What I use

Tools I use to build software, design products, and have fun.

I don't think anyone besides my fellow developer friends care about what tools I use, but I'm going to share them anyways. I hope you find something new and useful here!

Workstation

  • 16” MacBook Pro, Intel 16GB RAM (2019)

    I've been blessed to have such a supporting Grandmother who helped me purchase my favorite laptop ever when I started at Iowa State University. My MacBook is probably more important to me than my phone or the Mazda.

  • Keychron K2 for Mac

    When you spend hours on end on the keyboard, it's important to have one that makes you smile. My Keychron K2 literally lets me glide across the board.

  • Logitech G604

    I'm a big fan of the Logitech G604. It's a wireless mouse that has a six programmable micros, and believe me, I've set them up. Without having to move my mouse I can access my tasks, calendar, and Spotify.

Development tools

  • Visual Studio Code

    Originally, I refused to use VS Code because I was a die-hard Webstorm fan and couldn't stand how much RAM VSCode was used (because it is an Electron app after all). But after working at John Deere and having to use it, I fell in love.

  • Postman

    By far one of my most favorite tools, Postman is a must-have for any web developer. I use it to test all my APIs, create basic documentation, and share my tests with other team members. Once you have Postman setup, you will fly when building any API.

  • DataGrip

    Thank God for the JetBrains Student License, I love using DataGrip to manage and view my databases. It's a bit chunky, but I feel powerful when I use it.

  • XCode

    This one's not by choice. I love Apple, but they sure do know how to lock you in. I'm forced to use XCode to develop mac apps, but that's about it.

Design

  • Figma

    When I started my journey into technology, I had a Windows machine. I wanted Sketch, but literally couldn't download it. So I started using Figma. Even now that I have a MacBook and tried Sketch, Figma has my heart.

Productivity

  • Raycast

    Say goodbye to Spotlight. Raycast has been a game-changer for me. I use my applications launcher on my mac almost every couple minutes, and Raycast does that so well, and even provides other tools. I can use a calculator, open Google Drive files, start a timer, and even add tasks to my issue tracker in a single keystroke.

  • Things 3

    I have been using Things 3 since I purchased my MacBook, it was the first app and task manager I paid for. It is completely worth the $50. Period.

  • Linear

    My business runs on Linear. I use it to manage my projects, tasks, roadmaps, and deadlines. This has been the one application that has transformed my workflow and productivity in a huge way. Linear promotes focusing on what's important and moving fast.