Software I use, gadgets I love, and other things I recommend.

It seems quite popular nowadays to share the things you use to build software and stay productive. So, here’s a list of all of my favourite stuff.

Workstation

  • Mac Mini, 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM (Late 2012)

    I know, this is extremely dated but it still does the job for what I need. I have used the latest Apple silicon Mac’s and look forward upgrading my personal machine to one. The hard part is deciding whether to stick to the Mini, or move to a Macbook.

  • Dell S2721QS

    This is a decent and affordable 27” 4K monitor. I’ve configured it to render at 1440p but it still benefits from the high DPI which is perfect for me.

  • Logitech MX Keys Mini

    I much prefer smaller wireless keyboards to the ones with big number pads on the right. Before this I used a wired Apple keyboard which was great, but the feel of this keyboard, optional backlit keys and easy connection for up to three machines makes it ideal.

  • Logitech MX Master 3

    The mouse that compliments the above keyboard. I actually bought the mouse first which was the inspiration to get the keyboard. It’s very biased to your right hand, but a fantastic mouse with great battery life.

  • Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)

    These work great across all my Apple devices. The seamless switching and noise cancelling are very welcome and I use them daily. They also work well for Teams calls.

  • Sony WH-1000XM3

    These overhead earphones come out when I’m in it for the long haul. I find them much comfier for longer work sessions. The battery life is incredible and the noise cancelling is much better than the AirPods.

  • Herman Miller Aeron Chair

    I recently invested into a refurbished model of this ergonomic chair to replace my old one which I had been using for over 10 years. The difference is so noticeable that I probably should have done it sooner.

Development tools

  • PhpStorm

    There is no greater tool for increasing my productivity. PhpStorm (like all of JetBrains IDE’s) has it all, and it only gets better with every update. It supports all the latest and current technologies within a timely manner, whether that’s the latest PHP versions or all of the complimentary frontend frameworks that you pair it up with.

  • Warp

    Before Warp, iTerm 2 was more than sufficient for my needs. But Warp is just a big improvement to my workflow. Out of the box you have a terminal with all the bells and whistles, all of which are super helpful, it makes it difficult to go back.

  • TablePlus

    Great software for working with databases. I use this every day, an essential part of my toolkit.

  • Tinkerwell

    Tinkerwell is great for running quick code snippets, either inside an actual project or standalone. It also comes in handy for dispatching jobs.

  • PHP Monitor

    A great tool for managing and debugging PHP versions locally. Integrates really well with Laravel Valet and improves the developer experience.

Productivity

  • Homebrew

    I assume this one really goes without saying if you’re developing on a Mac. Homebrew is the first thing I install on a new Mac and then everything else is installed via Homebrew.

  • Raycast

    Raycast is what Apple’s Spotlight should be. A few days into using it, I replaced the Spotlight shortcut with Raycast and now I’d be lost without it.