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, M4 Max, 64GB RAM (2024)
I was using an Intel-based Windows devices, 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.
Samsung Odyssey G3 32"
Great monitor for the price. I have it set to 120Hz and it makes a noticeable difference in how smooth everything feels.
Logitech MX Keys S
I tried a lot of different keyboards before settling on this one. The keys have a great feel and the battery lasts forever. Also can't live without the multi-device switching, which is seamless and super convenient.
LOGITECH MX Master 3S Performance
I tried a lot of different mice before settling on this one. It's comfortable, has great battery life, and the scroll wheel is fantastic.
Development tools
Visual Studio Code
I've tried a lot of different editors over the years but VS Code keeps getting better and better especially for web. The ecosystem of extensions is incredible and there's almost nothing you can't do with it.
dbdiagram.io
Simple tool for quickly sketching out database diagrams. Supports several different dialects of SQL and can export to a variety of formats.
Everything Jetbrains
I use JetBrains IDEs for almost everything I do. The support for different languages and frameworks is incredible, and the productivity features are second to none. I'm a huge fan of their database tools as well.
Gemini Pro
I switched to Gemini Pro from chatGPT for all of my LLM needs (coding, writing, brainstorming, etc) and I haven't looked back. The model is significantly better than anything else I've tried, and the integration with macOS is fantastic (with gemini-cli).
Productivity
Notion
I use Notion for everything from project management to note taking to writing documentation. It's incredibly flexible and the database features are super powerful.
Google Calendar
I tried a lot of different calendar apps before settling on Google Calendar. The integration with Gmail and other Google services is fantastic, and the web app is great.
Calendly
I use Calendly to schedule all of my meetings. It's super easy to use and integrates with Google Calendar so there's no risk of double-booking.
Cold Turkey
I use Cold Turkey to block distracting websites when I need to focus. It's super configurable and the locked mode is great for when I really need to get stuff done.