Uses
One of my favorite websites is usesthis.com: I like reading about the tools people use to get through their day to day.
This page outlines a few details around my own setup.
I didn't bother carefully arranging my desk so here's a snapshot of my messy workspace in the middle of some work.
Hardware
- Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen 9
- Custom PC with Ryzen 3600 cpu
- MacBook Air M1
- iPad Pro 11
- Logitech MX Ergo trackball mouse
- Apple Magic Trackpad
- Corne-ish Zen keyboard
- Ferris Sweep keyboard
Note on keyboards
I’m experimenting with keyboards and layouts a lot lately.
I’ve had a bunch of various keyboards over the last couple years, but I prefer the low-profile Choc switches by Kailh (the Purpz version).
My layout has been slimming down in size since I started experimenting. At the moment I’m using a 34 keys layout (and it actually works well).
Current configuration lives here.
Software
I use macOS for work, while Linux is my preferred OS for personal computering needs. Even though I’ve been a macOS user for 15+ years, I like Linux more these days.
Linux setup is barebones: I don’t use a full-fledged desktop environment. A tiling window manager, a fast terminal and a browser — that’s all I need.
I do all text editing and coding in Kakoune, which is a terminal-based text editor and my favorite piece of software.
Here's a list of essential pieces:
Terminal
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Fish | shell |
| Kakoune | text editor |
| kks | a small Kakoune companion I wrote |
Linux
Looks like Firefox is the only "GUI program" that I use here. I spend most of my time in the terminal.
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Arch Linux | OS (on laptop) |
| Void Linux | OS (on desktop) |
| Sway | tiling window manager |
| Firefox | good web browser |
| Foot | great terminal |
| Syncthing | private, reliable and open-source file sync |
macOS
macOS setup is, naturally, more GUI-centric.
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Firefox | good web browser |
| Kitty | good terminal |
| Figma/FigJam | UI design tool |
| yabai | tiling window manager (i mostly use stacks) |
| Itsycal | tiny menubar calendar with Vim keybindings and Zoom join buttons |
| Maccy | lightweight clipboard manager |
| Syncthing | macOS has a simple menu bar app |
| Bumpr | a nice utility to control where links open |
| Shottr | small and fast screenshot tool |
| Spaceman | shows macOS space indicators in the menu bar (good yabai companion) |
| AltTab | Windows-style window switcher |
| MonitorControl | makes controlling external displays more reliable |
| Claquette | good screen recorder |
Current desktop configuration lives in a GitHub repo.