This is a complete list of the tools, apps, services and hardware I use on a regular basis. The list contains tools I use in my work as a web developer but also tools I use at home. (In the past, I've written similar articles on my blog: State of the Apps 2019, Developer Setup 2015).
If you're interested in similar lists, I highly recommend that you visit the wesbos/awesome-uses repository on GitHub.
Last updated: January 2020
Hardware
When I started to code professionally in 2013, it was the first time I came in touch with a MacBook. I really like the finish of the hardware and stuck to it since. But, my current MacBook slowly but surely gets old, though. I'm currently waiting for the next release cycle of MacBooks and hope that Apple deprecates the TouchBar and improves the keyboard. There isn't a week on Twitter where I don't read about the issues people have with the butterfly-keyboard.
Devices I currently own:
- Apple MacBook Pro (Retina 13-inch, Late 2013)
- Apple iPhone 7
- Apple iPad Pro (Late 2018)
- Apple Watch Series 3
- Synology NAS DS713+ (2TB): Acts as a Time Machine backup for my MacBook, as a Plex Media Server and place for various documents.
- Raspberry Pi running Pi-hole
- PlayStation 4: I've upgrade the internal hard drive to a 2TB one.
Audio
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
- Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)
- JBL Reflect Mini BT
Software
Software is important to me. It helps me solve my problems on a daily basis. If a service is great I don't hesitate to pay a monthly subscription or a one-time fee.
Global Services
1Password
1Password is my Password manager of choice. I've signed up to a family account; makes sharing accounts so much easier.
Google One
Google One is what you get when you pay for storage at Google. I mainly use the storage for Google Photos and to back up my NAS.
Feedbin
I love RSS! Feedbin has a sleek design and also focuses on privacy. In addition to blogs, I also manage my Youtube subscriptions through RSS (Helps me not fall into the endless rabbit hole of recommended videos).
Spotify
I listen to a lot of music (99'000 minutes in 2018 😱). It helps me concentrate and focus on my work. While coding, I usually listen to soundtracks from movies or games. For leisure time I like to listen to Jazz or EDM.
Here are some of my all time favourite albums and playlists.
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Blizzard Games Original Soundtrack
- Planet Earth II
- Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Rayman Legends
Bullet Journal
Not a digital service, but my way to stay productive at work. Just before I leave the office each day, I prepare my to-do list for the next day. I also use my Bullet Journal to set my targets for the next week and month.
Global Apps
Things
For me, the best to-do app out there. Beautiful visual and interaction design. Super simple to use. When a random thought comes to my head during the day, I ususally record that thought in Things. On a regular basis I go through all open tasks and prioritze and schedule them.
In 2019 I've written about my Things 3 setup.
Other Apps
- Google Drive
- Google Photos
- Instapaper
- Apple Notes
macOS
Alfred
The first app I ever purchased for macOS and the one app I probably use the most: Searching for files, searching through online documentations, starting NAS remotely, unit conversion, text expansion, emoji search, clipboard history and so much more.
Sublime Text 3
After many years, still my favourite code editor. It's fast and gets the job done. Current color scheme is Solarized Light and Dark.
Other Apps
- Safari for everyday browsing
- Apple Photos for photo management
- Sequel Pro/TablePlus for working with databases
- Tower for working with Git
- Insomnia for working with APIs
- RescueTime for tracking how much time I spend in apps or on websites
- Tweetbot for Twitter
- Itsycal for showing my next calendar event in the menu bar
- Chrome for web development
- Transmit to upload the occasional file to a server
- Figma for designing stuff
- Little Snitch to block requests within apps.
- iA Writer for writing
- IINA for watching videos
- Dropshare 5 to share screenshots and other files (script to automatically delete files)
- Hazel for file automation
- Karabiner Elements to remap certain key
- Phoenix for window management
- f.lux
- iTerm 2
CLI Tools and self hosted software
- Algo VPN to deploy my own VPN server
- Firefly III for tracking my expenses and finances
- Fathom Analytics as a replacement for Google Analytics
- valet
- git
iOS
I don't have hundres of third-party apps on my iPhone. I've grown to love the simplicity of most iOS stock apps over the years.
- Overcast for listening to Podcasts
- Halide & Spectre to take photos
- Darkroom to edit photos
- Carrot Weather to get the weather
- Scanner Pro to scan documents
- Autosleep to track my sleep from the Apple Watch
- Strong to track my workouts
- MyFitnessPal to track calories
- Shortcut to run a handful of automated tasks
- Notability
- Strava
WatchOS
Since January 2018 I own an Apple Watch Series 3. To reduce distractions, if reduced the number of apps which can notify me with a vibration to a handful.
I wear my watch basically 24 hours a day and use the native Workout app to track my workouts and AutoSleep to track my sleep.
If you have any questions about my gear or setup hit me up on Twitter.