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

  • MacBook Air 13 Retina, Gold, 256GB with Apple M1 (MGND3) 2020

    I was using an M1-based MacBook Air 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.

  • Intel Core i5-10400F (2.9 — 4.3 ghz) / RAM 32GB / HDD 1TB + SSD 240GB / nVidia GeForce GTX 1660, 6GB

    This PC is a high-performance computer equipped with an Intel Core i5-10400F processor with a clock speed of 2.9 to 4.3 GHz, 32GB of RAM, and a storage configuration of a 1TB HDD and a 240GB SSD. It also features an nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card with 6GB of dedicated memory, making it a great choice for gaming and demanding creative work.

  • Monitor 27' Samsung S27R350 Dark Silver

    The Samsung S27R350 is a 27-inch monitor with a dark silver finish. It features a Full HD resolution of 1920x1080, a response time of 5ms, and a refresh rate of 75Hz. The monitor also has AMD FreeSync technology for smoother gameplay and a variety of connectivity options, including HDMI and VGA. Its slim bezel design provides a sleek and modern look, making it suitable for both work and entertainment purposes.

  • Monitor 28' Samsung LU28R550

    The Samsung LU28R550 is a 28-inch monitor with 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160) and a slim bezel design. It features AMD FreeSync technology for smooth gameplay, and a 60Hz refresh rate. The monitor has a sleek and modern design with a dark blue-gray finish and a tilt-adjustable stand. It also comes equipped with multiple ports, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and a headphone jack. Overall, the Samsung LU28R550 is a great option for those looking for a high-quality monitor for work or entertainment purposes.

  • Keyboard Motospeed CK104 Outemu Blue RGB Silver USB

    The Motospeed CK104 is a mechanical gaming keyboard with RGB backlighting and Outemu Blue switches. It has a silver color and connects via USB.

  • Headphones HyperX Cloud Core Wireless Black

    The HyperX Cloud Core Wireless Black (4P5D5AA) headphones are a wireless gaming headset designed for comfortable, immersive gameplay. They feature a closed-back over-ear design with memory foam ear cushions for noise isolation and long-lasting comfort. The headphones use 2.4GHz wireless connectivity for low-latency audio and have a range of up to 20 meters. The battery life is up to 30 hours on a single charge

  • Microphone HyperX Quadcast

    is a high-quality USB condenser microphone designed for streaming, podcasting, and gaming. It features a sleek and durable design with a built-in shock mount to reduce vibrations and external noise. The microphone has four selectable polar patterns - stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, and bidirectional - to suit different recording situations.

Development tools

  • Webstorm

    Is an integrated development environment (IDE) for JavaScript development that offers advanced coding assistance, code navigation, and debugging capabilities.

  • Postman

    Is a collaboration platform for API development that enables you to design, test, and document APIs quickly and easily.

  • Docker

    Is a containerization platform that allows you to create, deploy, and run applications in a portable and scalable manner by encapsulating your code and dependencies in containers.

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

  • 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.