Linux Matters The Smell of Git
Mar 3, 2026
A conversation about synesthesia and how sensory crossovers can show up for a Linux user. A deep dive into unusual memory triggers tied to technical actions like Git and systemd. A practical audit of dozens of GitHub repos uncovering inconsistent snaps, missing READMEs, and CI gaps. A switch to a lazier, terminal-first Git workflow with lazygit and comparisons to other Git tools.
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From Podcast To Participant In A Synesthesia Study
- Mark emailed researcher Julia Simner and joined an online study after realising he experiences location memory synesthesia.
- The survey asked abstract concepts (like feminism) and revealed his triggers are specific Linux/Git operations instead.
Command Line Actions Become Mental Landmarks
- Mark's synesthetic triggers are tightly tied to command-line technical operations rather than abstract concepts.
- Examples include changing a Git remote (triggers his secondary school gym) and restarting a systemd service (triggers a long geography corridor).
Synesthesia Is Interesting But Not Problematic For Mark
- Mark treats his synesthesia as harmless curiosity rather than a problem requiring therapy.
- He notes the researchers didn't follow up much, suggesting his case wasn't prioritized but is personally interesting.