uses

Below is a list of all the key tools, software and hardware that I use on the regular, with some screenshots added also for some eye-candy (or not 😆). Feel free to check out uses.tech for a list of everyone’s /uses pages!

Hardware

• laptopMacBook Pro 14

  I’ve got the base config option (16/512, M1 Pro chip). This is still the insane banger I’ve known it to be, where things very simply just work. MacOS 26 bugbears aside, I can very easily see myself keeping it until it literally dies on me, it’s that good.

• linuxboxHP Prodesk Mini 400 G6

  This will eventually become my homelab node, where I’m currently picking up the motions and using it as a secondary sandbox of-sorts - and oh boy is this turning me into a Linux addict. You might not think you need it, but having something like this to remotely host apps/services is quite the gamechanger.

• monitorKuycon P20

  Uses the same underlying panel as the now-defunct Surface Studio (4.5K resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio) which gets me close enough to the Retina-like PPI I’ve been craving for. Unless I see a true Retina 3:2 offering with 120Hz, you can consider this my endgame.

• phoneiPhone 16 Pro Max

  Does "phone" things. It’s simple, nails the fundamentals, and allows me to be more present in the moment (I’ve set it up to have a very small catalogue of essential apps).

• watchApple Watch Series 8

  Acts as a nice companion device to my phone, keeping me in the loop while also having a very comprehensive suite of health tracking features. The "Overnight Vitals" feature has been able to pick up when I’ve fallen ill, which is like, wow.

• e-readerXteink X4

  I’ve yearned for a pocketable e-reader for eons at this point, and when I saw that my prayers got answered by this device I jumped in head-first. Assuming you install the CrossPoint software, if you want a device that allows you to continually read on-the-go, look no further.

• earbudsSamsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

  I know I said I wouldn’t get these...but I scored an amazing deal that I couldn’t ignore tbh. The in-ear fit and mic quality are a lot better vs the 2 Pros, but I’m starting to question the whole wireless movement from a BIFL perspective - espec when the mic on Apple EarPods visibly clear the pack.

• iemsTruthear Pure

  I think of these as the logical upgrade path from my beloved Hola, where with the Tang Sancai ear tips these provide a thoroughly enjoyable sound signature - I think I’ll stop digging deeper into this rabbithole...

• iemsTruthear Hola

  For £18 (now discontinued), these continue to be a crazy steal, where these now function as my backup pair to the Pure I now main.

Software

• editorZed

  With my agentic coding setup, being able to have a minimal but performant editor that quickly gets out of the way is a necessity. And so, Zed couldn’t really be a better fit for me, with it’s more-than-good-enough extension ecosystem.

• terminalGhostty

  It’s blazing fast (it uses Zig under the hood), allows me to blitz through any commands/scripts that I need to run, and has a fantastic community behind it.

• browserHelium

  This takes Chromium, trims all the fat, but also has a intriguing code-patching approach which means that the dev team can be selective in what they want to incorporate (or apply a refined spin of), which lends to it’s resource-efficient and hardened nature.

• launcherTuna

  This is a unique launcher that comes with a variety of modes such that you can; search for apps/files/actions, create your own keybinds for rapidly running said apps/actions, add extensions (ala Raycast) to extend the things that you can do.

• passwords1Password

  Comes with an integrated SSH agent (which is very handy). It was the first offering to provide Passkeys support (iirc), and comes with this nice "Watchtower" feature where you can see how strong your passwords are collectively.

• notesObsidian

  Love the local-first approach, the wide variety of extensions available, and how you can structure your notes the way you want to (this came in very clutch during my uni years).

• miscSwish

  A neat window-manager app that leverages trackpad gestures (after this, wanting to own a wireless mouse becomes very undesirable - this didn’t age well, but it’s one of those occasional pleasures I enjoy when I can use my mac undocked).

• miscBetterDisplay

  A display management utility that allows you to convert external displays to use Apple’s HiDPI, which gives you significantly sharper text. Hook this up nicely with a resolution that gives you enough screen estate (while still being crisp), and you’ve got a winner.

• miscClop

  An image, video, pdf and clipboard optimiser, which I’ve set up to run upon a file being copied/downloaded.

• miscAlcove

  An app that emulates the functionality of the Dynamic Island on iPhones, and brings it over to the Mac. It’s continued to get better over time to the point that it can house calendar events, among other things, allowing me to remove other redundant apps.

• miscDropover

  An app that makes drag and drop very easy, with you being able to group items into stashes.

Screenshots