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

  • 14” MacBook Pro, M2 Pro (2023)

    I was using an M1 13” MacBook Air prior to this and the difference is quite substantial. 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.

  • Ipad Mini 6th Gen

    I use this for reading, watching videos, and taking notes. I also use for meetings and presentations. I love the size of this device. It’s perfect for me. And I think that the app GoodNotes its a killer.

  • Keychron K2 Pro Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

    Love the clickiness of this keyboard, also has dual layout for MAC/WIndows.

  • Apple Magic Trackpad 2

    I was using the Logitech MX PRO before, but honestly it got sooo laggy sometimes using it. I’m loving this trackpad, it helps me work faster honestly.

Development tools

  • Visual Studio Code

    I’ve been using VS Code for years now and it’s still my favorite editor. I’ve tried a bunch of other editors but I always come back to VS Code. I love the extensibility and the fact that it’s open source.

  • 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.

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.

Extensions

  • VS Code Pets

    I love this extension. It’s a little silly but it makes me smile.

  • VS Code Icons

    I need to know what kind of file I’m looking at without having to read the file name. I also like the aesthetic.

  • Turbo Console Log

    I use this extension to log things to the console

  • TODO Highlight

    Great tools for highlighting TODOs and FIXMEs in your code. Also you can check all the pendings TODOs in the TODO panel.

  • Quokka.js

    Lets you see your console logs in real time in the code.

  • Prettier

    I use this extension to format my code.

  • One Dark Pro

    Gotta love the One Dark theme.

  • Code Time

    This extension shows you how much time you spend coding and sends you a report every week.

  • Alphabetical Sorter

    This extension sorts your imports alphabetically.

  • Github Copilot

    This extension helps you write code. It’s really cool.