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, M1 Pro, 16GB RAM (2021)
I was using an Intel-based 16” 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 our various launch simulations.
Aurora Sweep Keyboard
The Aurora Sweep is a minimalist layout with only 34 keys. It is a very compact, lightweight and portable board. Redesign by splitkb.com of the popular Sweep (Sweep Bling MX) by David Barr and contributors.
Apple Magic Trackpad
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
Visual Studio Code
Lightweight simple code editor in minimalist style
iTerm2
I’m honestly not even sure what features I get with this that aren’t just part of the macOS Terminal but it’s what I use.
Beekeeper Studio
Great software for working with databases. Has saved me from building about a thousand admin interfaces for my various projects over the years.
Productivity
Notions
Using a daily notes system instead of trying to keep things organized by topics has been super powerful for me.