Uses

Everybody is searching for the perfect setup, the best tools, and the most efficient workflow. So do I... and that means it is prone to change over time. I keep trying out new tools and setups to find what works best for me. On this page I'll share my current setup which might give you some inspiration to try out a new tool (again).

Hardware

  • For my laptop of choice, I use a MacBook Pro 14" 2023 model, with the M2 Pro chip.
  • The MacBook is connected to my Dell UltraSharp U3223QE with also contains a dock. When connected to the dock, the MacBook is placed on a Twelve South BookArc.
  • For typing, I switch between the Apple Magic Keyboard and the Keychron K15 Max. I prefer the Keychron for development, but the Magic Keyboard has Touch ID and is useful for typing during meetings (as the Keychron is quite loud).
  • For my mouse, I switch between the Apple Magic Trackpad, Logitech MX Master 3S and the Keychron M5. I'm still not sure about which one I prefer...
  • For my headphones, I use the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC. I love those for their fit, sound quality and integration.
  • When listening to music, I have my lovely Kef LSX II speakers. They sound amazing and are perfect for music and podcasts.
  • When the MacBook is places in the BookArc, I use a separate webcam, the Logitech C925e (not worth linking that one). Not the best, but it does the job and I don't mind people not being able to view my head in 8K during meetings.

Local Development

  • PHPStorm is still my IDE of choice, and I use it for all my projects as it understands Laravel. Fira Code is my font of choice, I love the ligatures and the readability of the font.
  • I use Laravel Valet for local development with PHP monitor as close companion to easily manage Valet.
  • For my Local database needs I use OrbStack in combination with StackBricks.
  • I use TablePlus as it supports multiple database types, connecting over SSH tunnels and has a clean and fast interface. Currently, I'm testing TablePro as alternative.
  • For version control, I use GitHub to host my repositories and Tower as my Git client as it provides a use to use interface but supports advanced features when needed.
  • Of course, I also use Codex and Claude to speed up my development and get help with code, documentation, and even brainstorming solutions to problems.
  • I use Termius as SSH client to easily connect to any of my projects.
  • For testing API's, I keep coming back to Postman. Not sure why and I'm probably going to try out some alternatives soon.

Random other software

Somehow, I tend to use a lot of (small) different tools for various tasks. Here are some of the ones I use regularly:

  • BucketMate for managing S3 buckets, it's a great tool to quickly view and manage buckets and its contents.
  • ColorSlurp for picking colors, creating palettes and generating color schemes.
  • DaisyDisk to figure out where all my storage went. It's a great tool to analyze disk usage.
  • draw.io mostly for creating flowcharts.
  • Firefox is my browser of choice. When I need a Chromium-based browser, I use Helium.
  • ForkLift is my file manager as it provides a dual-pane interface.
  • Helo captures the email of the projects I develop.
  • LanguageTool is a tool I can't live without. It checks my grammar and performs spell checking as I type, which improves the quality of my writing in both English and Dutch.
  • LookAway for reminding me to take breaks and look away from the screen to prevent eye strain. As someone who experiences ocular migraines, this is a must-have tool.
  • MeetingBar for reminding me of upcoming meetings and providing quick access to meeting links.
  • OK JSON for figuring out that large JSON document's structure.
  • Screen Studio for recording my screen, it's a great tool for creating reproductions or tutorials.
  • Shottr for taking screenshots. Love the quick editing features.
  • SSH Config Editor for managing my SSH config file so I can easily SSH into common servers.
  • Sublime Text for quick editing of files without the need to open a full IDE.
  • Viscosity for managing my OpenVPN connections reliably.