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 was using an Intel-based 16” MacBook Pro prior to this and the difference is night and day. I’ve never heard the fans turn on a single time, even under the incredibly heavy loads I put it through with our various launch simulations.

  • Samsung 49” Ultra-wide Monitor

    It’s like having two 27” monitors side by side, but without the bezel in the middle and a huge curve. I love it. Usually divide it into 3 sections for coding, browser, and everything else.

  • Apple Keyboard

    It's black, has numpad, I like it.

  • Apple Magic Trackpad

    Something about all the gestures makes me feel like a wizard with special powers. I really like feeling like a wizard with special powers.

  • Apple Magic Mouse, Black

    Sleek design, multi-touch surface, perfect for all my navigation needs. Charging sucks though.

  • Adjustable Height Standing desk

    I'm lazy though and rarely stand.

Development tools

  • Cursor

    Best of VS Code + Best of AI coding assistant. I use it for most of my JS/Python coding now.

  • PHPStorm IDE

    I still use PHPStorm for all my PHP and WordPress development. It’s the best in the business for that stuff.

  • Terminal

    I use the built-in Terminal app on macOS for all my command-line stuff. It's there and it works.

Design

  • Pixelmator Pro

    It’s like a simpler, more focused version of Photoshop. And cheap. I use it for all my image editing and minor design work.

  • Canva Pro

    I use it for all my marketing materials, social media posts, and even some light design work. I'm not a designer, so it's great to have opinionated templates to work from.

Productivity

  • Asana

    I’ve tried every project management tool under the sun and Asana is the only one that’s stuck. It’s the best mix of simple and powerful that I’ve found. And free plan is great for small teams.

  • Slack

    I’ve tried to get off Slack a few times but I always end up coming back. It’s just the best at what it does.

  • TidyCal

    Great tool for scheduling meetings while protecting my calendar and making sure I still have lots of time for deep work during the week. By Appsumo, so a lifetime deal for cheap.

  • ChatGPT Plus

    I use it for image creation for marketing, some writing, lot's of brainstorming, and even some coding. Great for doing data analysis or converting text to JSON for example. It's like having a personal assistant.

  • Gsuite

    I use Gsuite for all my business email, calendar, document creation, and storage needs. It's reliable, easy to use, and integrates well with other tools I use.