Hardware, software, and other recommendations

I'm constantly on the hunt for new products or software. Here's the short list of the things I currently use to build software and stay productive.

Workstation

16” MacBook Pro, M3 Max, 36GB RAM (2023)

I was using an Intel-based 13” 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 numerous apps open and being utilized at one time. Looking forward to upgrading to the Mac Studio for my personal workstation in the near future!
Samsung 49" Odyssey CRG9

For years, I was running two side-by-side HP 27es monitors and it was great. This curved 49" monitor is a game changer though. With a 32:9 aspect ratio, it's like having two 27” monitors side-by-side, but without the bezel in the middle. I can't imagine going back to a multi-monitor setup after this.
Magic Keyboard and Mouse

With the low-profile of the keys, and the fact that it's wireless, I love this keyboard. I've been using the Magic Mouse for years and it's still my favorite mouse. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I love the touch surface and gestures. Occasionally, I'll use a magic trackpad while doing some design work, but I prefer the mouse for everything else.
Apple AirPods Max headphones

These are the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. I've tried a lot of different headphones over the years, but these are the best. The sound quality is great, and the noise cancellation is amazing.

IntelliJ IDEA (Ultimate Edition)

IntelliJ is the best IDE ever made, in my opinion. The git and database integrations paired with the vast plugin ecosystem make it a no-brainer. I use it for all of my development needs, including developing this website.
iTerm2 + Oh My Zsh + Powerlevel10k

I use iTerm2 as my terminal emulator, with Oh My Zsh as my shell and Powerlevel10k as my theme. I love the customization and speed of this setup, and I use it for all of my development needs.

Figma

I utilize Figma for all of my design work. It's a great tool for creating and collaborating on designs. I also use it for creating prototypes and sharing them with clients.
Storybook

It's not appropriate for every project, but when it is, Storybook is a great tool for building and documenting UI components. It's also a great way to collaborate with other developers and designers on a project.
Canva

There's no denying that Canva is a great tool for creating quick and easy designs. I use it for creating social media posts, presentations and even some graphics from time to time.
Adobe Suite

Photoshop, Illustrator and XD are my go-to tools for creating and editing images, illustrations and mockups. Illustrator is my primary weapon of choice, as a vector based tool it allows me to create scalable graphics that can be used across a variety of mediums.

Alfred

I use Alfred for everything. I have a bunch of custom workflows that I use to open apps, search the web, and more. I also use it to run scripts and open files. I have a bunch of snippets set up for things I type a lot. I even use it to open my daily notes in Notion.
Notion

Documentation, notes, and more. I use Notion every day! I have a database for my daily notes, a database for my tasks, and a database for my goals. I also use it to document my processes and workflows. I use it to document my projects and keep track of my ideas. I use it to document my life. I use it to document my documentation.
Brain.fm

Spotify is my usual go-to for listening to music, but I find it distracting when I'm trying to be productive. I use Brain.fm coupled with my noise-cancelling headphones to listen to music that helps me focus.