Software I use, gadgets I love, and other things I recommend.
Here is the software and equipment I use to enable my hobbies and try to be a little more productive.
Workstation
- 16” MacBook Pro, M3 Max, 128GB RAM (2021)
I was using an Intel-based 15” MacBook Pro prior to this and the difference is night and day. I’ve never heard the fans turn on a single time, no matter what I'm using it for.
- NuPhy Air75 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard with Gateron Blue switches
I love this keyboard. It is fairly compact, can store 3 bluetooth connections, can work wired or wireless, and the click of Blue switches is exactly what I want in a mechanical keyboard (not always great for typing during calls though).
- Secretlab TITAN 2020 Chair
I spend a lot of my time sitting at my desk, so a comfortable chair that gives me some lumbar support
Development tools
- Visual Studio Code
I've been using VS Code pretty much since it was released and is one of the first things I install on a new dev computer. It is super customizable and has an extensive catalog of extensions.
- iTerm2
This is actually the first application I install on a new dev computer. I could probably get the built in MacOS terminal to be customized the way I want but it is just easier at this point for me to import my configs for iTerm2. I have been trying out Warp as my new standard terminal and so far I'm liking it.
- Postman
Whether I'm developing a new API, trying to get data from my favorite website, or trying to figure out how to use the API for my most recent project, Postman is my go to tool for making "manual" API calls. I know there are other alternatives available but I haven't felt a strong need to switch to one of them.
Productivity
- Alfred
I've been using Alfred for years at this point. It might not be the newest application launcher, but it gets the job done. I've been using Raycast at work though and might switch to using it as my standard application launcher on my personal laptop
- Better Touch Tools
If I could only install one tool on my computer this would probably be the one. From window management to creating custom gestures to creating custom keyboard shortcuts this one tool does it all. I use 3 tools at work to get just a fraction of the functionality of this one tool.
- 1Password
I've used 1Password for years. It has the nicest interface of any password manager I have tried. It is also an incredibly powerful way to store all sorts of sensitive information, not just passwords. Its autofill and passkey support probably make this my most used tool on a daily basis.
Disclaimer: I am currently employed by 1Password, but I have used the product long before I started working for them and will probably continue to use it long after I leave the company. My thoughts, opinions, and recommendation of the product are purely my own and are may not reflect the thoughts and opinions of my employer. - Homebrew
This is the first thing I install on a new Mac and then I use it to install everything else I want on the computer. If you are a developer who use MacOS you probably already know about homebrew. If you don't know what homebrew is, it is an OS package manager. That means it is a tool for being able to install and update software on your computer from one place without needing to go to a bunch of different sites to download everything and then follow a bunch of complicated instructions to install it.
- Topgrade
While Homebrew allows me to install and update software in one place. Topgrade allows me to run updates for all of package managers and will even check for OS updates. Basically if I have every piece of software installed on my computer using homebrew or another package manager (like npm or pip) then running Topgrade will update everything installed on my computer at once.
3D Printing
- Bambu X1-Carbon
I previously had an Ender 3 v2 which was a good printer to start with but required more fussing than I liked. The X1 has been great to work with. It is super reliable, levels the bed automatically, can check the quality of the first layer, and can even record a timelapse of the print.
- Orca Slicer
Very similar to Bambu Studio, but it is open source and gets some experimental features before Bambu Studio.
Photography
- Nikon Z 6II
This is my 3rd Nikon camera and I love it. It is extremely capable, from low light, to video, to basically anything else I want to do with it, this camera has been able to do it all. I even use the camera with a video capture card as my webcam whenever I'm at my desk. I do wish it had a fully articulated screen, but that is the only thing I have been disappointed about with this camera.
- Adobe Lightroom Classic
I've been using Lightroom Classic for years and while I have tried other options like Affinity Photo and standard Lightroom I always end up back using Lightroom Classic.