Software I use, equipment that makes my job easier, and other things I recommend.

I get asked a lot about the things I use to build software and stay productive. Here’s a big list of all of my favourite gear.

Workstation

  • PC Build 2022

    This is my main Intel-based computer which I built in 2022. I've recently added more storage and a new monitor. Click here to see a comprehensive listing of all the parts used in this build on PCPartPicker.

  • Herman Miller Aeron Chair

    I bought this chair second-hand when I started working for Apple, it's extremely comfortable and ergonomic for those long hours spent at the desk.

Development tools

  • JetBrains

    I use a mix of JetBrain apps for my IDEs depending on what I'm working on. For JavaScript projects, I use WebStorm. PyCharm for python and IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate for Java. I use the same keyboard shortcuts across these apps which is great for productivity.

  • Insomnia

    Good tool for designing and testing REST APIs. I used to use Postman but I found the interface too cluttered and prefer the simplicity of Insomnia.

Productivity

  • RegionToShare

    Great app for Windows which allows you share a region of the screen, handy for single monitor set ups such as ultrawides when you don't want to share the entire screen.

Design

  • Balsamiq Wireframes

    I use this software for creating low-fidelity wireframes and interfaces. It's great for experimenting with ideas.

  • Color Picker

    Color Picker is included in the PowerToys set of enhancements for Windows. Using the eye dropper you can easily identify colours on the screen and copy the colour's code to your clipboard for use in other applications.

Automation

  • AutoHotKey

    AutoHotKey features it's own scripting language and allows you to create keyboard macros for automating common tasks. For example, I use AutoHotKey to toggle between dark and light themes in Windows on the fly.

Chrome Extensions

  • Bitwarden

    Bitwarden is a free, open-source password manager, this Chrome Extension connects to a self-hosted instance of Bitwarden which lives on my Raspberry Pi. It is really useful for syncing passwords across devices.

  • uBlock Origin

    Great extension for blocking those annoying YouTube ads and nasty tracking scripts.

  • Floccus

    Floccus syncs your bookmarks across browsers and devices. It connects to my Nextcloud server via WebDAV and keeps my bookmarks in sync, so no matter which device I'm using, I always have the same set of bookmarks.