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

I get asked a lot about the things I use to build software, stay productive, or buy to fool myself into thinking I’m being productive when I’m really just procrastinating. Here’s a big list of all of my favorite stuff.

Workstation

  • 16” MacBook Pro, M2 Pro, 16GB RAM (2023)

    I was using an Intel-based 13” MacBook Pro prior to this and the difference is night and day. I’ve never heard the fans turn on a single time, even under the incredibly heavy loads I put it through with my various extreme projects.

  • YINDIAO T8 60% Gaming Keyboard

    I’m not a gamer but I love the feel of mechanical keyboards. This one is a great balance of the sound of the Sims' keyboard, clicky, and quiet.

  • Apple Magic Mouse

    Something about all the gestures makes me feel like a wizard with special powers. I really like feeling like a wizard with special powers.

Development tools

  • VSCode

    I’ve tried to switch to other editors but I always come back to VSCode. It’s the best.

  • Terminal

    I use the built-in Terminal app on macOS. I’ve tried everything under the sun but I simply don’t need anything more than what comes with the OS.

  • Beekeeper Studio Ultimate

    Great software for working with databases. Has saved me from building about a thousand admin interfaces for my various projects over the years. People keep asking me if it's free, but I don't remember.

Design

  • Figma

    I'm really excited about Figma Slides, if you've ever seen my talks you know that I'm who they built it for.

  • Affinity

    I used Adobe products for years but I've been really happy with Affinity. It's a one time purchase and it allows me to complete my consumer boycott of Adobe with no trade-offs.

Productivity

  • RayCast

    I use RayCast to launch apps, run scripts, and access all sorts of features on my Mac. It’s like Spotlight on steroids.

  • Notes

    I use the built-in Notes app on macOS. I’ve tried things like Notion but I find them bloated, laggy, and an attempt to slow me down - forcing me to think too much outside of what I want to get done.

  • CalCom

    Great tool for scheduling meetings while protecting my calendar and making sure I still have lots of time for deep work during the week.