# What I use Inspired by [/uses](https://uses.tech/), this is a non-exhaustive list of the tools and technologies that I use daily. ## This website This website is a standard [Next.js](https://nextjs.org/) app, with a custom [MDX](https://mdxjs.com/) layout. Nothing fancy. Thanks to static site generation, this all works without JS, but I can still write in MDX and use React components, which is nice because it gives me a place to experiment with JS playthings. ## Mac * Webcam: Sony a5100 Mirrorless DSLR, with a 35mm f/1.8 lens * I used to use it for streaming, now it just brightens Google Meets. * Microphone: Shure SM7B + Focusrite Scarlett Solo + dbx 286s * Elgato Key Light * Desk: Bestier 55" Standing Desk * Headset: AirPods Pro 3 * Keyboard: Apple Magic Keyboard * Mouse: Apple Magic Trackpad * Monitor: BenQ MA320U * It works great for my needs: It's 32", 4K, and works great with my Mac. Can't complain. ## Windows * Keyboard: Razer Huntsman V3 Pro * Mouse: Logitech G Pro X Superlight * Monitor: ASUS ROG Swift 32" 4K OLED (PG32UCDM) * 240Hz and OLED make for the best experience I've ever had. Text looks blurry on the Mac though, so I only use it for gaming. * Speakers: Bose SoundLink Mini II ## Hardware * Work computer: Macbook Pro 16" (2021, M1 Max) * 64GB RAM, for Docker (via OrbStack). * Went with an M1 Max so I could have 3 monitors at once. Before I moved to the BenQ, I was using 3 external 4K monitors. * 2TB SSD, because I don't want to worry about making space during normal everyday use. * Gaming PC: * RTX 3090 Ti * CORSAIR Vengeance DDR5 96GB (2x48GB) DDR5 6000MHz CL30 * 2TB Samsung 990 Pro NVMe SSD * ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 * Corsair OBSIDIAN 1000D * This thing is a monster - you can fit two computers inside it. My goal is to get the home lab hardware in there eventually. * AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D * MSI X670E GAMING PLUS * Home lab: * 80GB DDR4 ECC RAM * 2TB Samsung 990 Pro NVMe SSD * Gigabyte B550 (AM4 motherboard) * Ryzen 9 5950X CPU * 2 x 18TB Toshiba MG Series HDD * They're loud, but they make for a nice little ZFS pool. ## Backup Strategy I use a combination of both local and remote backups. * I have a ZFS pool running in my home lab, which I use to store all of my data mirrored across two HDDs. * My Mac backs up to an external Time Machine SSD. * I used to use the home lab for backups, but it was very unreliable and caused immense HDD thrashing. * I use [BackBlaze](https://www.backblaze.com) to backup my entire Mac to a remote server. * My ZFS pool is also mirrored to a remote ZFS pool, at [zfs.rent](https://zfs.rent). So that's 1 local backup and 2 off-site backups. Prior to having this setup, I did lose data, and swore to myself that it would never happen again. ## Software * [Atuin](https://atuin.sh) * Infinite searchable shell history that syncs. I have it on every server and every computer I own, and it syncs my shell history across all of them. * [Unclutter](https://unclutterapp.com) * For the clipboard history. I know other apps exist, but I love the little gesture to bring it up. I use it multiple times a day. * [IntelliJ IDEA](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea) Mac/Windows/Linux * I've used it for 10+ years. It's extremely powerful, but a bit slow. * I use the One Dark Vivid theme. * [Claude Code](https://www.claude.com/product/claude-code) Mac/Windows/Linux * Plan Mode is the way I do everything now. For existing projects, I have a back and forth with Claude discussing a task I want it to accomplish, fleshing out a plan, thinking it through, and when I'm happy I let it execute. Thanks to good guardrails in CLAUDE.md, it's gotten to the point where it'll get the code just right. 90+% of my programming time is now spent fleshing out plans with Plan Mode, 8+ tasks at a time. The amount of work I can deliver in an 8-hour block is through the roof. * [OrbStack](https://orbstack.dev) Mac * Unlike traditional Docker, this uses Apple virtualization to run containers. It's much lighter, and performs incredibly well. I've made it a point not to install developer tooling on my Mac anymore; all my projects have a container for devtools now, so I can have whatever version of whatever tooling that specific project needs. * [TablePlus](https://tableplus.com) Mac * The best DB GUI I've ever used. Sadly, the Linux version is nowhere near as good as the Mac version. * [Transmit](https://panic.com/transmit) Mac * It's not often I need to FTP/SFTP, but when I do, I use Transmit. * [Tailscale](https://tailscale.com) * VPN for everything. All of my devices and servers are connected to Tailscale, which means I can access any of their services from anywhere without opening ports or making them web-accessible. * [NextDNS](https://nextdns.io) * Block ads, block trackers, and block malware, for all devices on your network. Hooks up with Tailscale so it's applied to all of your devices automatically. * [iTerm2](https://iterm2.com) * I've been looking into [Warp](https://www.warp.dev) for a while, but iTerm's been more than good enough for me. * [Homebrew](https://brew.sh) * Does anyone still develop on macOS without Homebrew? I don't know. * [Eagle](https://www.eagle.cool) * My inspiration library. I store a lot of UI/UX designs here, and use the app when I need to find inspiration for my own work. * [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md) * I use it for my personal wiki, and for my notes on projects. * I used to use Notion, but it was too slow and clunky. Obsidian also works off of plain markdown files, so I'm not locked into a proprietary database, like I was with Notion. * [Linear](https://linear.app) * The best app for project management, by far. * [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things) * I funnel all of my tasks into Things. Linear is good for software projects, but Things is better for personal tasks and non-software work. * [BBEdit](https://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit) * I have it open 24/7 for scratch files / loose notes. I Cmd-N and start typing. It's fast and no frills. * Every now and then I'll go through all the [untitled notes](/public/assets/20240918-065742-ae6a.png) and process whatever's on them. * [Raycast](https://www.raycast.com) * My macOS launcher. I almost exclusively use it to launch apps, and only got off Spotlight because would sometimes take a while to show me the first result. * Its functionality is completely wasted on me. I just like the fast app launcher. Sometimes the unit conversions.