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.