Uses
What I build with
The hardware, software and small tools I lean on every day. Mostly boring choices — that's the point.
Setup is the second-most overrated topic in engineering (after frameworks). But people ask, so here it is.
Machine
- MacBook Pro 16"Apple silicon, the only laptop I've genuinely enjoyed.
- External display27" 4K — one screen, big text, fewer windows.
- Keychron K-seriesMechanical, low profile, brown switches.
Editor & terminal
- PyCharm + Claude CodePython work lives here. AI pair-programming integrated where it matters.
- VS CodeFor non-Python projects and MDX/Markdown work.
- iTerm2 + zsh + starshipBoring, fast, prompts that tell me what I need.
- tmuxLong-running sessions for builds and tailing logs.
Stack defaults
- Python · Django · FastAPIThe combination I reach for first for a new SaaS backend.
- PostgresSingle-node until proven otherwise.
- Celery + RedisBackground jobs without ceremony.
- Next.js + TailwindFrontend when the product needs one.
- Vercel · AWS · DockerDeploy targets in increasing order of seriousness.
Day-to-day
- LinearIssues and roadmap. Sharp tool, no Jira ceremony.
- NotionProject docs and design notes that aren't yet code.
- 1PasswordPasswords, SSH keys, environment secrets in dev.
- RaycastWindow switching, clipboard, snippets, calculator.