One of my favorite Mac apps is TextExpander, a toolthat saves you time by enabling you to create shortcuts for things you type frequently.

For example, here are the shortcuts I use on a regular basis:

• Typing mm@ expands to my email address, matthew.h.mazur@gmail.com.

• Typing vcc expands to my Visa credit card number.

• Typing stcc expands to a Stripe test credit card number, 4242424242424242.

• Typing jscc expands into a JSDoc template:

/**
 * Description
 *
 * @param {Object} var - Description
 * @returns {Boolean} Description
 */

• Typing wpcc expands into a PHPDoc template:

/**
 * Description
 * 
 * @param int|string $var Description
 * @return bool Description
 */

• And last but not least, ---> expands into → because using ASCII arrows makes you look like a badass hacker, obviously.

Give it a shot if you’re not already using it. There’s a free trial and you can purchase the full version for $44.95.

If you have any recommendations for other useful productivity tools like TextExpander, I’d love to check them out. Thanks!