Technology I utilize, favorite gadgets, and other recommendations.

Over the course of my development years, I'll end up finding and replacing many tools that increase (or decrease) my productivity. Here are some of the tools that I use on a daily basis, and some that I recommend you try out.

Workstation

  • 2023 ASUS TUF A16 ADVANTAGE EDITION

    So far one of the best laptops I've ever owned. AMD so far has delivered on the hype, and ASUS itself is holding up to their name. The laptop is built very well and holds a lot of power. I have modified the RAM and the Storage, but other than that, it's a well-oiled machine. I use this for all of my development work and personal projects.

  • The Cube | 8th Gen i7

    My backup and primary at-home machine. Used for my server hosting, testing, and streaming.

  • 34in ACER 2K Monitor

    Allows me to keep my workstation clean and organized. I can have multiple windows open and still have a lot of screen real estate to work with.

  • 24in OMEN HP Monitor

    My first real monitor, I use this for my secondary screen when I need to have multiple windows open.

Development tools

  • VS Code / Cursor

    A standard for web development. Cursor is basically an extension of VS Code, that allows me to have a more robust and feature-rich experience that allows me to implement more AI features. I may switch to vanilla VS Code again though in the future as I am feeling the IDE may be a bit too much for me.

  • Visual Studio

    For most of my DLL and C# development. I use this for my Windows-based applications and services, Unity, and server plugin development.

  • GitHub

    I use GitHub for all of my version control, and I use it for my CI/CD pipelines.

  • Docker

    For all of my containerization needs. I use Docker for all of my server hosting and development.

  • Insomniac

    For all of my API testing.

  • Copilot & other LLMs

    To get a quick start on a project or to get some ideas on how to implement a feature. None-the-less, I still have to write the code, but it helps in terms of learning new things or trying to get a quick snippet for a specific feature.

Design

  • Figma

    Ever since I started using Figma, I have never looked back. It's a great tool for UI/UX design and prototyping.

  • Canva

    For all of my quick graphic design needs. I use Canva for my social media posts, and for my quick graphic design needs. Very useful for simple logos, marketing materials, and more.

  • Copilot

    Easily creates an idea from a simple sentence. Not ideal for vectors, but can create stock photos really well.

Productivity

  • Notion

    I use Notion for all of my note-taking and project management. It's a great tool for organizing your thoughts and keeping track of your projects. If you're working with me as a client, you'll see me using Notion a lot. If you're a developer, you should probably start using it.

  • FigmaJam

    Brainstorming, mind mapping, and more. FigmaJam is a great tool for getting your ideas out of your head and onto paper.

  • Excalidraw

    Somewhat like FigmaJam, but more for a quick sketch or diagram. Easier to collaborate with, and data is all saved locally.

  • Google Suite

    I utilize GSuite for some business needs, and for the occasional document or spreadsheet. Definitely not as much as I have before. I am now a fan of Proton.