Software I use, gadgets I love, and other things I recommend.

I get asked a lot about the things I use to build software, stay productive, or buy to fool myself into thinking I’m being productive when I’m really just procrastinating. Here’s a big list of all of my favorite stuff.

Workstation

  • 11” iPad Pro (2022) - Secondhand from eBay (2023-present)

    The primary reason I got this device was for notetaking, and drawing. I wanted a "paper" to use apple notes to it's full potential. Recently, I've begin experimenting with offloading a bunch of my apps from the macbook onto the iPad due to its touch screen feature and it runs well.

  • 13.3” MacBook Air, M1, 8GB RAM (2020) (2022-present)

    I was using an MSI GE62VR Apache PRO” Gaming Laptop Pro prior to this until it suddenly gave out. I like the M1 due to it's price to performance, and I’ve never heard the fans turn on a single time, even under the incredibly heavy loads I put it through with our various launch simulations.

  • Mac Mini (Late 2014), 1.4 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5, 4GB Ram / Home Server (purchase date - present)

    The headless thin and light minis are a great device to leave powered 24/7 and run all of my home web applications. It makes no noise compared to the traditional servers, or desktops and since MacOS is just unix, I love it.

  • iPhone 13 (?-present)

    This is my primary device, I upgraded from the XR, and have most of my heavy duty apps on it. The device is a mirror of the iPad, but with only the apps I use frequently.

  • iPhone XR (2020-present)

    This is my backup device, usually, I'd carry both devices with me because the 13 drains battery quick but has better functionality, whereas this one has long lasting battery life. This separation also allows me to assign a heavy application to run only on this device if needed instead of the general purpose one.

  • Apple Magic Keyboard (?-present)

    They don’t make keyboards the way they used to. I buy these any time I see them go up for sale and keep them in storage in case I need parts or need to retire my main.

  • Apple Magic Trackpad (?-present)

    Something about all the gestures makes me feel like a wizard with special powers. I really like feeling like a wizard with special powers.

  • Oculus Quest 2 (2022-present)

    my vr headset

  • Mac (1,1) (2020)

    nas server, web server running macos lion

  • Intel Celeron, 1GB Ram, 500GB HDD - POS Server (2020)

    nas server with windows server 2019 installed.

  • William’s iPad (iPad unknown) : inherited

    Inherited from 'Michael's iPad'

  • iPad (unknown) - 'Michael’s iPad' (2019-2020)

    general computing

  • Michael's custom build (2019-2020)

    i5, 16gb, 256gb ssd

  • Michael's iPhone 8 (2018?)

    Ling inherited this phone (2020-present)

  • Ling's iPhone 8 (2018-2020?)

    1 fried.

  • iPad (unknown) - Ivans iPad (2019-2020)

    now for bike dashboard

  • iPhone 6, 6s (2019)

    grouped as it could just be a rounding error in metadata - passed down from grandpa, this one was the broken one and ling bought him a 12 I believe.

  • iPhone 5S (9/24/2019 *2019 only*)

    sources lead me to believe it’s sufu’s/sunqiu iPhone - This is my first introduction to iPhone outside of the iPod.

  • William’s iPad mini 1st Gen (iPad white iOS 9.3.5)

    no desc

  • NB50TK1 (04/2018)

    william's laptop

  • CUK Apache Pro VR READY (i7-7700HQ, 32GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, MSI) (01/29/2018)

    jonathan's laptop

  • HP Notebook 15-ay041wm (2017)

    jonathan's laptop

  • HP Notebook 15-ay041wm (2) (2017)

    williams's laptop

  • TCL Roku TV (2017)

    ling's tv

  • iPad mini 1 - white (not in use) (2017)

    Ivan’s iPad mini

  • iPad mini 1 - white (not in use) (2017)

    Michael’s iPad mini

  • iPad mini 1 - white (not in use) (2017)

    Jonathan’s iPad mini (unknown)

  • iPod touch 6th generation (2015-2/14/2019) (2015)

    gave to Daniel

  • iPhone 5C blue (2014?)

    no desc

  • Acer A0756(== 2012)

    Early devices | Elementary

  • iPad 2nd generation (black) (<= 2011)

    Early devices | Elementary

  • iPod 4th generation (black) (<= 2011)

    Early devices | Elementary

  • iPod 2nd generation (<= 2011)

    Early devices | Elementary (broken at 221 Overton)

  • Hp pavilion with windows vista (2006-2007)

    Early devices

  • CRT, Windows XP, Keyboard & Mouse, Logitech camera 640x480 (2005)

    Don’t know the physical specs, too young, parents forgot.

Development tools

  • Visual Studio Code

    This is my primary IDE. The reason I like it so much is the extensibility of it. I also like the fact its an electron app, so if I wanted to modify an extention, it makes it super easy.

  • GoCoEdit (iOS)

    For if i need to edit js files on the go. I like the integrated syntax highlighting of this IDE, its the most feature complete, outside textastic, which allows me to define my own styles.

  • Working Copy (iOS)

    Verson control for github.

  • GitHub

    I have too many applications, will work on this section in the future.

  • Gitea

    I have too many applications, will work on this section in the future.

  • NodeJS

    I have too many applications, will work on this section in the future.

Design

  • Figma

    We started using Figma as just a design tool but now it’s become our virtual whiteboard for the entire company. Never would have expected the collaboration features to be the real hook.

Productivity

  • Apple Calender

    Time blocking

  • Obsidian

    Honestly, the only knowledge management app you'll ever need.