I wrote my own. It gave me a great change to try out SQLite (how I store the snippets) and it allows me to store my VB/C#/TSQL/HTML/CSS/Whatever snippets in an independent fashion. Plus it has the drag/drop, quick copy/paste type stuff I was looking for. It was a great coding exercise for me, I have a couple of colleagues using it at work, and I can easily port or export the app as needed.

Answer 21

I use http://snipt.net/ for the majority of my code, but I also use Code Collector Pro for some bootstrapping templates.

Answer 22

There is no "Acceptable Answer" - use whatever works best for you and your work. For the few snippets I need handy I keep them in Dreamweaver's snippet repository. I also have a few .txt files for references that I keep on my flash drive for when I travel and use either someone else's program or my portable Notepad++ - But that's just me.

I could use Evernote, OneNote, Ubernote, a TiddlyWiki, or any of a million other things. In the end, what works for me may not work for someone else. Look at your workflow, and figure out something that works best for you and your situation.

Answer 23

I dont use code snippets any more. Just storing them in somewhere ready for copy & paste has the same disadvantages any copy & paste code has: when you find a bug, you have to fix it in many places.

I have tried to get rid of snippets by making it extremely convenient to put this working code into a reusable form. Now I have this setup: I have a Java project, with this layout:

• java-independent-snippets
  • math
    • src
    • test
    • etc
  • swing_factory
    • src
    • test
    • etc
  • and so on...
  • build.xml

The directories "math" and "swing_factory" etc. each contain completely separate working code, usually just one source file with one or more methods. The build script iterates over all the directories and compiles each separately. So basically I have a directory and a source file for each snippet. To reuse a snippet, just create a subversion external directly to the sourcecode, or make a svn copy of the directory.

The next step is to add unit tests into the test directory, these too are automatically picked up and used in a continuous integration server.

Also, some sourcecode is for different java runtimes. For this I can have an optional build.properties in the etc directory of each of the mini projects, which is automatically picked up by the buildscript. This file also contains the maturity of the project, which I use to generate an overview of all the libraries:

# Maturity levels
# 1:  Pre-Alpha
# 2:  Alpha
# 3:  Beta
# 4:  Production/Stable
# 5:  Mature
project.maturity=3

With all this I have a very scalable system. It is extremely simple to add a new snippet / project, just create a directory and add the source file. The minimum requirement is just to compile, and if I want it can be extended with tests and more code as required.

Answer 24

If code in Django, use www.djangosnippets.org.

For my personal snippets I use gist.github.com and use it for team work.

Also since I code in VIM, I use SnippetsEMU.

Answer 25

I don't keep snippets. Usually they're too specific to the project or data structure I'm working on. Plus, I'll probably have a better-fitting way of accomplishing the task next time.

Answer 26

ActionOutline allows you to store text in a tree structure as you see fit.

Answer 27

I just store them in .snip files and let the IDE "Find in all" or google desktop search find them when I want them. I've mapped the file extension onto the IDE, so opening a snippet file gives me code highlighting and an easy way to copy the snippet into my code.

It's not very exciting, but it works for me.

Answer 28

I use my case management / software development software... Fogbugz.

I just make a case, or email in the code with a suitable title in the subject so i can search for it later. I am considering creating an account of [email protected] so i can auto file them away as snippets I want to keep or links I want to remember.

What this does is provide me an instant search engine on the contents of the snippet in-line with my case manager.

Answer 29

I keep all my code snippets in a code repository. I've been using Subversion for 3-4 years, but recently I'm contemplating the move to GIT.

The snippets are loosely organized into object libraries based on their function. As I make changes to the snippets I check in the changes.

I'm a OSX user, when I need to find something, if I can't find it via the file structure (based on function), then I use Spotlight to locate the snippet I'm looking for.

Answer 30

I have a private site on Google Sites, and I keep them there:

• Easy to edit
• Accessible from any web-connected PC
• And since the page is a "File Cabinet" type, if they're actual Visual Studio snippets, I can add them as .snippet files.

Answer 31

I have a small snippets project on sourceforge.net.

Answer 32

I use personal wiki TiddlyWiki for my useful stuff not only code snippets. I can sync it to my website, so I can access it anywhere, anytime.

Answer 33

There are different types of snippets, and how you handle them will be different.

Generally I have code for reuse, code I've come across that could be useful, notes, and useful links. Code for reuse needs to go in to version control - pick your poison, but anyone will do. Well call me old fashioned, but what's wrong with simple text files.

I think the problem is more down to how you organize your information, and what you use to search. I have a well laid out folder structure, which I can search. I also can have a copy of anything in version control in this folder structure too. There are numerous tools that will do a good search of text in folders - Spotlight, Google desktop, various editors, grep.

I say keep it simple, then you never have to worry about database formats, moving from platform to platform etc.

I've also taken to using DropBox as a way of syncing it between machines and having it accessible from the web.

Answer 34

I use StackOverflow. Simple code (such as hexadecimal conversion) to interesting algorithms (polygon rendering) to tips and tricks.

The reason why is that no single repository I've ever used has suited me - I need to access it everywhere, on any computer, it needs to be easily searchable, and it needs to require little to no effort to keep up to date, modify, note, find, test, etc.

Google does the searching for me, and StackOverflow holds it. Further, others improve it - almost like an open source project - noting corner cases, problems, suitable and unsuitable uses, etc.

The internet is my brain, and I don't have to worry about cross platform issues, moving it from one type of media or platform to another, backing it up, etc.

What other tool is so powerful and useful?

The only drawback is that I don't have access when I don't have the internet. That's really not an issue, though, these days. The internet is as important a programming resource, nearly, as the compiler.

Answer 35

StackOverflow! If you have a code snippet worth saving then it's probably the answer to a question that others will have as well. Ask that question and then post your snippet as an answer. Next time you need it you don't have to even remember that you put posted it on StackOverflow -- it should come up in a google search.

Answer 36

Well, for a start, it depends on your definition of a snippet. I divide these in 2 categories:

• smaller pieces of code which I often put in my programs (repetitive stuff)
• some pieces of code which I think I will use sometimes in the future (for example, some function, subroutine ... in your case this may be some class or something - depends on the language you use) ... these are as a rule, somewhat bigger in size ...

For first, I use SnippetsEmu plugin in vim. (for those prefering emacs I would recommend YASnippet)

For second I used to use just a bunch of plain text files, all in one directory, and then I would go through them with a search tool (grep, some gui search tools, find, ... these varied with time). Every once in a while, I go manually through that directory and filter out what I think I'll really need, by the rule of "if you haven't used it in the last 6 months", and delete the rest. Then the stuff I consider useful I put in one file conveniently named snippets.txt, and comment it out with a useful line or two. But then again, that's just me. For someone who's using several languages in their work, some tool for keeping snippets according to language would surely come in handy. Just the other day, while searching for something else I came across this thing - Code Warehouse

I downloaded the trial version, and it works nicely. Tree view, syntax highlighting for several languages ... everything ... I don't like the fact that it puts all your stuff in a database file, but someone will probably find that convenient as well. I just don't work often with databases, so it's a little bit confusing to me. The downside is that it is not free. If someone knows a free version of a program with those capabilities, I would be interested to hear about it.

Sorry because of a little longer post.

Answer 37

Opera , Blogger, Gmail and Gears.

In Opera Ctrl + 5, to open my Edit posts window , start search and view. With Code Formatter I might even get some syntax highlighting ; ) When I do add some new code snippet Blogger sends an email to my Gmail and when properly tagged it could be found from there by searching: from:me good tags, Enter

Answer 38

+1 for DropBox (which, for those who don't know, is a very clean implementation of the local-folder-tree-synced-to-the-cloud idea). Here's why:

• Your snippets file is stored locally so you can get to it very fast with local index searches such as Spotlight. Web-based services seem like they'd be a lot slower, keystroke for keystroke. (I can get to almost any snippet without touching the mouse.)
• It's just a file in the local file system, so there's no need to leave a browser window open or log in to anything.
• It's cross-platform Win/Mac/nix, for those of us who develop on various platforms.
• If you put it in your /Public folder, it's also on the web, for indexing, sharing, linking, etc.

Answer 39

In version control, in a user directory. It's available for all, under SCM and out of the any project's directory.

Answer 40

I have a similar story. I used to store snippets of code in the Evernote before. However, at some point I decided to get rid of this workaround and, probably, to help other developers.

As result, we together with my friend have made an application that solves exactly this problem. We are both using Macs, so the application is Mac-only and it is obviously called ‘Snippets’ :)

It is still in development but is already working well and we are moving to the release very fast. Please, do not hesitate to give it a chance and request any features you wish to have. Thanks!

Answer 41

I use a newer service called CodeBarrel since it is secure and I kept leaving my stupid flash drive at customer locations with all my code on it. It was password protected but still, yet another drive gone to be replaced.

Answer 42

I just bought and recommend Snippets. One licence covers as many personal computers as needed and I can keep it in sync by storing the database in my dropbox.

Snippets - "Stop Reinventing the Code"

Snippets is a powerful application for Mac OS X that stores the most valuable pieces of code you can reuse in different projects many times.

The main idea is to make the process of reusing as easy as possible to avoid wasting your valuable time to write the same code again.

Using such powerful features as smart groups, labels, and integration with other applications increases the speed of coding.

http://www.snippetsapp.com/

It is a Mac only desktop client available in any app via hot-key, free 30 day trial and $39.99 with a 25% student discount.

I really wanted to use Evernote but it has such poor text editing that it makes maintaining code unbearable.

A few things that made me buy Snippets:

• compatible with TextMate themes.
• allows alternate library locations (so you can keep it backed up in your dropbox/mozy/spideroak etc)
• edit in your favorite text editor button
• share via your favorite snippet online service (pastie.org snipt.org, or add your own: gist.github.com)
• active development http://www.snippetsapp.com/release-notes/

Others you may be interested in is:

• snippet
• snippely
• codecollectorpro
• coda's built in clips Coda's editor pane page

PS. I put in my ref codes in a few links, I don't make any money I/we just get extra online storage space (I hope I am not breaking the rules, if so I can remove them).