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

  • 13” MacBook Pro, M1 (2020)

    I've been using Apple my whole life and love Macs. I was using an Intel-based MacBook Pro prior to this and the difference is night and day. I’ve never heard the fans turn on a single time.

  • 11” iPad Pro (2019)

    This is one of the best things I've ever bought. I use it everyday for planning my day with TickTick app, to note taking with Notes, and almost all my reading. I know I could read on my mac but you can't replace the magic of reading on a glass slate tablet. This made me realise that if a product is a joy to use like the iPad is, it makes you do more of the things you love (like reading).

  • Dell UltraSharp U2722DE 27

    I honestly bought this because of the bezels. I'm a bit of a sucker for great design and love how the x & y bezels are the same size. Most monitors have a chin on the bottom but not this one which I love.

  • Keychron Q1 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard

    Keychron is my favorite keyboard company. I was tempted to buy the entry level board, but decided 'the poor man buys twice' and went all out for the custom Q1 and I'm so glad I did. I've modded it nicely with double shot key kaps and milky brown switches but there are still a few things I want to do to it.

  • Apple Magic Mouse

    Something about all the gestures makes me feel like a wizard with special powers. I don't know if I'll ever go back to a regular mouse even if my friends give me a hard time when gaming.

  • Herman Miller Aeron Chair

    If I'm going to slouch in the worst ergonomic position imaginable all day, I might as well do it in an expensive chair.

Development tools

  • Visual Studio Code

    I love VS Code and use it with Poimandres theme to match my keyboard. I've tried a few other editors but always come back to VS Code. I've even tried using Sublime Text and Atom but I always end up missing the features that VS Code has.

  • 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. I use iTerm for most things like managing a Git repo but default to VS Code terminal for running tests or NPM Dev/Start so I don't need to switch.

  • GitHub

    I use GitHub like most people and it's been a great tool for me. I haven't tried other tools like GitLab or BitBucket but I'm sure they're great too.

  • Jest

    I'm forcing myself to learn more Test Driven Development and Jest has been the tool I've used most. I like the idea of TDD to spend more time planning and less time debugging. That's the theory at least!

  • RunJS

    I love this tool. If you need a JS playground to test out some code or just want to play around with some new JS features, this is the tool for you. I use it all the time to gut check things or for coding challenges on sites like Edabit.

  • GitHub Copilot

    I've been using it for a few months now and it speeds up my development time significantly. If you rely on it as a crutch you'll end up with bad code (and won't learn much) but if you use it to come up with new ideas or do the grunt work for basic stuff, it's amazing.

Design

  • Figma

    I started using Figma as just a design tool but now it's become our virtual whiteboard for the entire company. Never would have expected the collaboration features to be the real hook.

  • Tailwind UI

    Does this go in development or design? I don't know but I love Tailwind UI. I've been using Tailwind CSS for a while now and love the utility classes. I've been using Tailwind UI and have been able to build out a lot of the UI for apps in a fraction of the time it normally takes while looking incredible. I'm not a fan of Chakra or MUI which are complex to learn and too far abstratced from the HTML so Tailwind UI is a great middle ground.

Productivity

  • TickTick

    I've gone back and forth with using tools for productivity over the years. To do lists can be great for planning, but can easily become tyranical and make you feel bad for not 'being productive'. But then I found the app TickTick (thanks MKBHD) and it's been a game changer. I use it for everything from planning my day, to tracking my habits, and focus time. Like any tool, if you use it right, it can be very useful.

  • Notes

    Using Apple Notes on an iPad with the apple pen is a magical experience that makes note taking a delight. I actually enjoy taking notes or journaling now.

Learning

  • Stratechery Plus

    Ben Thompson is a genius and I love his writing. I've been a subscriber for a few years now and it's been a great investment. I read every daily update and have listened to every Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Exponent, and Dithering podcast episode. I've learned so much about the tech industry, product, and business strategy from Ben.

  • Modern Operating Systems + Computer Networks

    These two books by Andrew Tanenbaum are the best books I've ever read on computers and networks. While Youtube videos and the like are great for learning, these books are the best way to learn the fundamentals of how computers & networks work at every level.

  • 4000 Weeks

    Since reading this in 2022, I'm making an effort to read this every January. Oliver Burkeman puts ideas on paper that you know to be true about life, but couldn't quite put your finger on. It's a great book for setting realistic goals and making the most of your time.