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

• 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.

• Arch Linux on laptop
• Void Linux on desktop
• Sway (window manager)
• Firefox
• Foot (terminal)
• Syncthing -- private, reliable and open-source file sync

macOS

macOS setup is, naturally, more GUI-centric.

• 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.