The toolkit

Software, gadgets, and other things I actually use.

From the metal on my desk to the editor I live in, every piece earns its place. This is the hardware, dev tooling, and the homelab that power how I build — chosen deliberately and replaced only when something genuinely proves itself.

9

Categories

45+

Tools

macOS

Platform

Desk Setup

The machine and everything plugged into it.

  • MacBook Air 13" (M3, 16GB, 512GB)

    Primary dev machine

  • Zebronics 34"

    Main display, Ultra-Wide Curved

  • BenQ 24"

    Vertical second screen for logs and docs

  • Nuphy Air 75 V2

    Low-profile mechanical keyboard

  • Logitech MX Master 3S

    Ergonomic multi-device mouse

Code Editors

Where the code gets written.

  • PhpStorm

    Main IDE for PHP and Laravel

  • PyCharm

    IDE for Python projects

  • VS Code

    Lightweight editor for configs and front-end

  • Sublime Text

    Quick notes and one-off scripts

  • Cursor

    AI-first code editor

AI Tools

AI helpers and local models.

  • Claude Code

    AI coding agent in the terminal

  • GitHub Copilot

    AI code completion inside the editor

  • Ollama

    Runs LLMs locally, even offline

  • LM Studio

    Desktop app to download and chat with local models

  • Open WebUI

    Chat interface for local models

Dev Tools

Terminal, Git, containers, and automation.

  • iTerm2

    Terminal for everyday shell work

  • GitHub Desktop

    Git without the command line

  • Docker

    Local containers, set up with my DockR

  • OrbStack

    Lightweight Docker runtime for macOS

  • n8n

    Drag-and-drop workflow automation

Databases & APIs

Querying data and testing APIs.

  • DataGrip

    One client for every database

  • MySQL Workbench

    MySQL admin and query tool

  • pgAdmin

    PostgreSQL admin and query tool

  • Postman

    Build and test APIs

  • Swagger

    Design and document APIs

Planning & Docs

Tickets, boards, and team docs.

  • Jira

    Sprint and issue tracking

  • Trello

    Simple Kanban boards

  • Confluence

    Team docs and technical specs

  • Notion

    Wikis and shared notes

  • Anytype

    Local-first notes and knowledge base

Productivity

Small apps that save time every day.

  • Raycast

    macOS launcher and clipboard manager

  • Rectangle Pro

    Keyboard-driven window snapping

  • Raindrop.io

    Bookmarks sorted into collections

  • Microsoft To Do

    Daily to-do lists

  • Toggl Track

    Simple time tracking

Design & Recording

Designing, diagramming, and explaining.

  • Figma

    UI design and wireframes

  • Sketch

    Native Mac app for UI design

  • Draw.io

    System and architecture diagrams

  • Miro

    Online whiteboard for brainstorming

  • Loom

    Quick screen-recorded walkthroughs

Homelab & Networking

The servers and network at home.

  • SkullSaints Agni Mini PC

    Firewall, reverse proxy, and VPN box

  • HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Mini

    Proxmox node for Docker and Kubernetes

  • Raspberry Pi 4

    Home Assistant and a Kubernetes node

  • ESP32

    DIY smart-home sensors with ESPHome

  • TP-Link 8-Port Gigabit

    Managed switch for VLANs and QoS

Curious why I use a particular tool — or have a recommendation I should try? Drop me a line.