Hardware, software, and other recommendations

I'm constantly on the hunt for new products or software. Here's the short list of the things I currently use to build software and stay productive.

Workstation

  • 16” MacBook Pro, M1 Pro, 16GB RAM (2021)

    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 numerous apps open and being utilized at one time. Looking forward to upgrading to the M3 Max chipset sometime in the next couple of months!

  • Samsung 49" Odyssey CRG9

    For years, I was running two side-by-side HP 27es monitors and it was great. This curved 49" monitor is a game changer though. With a 32:9 aspect ratio, it's like having two 27” monitors side-by-side, but without the bezel in the middle. I can't imagine going back to a multi-monitor setup after this.

  • Magic Keyboard and Mouse

    With the low-profile of the keys, and the fact that it's wireless, I love this keyboard. I've been using the Magic Mouse for years and it's still my favorite mouse. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I love the touch surface and gestures. Occasionally, I'll use a magic trackpad while doing some design work, but I prefer the mouse for everything else.

  • Apple AirPods Max headphones

    These are the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. I've tried a lot of different headphones over the years, but these are the best. The sound quality is great, and the noise cancellation is amazing.

Development tools

  • IntelliJ IDEA (Ultimate Edition)

    IntelliJ is the best IDE ever made, in my opinion. The git and database integrations paired with the vast plugin ecosystem make it a no-brainer. I use it for all of my development needs, including developing this website.

  • iTerm2 + Oh My Zsh + Powerlevel10k

    I use iTerm2 as my terminal emulator, with Oh My Zsh as my shell and Powerlevel10k as my theme. I love the customization and speed of this setup, and I use it for all of my development needs.

Design

  • Figma

    I utilize Figma for all of my design work. It's a great tool for creating and collaborating on designs. I also use it for creating prototypes and sharing them with clients.

  • Storybook

    It's not appropriate for every project, but when it is, Storybook is a great tool for building and documenting UI components. It's also a great way to collaborate with other developers and designers on a project.

  • Canva

    There's no denying that Canva is a great tool for creating quick and easy designs. I use it for creating social media posts, presentations and even some graphics from time to time.

  • Adobe Suite

    Photoshop, Illustrator and XD are my go-to tools for creating and editing images, illustrations and mockups. Illustrator is my primary weapon of choice, as a vector based tool it allows me to create scalable graphics that can be used across a variety of mediums.

Productivity

  • Alfred

    I use Alfred for everything. I have a bunch of custom workflows that I use to open apps, search the web, and more. I also use it to run scripts and open files. I have a bunch of snippets set up for things I type a lot. I even use it to open my daily notes in Notion.

  • Notion

    Documentation, notes, and more. I use Notion every day! I have a database for my daily notes, a database for my tasks, and a database for my goals. I also use it to document my processes and workflows. I use it to document my projects and keep track of my ideas. I use it to document my life. I use it to document my documentation.

  • Brain.fm

    Spotify is my usual go-to for listening to music, but I find it distracting when I'm trying to be productive. I use Brain.fm coupled with my noise-cancelling headphones to listen to music that helps me focus.