Hardware, software, and other tools I use to build things.

Some of my favorite tools and gear that I use on a daily basis to build things. I’m always looking for ways to improve my setup, so this list is constantly evolving.

Workstation

  • 14” MacBook Pro, M4 Pro, 48GB RAM (2024, Nano Texture Glass)

    The M4 MacBook Pro is a beast and can handle anything I throw at it. I love the 14” size because it’s big enough to be comfortable but small enough to be portable. Memory is plenty for the workloads I do and the battery life is great. I can’t imagine needing more power than this for the next few years. The nano texture glass is preferable to the standard glass because it reduces glare and reflections, which is especially helpful when working in bright environments.

  • Apple Studio Display (27”, Nano Texture Glass, Tilt Stand)

    I love the size and resolution of this display. I went with the nano texture glass for the same reason as the MacBook Pro, to reduce glare and reflections. The built-in speakers are surprisingly good for a monitor, too. The only downside is the low refresh rate.

  • Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID

    I love mechanical keyboads and I’ve gone through a lot of them over the last several years. However, I recently switched to the Magic Keyboard to keep things simple. The touch ID feature is a nice bonus, too.

  • Apple Magic Mouse

    As a VIM power user, I don’t use the mouse much but it’s nice to have the gestures available when I need them. Also keeping it simple.

  • Herman Miller Cosm High Back Chair

    Having a proper ergonomic chair is a must for long hours of coding. The Herman Miller Cosm is incredibly comfortable and provides great support. I actually bought the exact same chair again once I moved to Japan.

Development tools

  • VSCode

    I use VSCode for 99% of my development work. It’s fast, has great extensions, and is highly customizable. I’ve tried a lot of other editors over the years but I always come back to VSCode. I do pull out JetBrains from time to time for some specific tasks but VSCode is my daily driver.

  • iTerm2

    iTerm2 with ZSH is my terminal of choice. I like keeping my terminal sessions separate from my editor to keep things organized. The plugins are also great for productivity.

  • Jetbrains DataGrip

    I use DataGrip for database management. It’s a powerful tool that makes it easy to work with databases, whether it’s RDBMS or Redis.

  • Postman

    Postman is my go-to tool for API development and testing. It’s incredibly useful for debugging and testing APIs. Though, it’s a bit slow at times.