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.

  • Apple Pro Display XDR (Standard Glass)

    The only display on the market if you want something HiDPI and bigger than 27”. When you’re working at planetary scale, every pixel you can get counts.

  • IBM Model M SSK Industrial Keyboard

    They don’t make keyboards the way they used to. I buy these any time I see them go up for sale and keep them in storage in case I need parts or need to retire my main.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • VS Code

    My primary code editor for all things development. It’s fast, customizable, and has a huge ecosystem of extensions.

  • GitHub

    My go-to platform for version control and collaboration. I use it for hosting code, managing pull requests, and tracking issues.

  • Postman

    An essential tool for API development and testing. It helps me debug APIs, test endpoints, and document workflows.

  • Vercel

    My preferred platform for deploying and hosting web applications. It’s fast, reliable, and integrates seamlessly with my workflow.

  • TablePlus

    A modern, native tool for working with databases. It supports multiple databases and makes querying and managing data a breeze.

  • iTerm2

    A powerful terminal emulator for macOS. I use it for running scripts, managing servers, and version control.

Design

  • Figma

    We 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.

Productivity

  • Jira

    Jira is my go-to tool for project management and issue tracking. It helps me keep track of tasks, bugs, and project progress efficiently.

  • Slack

    Slack is essential for team communication. I use it to stay connected with my team, share updates, and collaborate in real-time.

  • Discord

    Discord is great for community building and real-time communication. I use it for both work and personal projects to stay connected with communities.

  • Alfred

    It’s not the newest kid on the block but it’s still the fastest. The Sublime Text of the application launcher world.

  • Reflect

    Using a daily notes system instead of trying to keep things organized by topics has been super powerful for me. And with Reflect, it’s still easy for me to keep all of that stuff discoverable by topic even though all of my writing happens in the daily note.

  • SavvyCal

    Great tool for scheduling meetings while protecting my calendar and making sure I still have lots of time for deep work during the week.

  • Focus

    Simple tool for blocking distracting websites when I need to just do the work and get some momentum going.