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

  • 16" MacBook Pro, M1 Max, 64GB RAM (2021)

    I upgraded from an Intel-based 16" MacBook Pro and the difference was immediate and dramatic. Silent under load, incredibly fast, and reliable even during heavy builds, simulations, and parallel dev workflows.

  • Apple Pro Display XDR (Standard Glass)

    The only display I’ve used that truly feels future-proof. The screen real estate and pixel density make complex interfaces, timelines, and dense layouts far easier to reason about.

  • IBM Model M SSK Industrial Keyboard

    Overbuilt in the best possible way. I collect and maintain these because nothing else comes close in terms of feel, durability, and typing confidence.

  • Apple Magic Trackpad

    Multi-touch gestures feel second nature at this point. It makes navigating large design files and complex UIs feel fluid and almost playful.

  • Herman Miller Aeron Chair

    If I’m going to sit for long stretches of deep work, I want something that survives bad posture days without punishing me later.

Software Development & Engineering

  • TypeScript / JavaScript

    My default language stack for building maintainable, scalable web applications. Strong typing where it matters, flexibility where it helps.

  • React, Next.js, Astro

    React for rich client-side interactions, Next.js for full-stack production apps, and Astro when performance, content, and simplicity are the priority.

  • Vite & Node.js

    Vite for fast iteration and instant feedback loops, Node.js as the backbone for tooling, APIs, and build pipelines.

  • CSS & Tailwind CSS

    I use Tailwind for speed and consistency, paired with solid CSS fundamentals when custom layout, animation, or fine-grained control is required.

  • WordPress, Netlify, Vercel

    WordPress when clients need editorial flexibility, Netlify and Vercel for modern hosting, previews, and CI-driven deployments.

UX Design

  • Figma

    My primary design environment — from wireframes to polished UI and collaborative design systems. It’s also where most product thinking happens early on.

  • Sketch & Webflow

    Sketch for legacy projects and asset-heavy workflows. Webflow when visual iteration and rapid prototyping need to move fast without engineering overhead.

  • Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

    Used when precision matters — image editing, vector work, brand assets, and long-form layout that goes beyond interface design.

UX Research

  • Miro

    My go-to tool for mapping user journeys, running workshops, and turning messy research into structured insights.

  • Balsamiq, Axure, InVision

    Low- to mid-fidelity prototyping tools for quickly validating ideas before committing to higher-cost design or development work.

  • Hotjar

    Essential for understanding real user behavior — heatmaps, recordings, and feedback loops that challenge assumptions.

Product Management

  • Jira, Asana, Trello

    I adapt the tool to the team, not the other way around. These cover everything from structured agile delivery to lightweight planning.

  • Notion

    A flexible knowledge base for product docs, specs, roadmaps, and internal alignment — especially useful across distributed teams.

Delivery & Collaboration

  • Git, GitHub, Gitea, Forgejo

    Version control is non-negotiable. I’m comfortable across GitHub and self-hosted alternatives, depending on project needs and values.

  • Slack

    The default communication layer for most teams I work with — useful when paired with clear boundaries and async-friendly workflows.