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 Max, 64GB 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.

  • MSI Prestige PS341WU

    Designed for Creators & Multitaskers 34". Ultra-wide monitor that's AFAIK about as good as it gets. Boundless real estate. Crisp, rich colours. I invested in this bad boy in 2021 and I've never looked back.

  • Magic Keyboard

    Like me, simple and functional.

  • Logitech G502 Hero

    Gaming mice are so convenient as a developer. The programmable buttons can be used to quickly run commands & macros, etc.

Development tools

  • Cursor

    I'm pretty new to Cursor but I'm already a fan. It's a great way to code. From Genie on Linux, to Atom, to VS Code. Cursor keeps all the things I love about VS Code supplemented by some great AI features.

  • 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.

Design

  • Adobe XD

    Introduced to me by a friend, I've found it to be a great tool for creating mockups & prototypes. It's not the most trendy tool, but I know it well and it gets the job done.

  • Sketch

    The best jump from MS Paint. It's super easy to (lol) sketch up ideas and fiddle with images.

Productivity

  • MemTime

    Automatically tracks my time and tells me exactly what I worked on. After a super simple setup, it's a no-brainer. I very seldom need to make any changes, it just categorises my time like a champ. Used to be called TimeBro, I'm upset the changed their name!

  • Monday.com

    It's good! I use it to manage my projects and keep track of what needs to be done. Project management tools are Marmite, and IMO noone actually loves Marmite.

  • Trello

    KISS - Trello is the gateway drug to project management.