Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cold Turkey Writer VS CloudShell

Compare Cold Turkey Writer VS CloudShell and see what are their differences

Cold Turkey Writer logo Cold Turkey Writer

Cold Turkey Writer won't let you quit until you finish your work. Like, literally will not quit.

CloudShell logo CloudShell

Cloud Shell is a free admin machine with browser-based command-line access for managing your infrastructure and applications on Google Cloud Platform.
  • Cold Turkey Writer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-17
  • CloudShell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

Cold Turkey Writer features and specs

  • Distraction-Free Environment
    Cold Turkey Writer provides a full-screen, minimalistic interface that eliminates distractions, helping users to concentrate on writing.
  • Customizable Features
    Users can tailor the appโ€™s settings to meet their writing goals, such as setting word or time targets, ensuring they stay productive.
  • Lock Mode
    Users can activate a lock mode that prevents them from exiting the app until they meet their predetermined writing goals, encouraging productivity.
  • Offline Capability
    The application doesn't require an internet connection to function, which ensures that users can write without interruptions from online distractions.
  • Motivational Statistics
    Cold Turkey Writer provides users with feedback on their writing productivity, helping to motivate and track progress over time.

Possible disadvantages of Cold Turkey Writer

  • Limited Formatting Options
    The software focuses on simplicity, which can result in fewer text formatting options compared to other writing tools.
  • No Cloud Sync
    Cold Turkey Writer lacks built-in cloud synchronization, requiring users to manually save and manage their documents locally.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Beginners
    New users might find it challenging to adjust to the app's unique settings and requirements if they are accustomed to traditional word processors.
  • Restricted Out of App Access
    In lock mode, users are unable to exit the application, which can be inconvenient if a quick reference to external information is needed.
  • Paid Features
    Some advanced features are only available in the paid version, which might not justify the cost for all users.

CloudShell features and specs

  • Integrated Environment
    CloudShell provides a fully integrated development environment directly within your browser, including access to Google Cloud resources, pre-installed Google Cloud SDK, and other useful tools.
  • Convenience
    Because it's browser-based, there is no need to install or configure anything locally, which can save considerable setup time and eliminate environment inconsistencies.
  • Security
    Operating within Google's infrastructure can add layers of security, including secure connection to cloud resources and less risk of exposing local machines to vulnerabilities.
  • Access to Project Resources
    Directly connects to Google Cloud resources associated with your account, making it easy to manage and deploy applications within your cloud environment.
  • Scalability
    Seamlessly scalable environment that can handle different workloads without performance degradation.
  • Persistent Storage
    CloudShell offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their work and configurations, which are available in future sessions.
  • Pre-installed Tools
    Includes a range of pre-installed tools, such as git, gcloud SDK, and language libraries, enabling efficient development and deployment workflows.

Possible disadvantages of CloudShell

  • Resource Limits
    CloudShell has usage limits, including limited disk space and CPU, which may not be sufficient for all types of workloads, particularly resource-intensive tasks.
  • Inactive Use Timeouts
    Sessions that are inactive for a period of time may be automatically terminated, which can disrupt ongoing work.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based solution, a stable internet connection is required. Any disruption in connectivity can hamper development and deployment processes.
  • Latency Issues
    Depending on your geographical location, there may be latency issues which can affect performance and response times.
  • Limited Customization
    While CloudShell provides many pre-installed tools, users have limited control over the environment compared to a locally managed development setup.
  • Paid Subscription Needed for Extensive Use
    Beyond the free tier, extensive usage of CloudShell resources may incur additional costs, which can add up depending on the scale and nature of the tasks.
  • Learning Curve
    New users who are not familiar with Google Cloud's ecosystem may face an initial learning curve to fully leverage CloudShell's capabilities.

Analysis of CloudShell

Overall verdict

  • Yes, CloudShell is a good tool, especially for those who are actively using Google Cloud Platform. It provides a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of tools to manage cloud resources effectively. Its convenience, combined with the power of GCP, makes it a valuable asset for cloud-based development and operations.

Why this product is good

  • CloudShell is a versatile tool offered by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that provides a command-line environment directly in your web browser. It is particularly beneficial for developers and system administrators because it allows them to manage GCP resources easily without needing to install additional software on their local machines. CloudShell includes the Google Cloud SDK, along with other essential tools, making it a convenient and efficient option for cloud management tasks. Additionally, it offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their scripts and data between sessions. The integration with other GCP services enhances productivity by providing seamless access and control.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently work with Google Cloud Platform
  • System administrators managing GCP resources
  • New users of Google Cloud who need an easy introduction to command-line tools
  • Teams collaborating on GCP projects, as it supports session sharing

Cold Turkey Writer videos

Cold Turkey Writer: A Distraction-Free App That Forces You to Write

More videos:

  • Review - Cold Turkey Writer in Action
  • Review - Cold Turkey Writer

CloudShell videos

No CloudShell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cold Turkey Writer and CloudShell)
Markdown Editor
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
Word
100 100%
0% 0
Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Cold Turkey Writer and CloudShell. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

CloudShell might be a bit more popular than Cold Turkey Writer. We know about 13 links to it since March 2021 and only 9 links to Cold Turkey Writer. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cold Turkey Writer mentions (9)

  • Laptop with MS word but no internet?
    This is the stuff - https://getcoldturkey.com/writer/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Writing 'software' that gives out an announcement when you're at a total of +1000 words.
    Cold Turkey lets you set a word count (or timer) and blocks all other applications until you've written that many words (or for that amount of time). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Resources for the Month Ahead?
    Cold Turkey Writer if I'm having trouble with internet distractions. It won't let you leave the app by any means until you hit your target. No copy and paste to fake it, no checking your email or the weather, no playing solitaire, wasting time on reddit or going down a research rabbit hole. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Took a break, now canโ€™t get back into it
    I always bust this out when I'm in a slump, it works like magic: https://getcoldturkey.com/writer/. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Need a digital replacement for my journal, but without the ability to do anything other than write.
    Cold Turkey Writer does exactly this in a totally complete and badass way. Your computer won't let you do anything except type on an essentially featureless word processor. It turns your computer into a typewriter. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

CloudShell mentions (13)

  • GCP Fundamentals: Cloud Shell API
    The Google Cloud Shell API empowers organizations to automate cloud operations, accelerate software delivery, and improve efficiency. By providing a programmatic interface for managing Cloud Shell environments, the API unlocks new possibilities for developers, SREs, and data teams. Explore the official documentation and try the hands-on lab to experience the benefits of the Cloud Shell API firsthand. ... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Intro to the YouTube APIs: searching for videos
    Command-line (gcloud) -- Those who prefer working in a terminal can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK which includes the gcloud command-line tool (CLI) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue this command to enable the API: gcloud services enable youtube.googleapis.com Confirm all the APIs you've enabled with this command:... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Explore the world with Google Maps APIs
    Gcloud/command-line - Finally, for those more inclined to using the command-line, you can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK (which includes the gcloud command-line tool [CLI]) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue the following command to enable all three APIs: gcloud services enable geocoding-backend.googleapis.com... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Getting started with the Google Cloud CLI interactive shell for serverless developers
    While you might find that using the Google Cloud online console or Cloud Shell environment meets your occasional needs, for maximum developer efficiency you will want to install the Google Cloud CLI (gcloud) on your own system where you already have your favorite editor or IDE and git set up. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • Cloud desktops aren't as good as you'd think
    Here is the product https://cloud.google.com/shell It has a quick start guide and docs. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cold Turkey Writer and CloudShell, you can also consider the following products

WriteNext - The writing application that boosts your writing. Increase focus and writing performance and reduce distractions by separating your creative writing from other activities. Let writing be the only activity you perform in the writing application.

GitHub Codespaces - GItHub Codespaces is a hosted remote coding environment by GitHub based on Visual Studio Codespaces integrated directly for GitHub.

Stashany - Online notepad for developers

CodeTasty - CodeTasty is a programming platform for developers in the cloud.

Writebox - Writebox is a simple and distraction-free text editor for Chrome and iPhone/iPad.

Glitch - Glitch is the friendly community where everyone builds the web. Simple, powerful interface for creating web apps.