Software I use, gadgets I love and other things I recommend.

I absolutely love gadgets, software and anything that has to do with tech. Though I'm not a professional reviewer, here are some of my favorites!

Workstation

  • 14” MacBook Pro, M1, 16GB RAM (2021)

    I"ve used a mac ever since I got into development and before this one my favorite MacBook was the 2015. I loved its keyboard, the ports, and the screen size. This new 14" M1 MacBook Pro is delivering on all those points! It has a gorgeous 14" screen with some great lighting. The keyboard is finally back to a usable and comfortable place, and though I don't use the ports as much it does give me a bit of confidence that if I walk out of my home without my bag I can find cords without needing a dongle.

  • Studio Display (Nano-texture glass)

    I'm not a display buff nor do I know all the ins and outs of pixel density or nits, but if you are looking for that give@reckless a follow. What I do love about this display is the feeling of continuity. I have a MacBook, IPad, Iphone, Apple Watch, Apple TV, they all have this design language and feel that The Studio Display also provides, and I'm a sucker for consistency.

  • Apple Magic Trackpad

    Once you try it you wont want to touch a mouse again (use the gestures!).

Development tools

  • Visual Studio Code (vscode)

    I don't think one editor is better than another. VSCode took me a while to get used to. Once I began picking up its shortcuts and tools, I couldn't stop using it. It's fast, reliable, and has a lot of support when you encounter a problem you can't solve. Plus it works with all the languages I've had to use in various roles.

  • 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.

Productivity

  • Raycast

    I have always loved the quick and easy access to Mac's spotlight, over the years I've always wanted it to do more. Finally one of my coworkers showed me Raycast and its great, like really, really great! It has so many plugins for all my tools and an easy way to add short scripts.

  • Notion

    I've recently been on the search for a 'Second Brain.' I've tried Reflect and Obsidian but in the end I settled with Notion (for now). Notion is really easy to use and has a lot of templates to get setup and running in just a matter of seconds.

Gadgets

  • Oculus Quest 2

    I am totally sold on VR, more than web3 or AR. Being able to immerse myself in a world (SAO style) sounds like an incredible adventure. Unfortunately we are a long way out from total immersion so the Quest2 gives me a small reminder of what VR can be.

  • Surface Duo

    When I first saw this phone I really wanted it to replace my IPhone. I love the concept of a foldable phone with 2 screens and the Duo definitely looks and feels the part. Unfortunately, its too slow and too inconvenient to be my full time device, but I still love it and find myself at home always grabbing it instead of any other phone. I truly hope Microsoft continues to iterate on it.