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
Macbook Air M1
The Macbook Air M1 is a powerful and efficient laptop that offers excellent performance and battery life. Its M1 chip provides fast processing and graphics capabilities, while maintaining energy efficiency. The laptop's slim design, high-quality Retina display, and silent fanless operation make it ideal for both work and personal use. Its compatibility with both Mac and iOS apps adds versatility, making it a top choice for a wide range of users, from students to professionals.
Herman Miller Aeron Chair
An ergonomic office chair known for its exceptional comfort and support. Features adjustable settings, breathable mesh design, and durable construction. While pricey, it's a worthy investment for those spending long hours at a desk, offering potential health benefits and lasting comfort.
Apple Magic Trackpad
Something about all the gestures makes me feel like a wizard with special powers.
Development tools
Cursor
Cursor is an AI-powered IDE that combines the best of traditional coding with AI assistance. It offers features like code completion, refactoring, and explanation, all powered by advanced language models. I've found it incredibly helpful for boosting productivity and exploring new coding approaches.
Supabase
Supabase is an open-source platform that provides a comprehensive set of tools for building modern web and mobile applications. It offers features like real-time data synchronization, authentication, and database management.
Next.js
Next.js is a powerful framework for building modern web applications. It offers features like server-side rendering, static site generation, and API routes. I've found it incredibly helpful for building fast and scalable web applications.
Tailwind CSS
Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework that I've fallen in love with. It allows for rapid UI development with its pre-defined classes, making it incredibly efficient to style components without writing custom CSS. The framework is highly customizable and helps maintain consistency across projects. Its approach of composing small utility classes has significantly sped up my development process and improved the maintainability of my stylesheets.
Vercel
Vercel is a cloud platform that provides a comprehensive set of tools for building modern web applications. It offers features like serverless functions, API routes, and database management. I've found it incredibly helpful for building fast and scalable web applications.
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.
Untitled UI
Untitled UI is a free, open-source UI kit that I've found incredibly helpful for building modern web applications. It offers features like pre-built components, responsive design, and customizable themes. I've found it incredibly helpful for building fast and scalable web applications.
Productivity
Claude
Claude is a powerful AI assistant that helps me with tasks like writing, coding, and research. It's incredibly helpful for boosting productivity and exploring new approaches to my work.
Slack
Slack is a popular team communication platform that facilitates real-time messaging, file sharing, and collaboration. It offers features like channels for organizing conversations, direct messaging, and integrations with various tools. Slack helps streamline team communication, reducing email clutter and improving overall productivity by keeping all project-related discussions and resources in one centralized place.