Software I use, gadgets I love, and other things I recommend.

I get asked a lot about what I use when building software, trying to stay productive, or the things I end up convincing myself that I need. Here's a short list of my favorite things.

Workstation

  • 16” MacBook Pro, M1 Max, 32GB RAM (2021)

    I was using an Intel-based 16” MacBook Pro prior to this and the difference is night and day. The speed of this machine in incredible and pair that with an amazing keyboard. You have all you need to build something incredible.

  • LG 35" Class UltraWide Curved WQHD HDR10 Monitor

    This display is massive! It allows me to keep my IDE and the browser open at the same time. It makes life just a touch more productive. Pair this with a Ergotron - LX Single Monitor Arm and you have a perfect match.

  • Caldigit TS4

    This Thunderbolt 4 dock allows me to connect to all of my things with one single power cable. There are very limited option when you want to have Thunderbolt and USC C Power Delivery. This dock has all of those things and more.

  • Epomaker Akko PC75B Plus Mechanical Keyboard

    I wasn‘t looking for something RGB‘d out, but this keyboard has that option if you need it. Rather I was looking for something cost effective, comfortable and customizable. After grabbing this thing I can see myself getting a bit more into the hobby of customizing my keyboard.

  • Apple Magic Trackpad

    I have always loved the trackpad on my Macbook Pro, but when you opt to put this in clamshell mode you miss out on the trackpad, so why not just get an external one?! That way you never have to miss out on swiping to your hearts content.

  • Herman Miller Embody Chair

    I am always keen to post up in some soft seating, but this generally leads to the worst ergonomic position imaginable. So if I‘m gonna settle into my office and get to to work I need a chair that is at the pinnacle of ergonomics and comfort.

Development tools

  • VS Code

    This IDE has all the things I need. If for some reason it comes up a bit short it has a ton of extensions that will round out anything that is missing.

  • TablePlus

    Great software for working with databases. Has saved me from building about a thousand admin interfaces for my various projects over the years.

Design

  • Figma

    We moved over to Figma over the last year, but since then it‘s been central to how we design and build out our application. On top of that all of my client have moved over to Figma and it has been great to keep everyone collaborating on the same designs.

  • Canva

    When you need some inspiration or to just whip up something simple Canva has been the go-to tool for producing simple assets.

Productivity

  • 1Password

    It‘s the first thing that I will install on any device. This application is central to helping me stay organized and protected when it comes to all of the user accounts created for the business I run or consult with.

  • Magnet

    This window management tool is one of the first things I will install on any Mac. It gives the benefits of Windows like snapping, but not having to live in a Windows world.