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.
I was using a custom-built Windows PC with a RTX 2060-Super prior to this but I fell in love with the portability and simplicity of the Mac. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well this machine has handled everything I’ve thrown at it. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a desktop.
I’ve tried a lot of keyboards over the years and this is the only one that I’ve ever really liked. It’s small, light, and has a great feel to it. Unpopular opinion but I prefer laptop style chiclet keys over mechanical keyboards. I know, I know, I’m a monster.
My hands are too big for most mice and I’ve had a lot of wrist pain over the years. This mouse has been a game changer for me. Also, something about all the gestures makes me feel like a wizard with special powers. I really like feeling like a wizard with special powers.
I’ve had these for almost 4 years and they’re still going strong. I’ve never been a fan of wireless headphones. I don’t like having to charge them and I don’t like the latency. I also don’t like headphones that are too bass heavy. These are perfect for me. I've replaced the earpads with Brainwavz XL pads for extra comfort.
If I'm going to slouch in the worst ergonomic position imaginable all day, I might as well do it in an expensive chair. Is it embarrassing to admit that I also have an ass-pillow?
I honestly don't even know what to do with this much desk space. So I ended up stacking a bookshelf on the corner of my desk. Looks cool. Lot of space for my arms to rest, which is better ergonomically.
I’m not sure what features I get with this that aren’t just part of the macOS Terminal but it’s what I use. I was mostly attracted towards the customization and theming abilities.
I've worked with other IDEs but just found myself gravitating back towards VSCode. Between this, TypeScript and GitHub, microsoft owns open source.
This command line tool is the reason I am never going back to a Windows machine. It’s the best package manager I’ve ever used. I use it to install everything from git to node to python to chrome and zoom. I don’t know how I ever lived without it.
I started using Figma as just a design tool but now it’s become a virtual whiteboard for all my endeavors.
I’m not sure if this counts as a productivity tool but it’s been such a game changer for me that I had to include it. I’ve been using it for a few months now and it’s already saved me hundreds of hours of work. I’m not sure if it’s the future of programming but it’s definitely the future of programming for me.
I use this for all my diagrams and illustrations. It’s so simple and easy to use that I’ve never felt the need to look for alternatives.