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 (well, some) of my favorite stuff.

Workstation

  • 16” Macbook Pro, M3, 18GB RAM (2023)

    I was using an Intel-based 16” MacBook Pro prior to this and the difference is night and day. The M3 chip is so much faster and the battery life is amazing. 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.

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

    I upgraded to this M1 MacBook Pro as soon as it was available in 2021 and I’ve been using it as my personal machine ever since. It has slowly taken the backseat since the M3 MacBook Pro came into my life.

  • Samsung Odyssey G9 49” Ultrawide Monitor - 240Hz

    I’ve been using ultrawide monitors for years and I’ll never go back to a single monitor. I’ve tried a bunch of different ones but this is the best one I’ve found so far. It’s huge, it’s curved, and it’s got a high refresh rate.

  • Razer Keyboard

    I’ve tried a bunch of different mechanical keyboards and this is the one I keep coming back to. I love the feel of the keys and the sound they make when I’m typing.

  • Apple Magic Trackpad

    The trackpad on the MacBook Pro is great but I like having a separate trackpad when I’m using my external monitor and keyboard. It's also great for when I’m using my iPad as a second screen.

  • Razer Enki Quartz Gaming Chair

    If I’m going to slouch in the worst ergonomic position imaginable all day, I might as well be comfortable doing it. The lumbar support and incline on this chair are great.

Development tools

  • VS Code

    I’ve tried to switch to other editors but I always come back to VS Code. It’s just too good. I’ve got a whole bunch of extensions installed. I’ll try to remember to list them out here at some point.

  • 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 and sometimes mix it up with the built-in Terminal.

  • TablePlus

    Great software for working with databases. Has saved me from building about a thousand admin interfaces for my various projects over the years.

Design

  • Figma

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

  • Miro

    Miro is the closest thing I’ve found to a virtual whiteboard. It’s great for brainstorming, planning, and collaborating with the team. I also use it to draw out my ideas for new features and designs.

  • Draw.io

    I use Draw.io for creating diagrams and flowcharts. It’s simple and easy to use, and it’s free!

Productivity

  • Notion

    Putting all of my notes, tasks, and documents in Notion has been a game-changer for me.

  • Apple Notes

    When it comes to quick notes, I still haven’t found anything that beats Apple Notes. I’ve tried a bunch of different tools over the years but I always come back to this one.

  • Google Scheduling

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

  • Stopwatch

    I use the built-in stopwatch on my phone to track my time and make sure I’m not spending too long on any one task.

  • Good ol' pen and paper

    I know it’s not digital but sometimes you just can’t beat the feeling of writing things down on paper.