My setup

Tools I rely on, and a few I simply enjoy.

Workstation

The computers, displays, keyboards, pointing devices, and chair I use every day.

  • Mac mini, M4 Pro, 24GB RAM (2024)

    I traded my 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro for a Mac mini to try a desktop-first setup. I’m still getting used to it and sometimes miss carrying my laptop around.

  • Lenovo ThinkPad E14, Intel Core Ultra 7, 32GB RAM (2024)

    I bought this to build and test software on Linux and deepen my understanding of the operating system.

  • Apple Studio Display (Standard Glass)

    I wanted an external display that matched the quality of my MacBook Pro screen. It delivers sharp text and consistently good image quality.

  • Apple Magic Keyboard

    I love the Keychron K3 Pro, but I still go back to the Magic Keyboard sometimes. Familiarity helps, and Touch ID helps even more.

  • Apple Magic Trackpad

    I keep it around for gestures that feel faster or more natural than they do with a mouse.

  • Apple Magic Mouse

    Its gestures still make routine navigation feel a little magical.

  • Keychron K3 Pro Mechanical Keyboard

    My first real mechanical keyboard experiment, and I’m loving it so far: good sound, great looks, and strong compatibility.

  • Logitech MX Master 3

    The gestures, scroll wheel, and shape all work well. It solved hand pain I had with the Magic Mouse, though I still miss some gestures.

  • Steelcase Gesture Chair

    After a barrage of ergonomic chair reviews on YouTube, I chose the Steelcase Gesture. Two years later, I’m still happy with it.

Development tools

The software and small machines that keep code, databases, terminals, and infrastructure experiments moving.

  • VS Code

    I moved from PhpStorm and other IntelliJ-based IDEs to VS Code. It suits polyglot work, keeps my toolchain consistent, and avoids maintaining multiple IDE licenses.

  • Ghostty

    Ghostty is a newer terminal emulator, and I’m putting it through my workflows to see how the experience holds up.

  • Sequel Ace

    Great software for working with databases. It has saved me from building about a thousand admin interfaces for different projects.

  • Turing Pi 2.5 Board

    This is where I run my local Kubernetes cluster while interacting with it from my other devices.

Design

The tools I reach for when I need to work through an interface idea.

  • Figma

    I don’t design for a living, but Figma makes it easy to turn an interface idea into something concrete.

Productivity

Where I keep ideas and notes before they become something more durable.

  • Obsidian

    I tried a lot of note-taking apps, but Obsidian stuck. Its Markdown files work well with other apps, and its plugin community lets me adapt it to how I think.