What I use

Mac Mini M2 Pro

Primary development machine. The M2 Pro handles everything from local Next.js dev servers to running local AI models without breaking a sweat.

MacBook Pro Intel 15"

Remove development machine. For when I work at Costa or go on holiday, my laptop always comes along.

Dell 34" Plus USB-C (Primary)

Ultrawide curved display as the main workspace. Single USB-C cable handles power, display, and data to the Mac Mini — clean desk, no adapter clutter. Wide enough for two editors side by side without feeling cramped. 2nd input let's me connect my gaming machine to the ultrawide.

2× Dell 27" (Secondary)

Flanking the ultrawide above, angled slightly inward. Left monitor handles documentation, browser, or Claude. Right monitor is typically a terminal or secondary preview. The three-screen arc means almost nothing ever gets minimised.

Keychron K8 Pro

Tenkeyless wireless mechanical keyboard with hot-swappable switches. The compact layout keeps the mouse close without sacrificing the keys I actually use. RGB I never look at, build quality I notice every day.

Logitech MX Ergo S

Trackball mouse with an adjustable tilt hinge. Took about a week to unlearn decades of mouse muscle memory — now I wouldn't go back. Wrist stays neutral all day and the precision on a small desk footprint is genuinely better than a traditional mouse.

IKEA tabletop on Okin powered lifting frame

Standing desk built the sensible way — separate tabletop and frame rather than a branded unit. The Okin frame is smooth, quiet, and has been solid. Sit/stand ratio is probably 80/20 if I'm being honest, but having the option matters.

DX Racer (vintage)

A decade-old gaming chair in black and purple that has absolutely no business still being in service. Comfortable enough that replacing it keeps getting deprioritised. On the list — eventually.

Amazon Echo Studio

Connected via 3.5mm to the Mac Mini as desktop speakers. Overkill for a desk speaker arguably, but the spatial audio and bass response make music and video calls genuinely enjoyable. An unconventional choice that works better than expected.

Trust Microphone (temporary)

My kids' microphone pressed into daily service after my Blue Yeti connector gave up. Surprisingly adequate for Zoom calls. A proper replacement is on the list alongside the DX Racer.

Nikon D750 + UGREEN 25854 Capture Card

Full-frame DSLR running as a webcam via the UGREEN USB capture card. The jump in video quality over a standard webcam is immediately noticeable — shallow depth of field and proper glass make a real difference on calls. Requires leaving it mounted and powered which takes some desk real estate, but worth it.

WebStorm

JetBrains WebStorm for all TypeScript and Next.js work. The refactoring tools and TypeScript integration are unmatched.

VS Code

I like to spin VS Code up when I need a quick editor for JavaScript, Python, or other languages. It's lightweight and highly extensible.

iTerm

Terminal emulator for macOS that's fast, powerful, and customisable. It's a must-have for any developer.

LastPass

Password manager for secure storage and access to login credentials across devices and browsers.

Tampermonkey

Extension for Chrome and Firefox that allows users to customize and automate web browsing tasks using JavaScript.

Workona Tab Manager

Chrome extension that allows you to manage multiple tabs and organize them into groups. Great for managing multiple GitHub and GitLab repositories.

Workona

Project management tool that allows you to organize and manage your projects, tasks, and team members in one place. It provides features like task assignment, time tracking, and collaboration tools.

YouTrack

Project management tool that allows you to organize and manage your projects, tasks, and team members in one place. It provides features like task assignment, time tracking, and collaboration tools.

Ngrok

Reverse proxy that allows you to expose your local server to the internet securely. It's useful for testing and debugging your applications locally.

Obsidian

Markdown-based note-taking app that allows you to create and organize your ideas in a simple and intuitive way. It's perfect for taking notes, organizing tasks, and keeping track of your thoughts.

Notion

Markdown-based note-taking app that allows you to create and organize your ideas in a simple and intuitive way. It's perfect for taking notes, organizing tasks, and keeping track of your thoughts.

Slack

Communication platform that allows you to communicate with your team and collaborate on projects. It's a great way to stay in touch and stay on top of things.

Claude

AI assistant for architecture decisions, code review, and writing. Used throughout the build of this very site.

Google Gemini

AI assistant for writing, code review, and more. Used for generating content and automating tasks.

Render

Cloud-based platform for deploying static websites and serverless functions. Used for this site.

MongoDb

NoSQL database that provides high performance, high availability, and automatic scaling. Used for storing data in this site.

Redis

In-memory data store that provides fast access and reliability. Used for caching and storing session data.