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

  • 13” MacBook Air, M3, 16GB RAM (2024)

    I was using a Lenovo Legion Slim prior to this and the difference is huge. I can’t believe how much better the battery life is on the MacBook, it allows for a lot more productivity anywhere I set up. As someone who travels a lot, this is a no-brainer.

  • MX Anywhere 2S

    Doesn't feel great on the hand but it's the best mouse I've ever used in terms of functionality and portability. I don't use it much with the Macbook, since bluetooth mice don't seem to flow well on Macs.

  • iPad 6th Gen 9.7”

    I love having something to write on while I am learning something new, brainstorming, or goal setting. I use it with the Apple Pencil. Just ask Jim Kwik about the benefits of writing down your notes versus typing them for learning and retention.

  • Apple Pencil

    Works like a charm. I have a love-hate relationship with the charging mechanism. The iPad has a screen cover that adds friction to make it feel like I'm writing on paper.

Development tools

  • Visual Studio Code

    I’ve tried all the other editors and IDEs but I always come back to VS Code. It’s fast and has so many great extensions.

  • iTerm2

    It's way overloaded with features that I never use, but it has profiles and split panes, which are the two features I like.

Design

  • Figma

    I'm not a designer but I use Figma for everything from designing websites to creating social media graphics. It’s so easy to use and it’s free. Also has some great free designs from the community that I use as a starting point.

Productivity

  • ChatGPT/Github Copilot

    My personal assistant. I use it for everything from writing emails, filling out webpage content (😳), to generating code snippets. I also use it to answer questions, learn new things I am curious about, or bounce ideas and questions off of. It often leads me to new resources or ideas that I wouldn't have found otherwise.

  • OneNote

    Works great for me as a digital notebook. I use it on the iPad with the Apple Pencil to take notes, brainstorm, affirm my goals, and plan.

  • Tomito

    Simple pomodoro timer that I use to keep me focused. I like that it has a simple interface and doesn’t have any extra features, or collect any data.

  • Linear Mouse

    Helps with bluetooth mouse on the Mac to make it feel more natural.