Uses
I often get asked about the things I use to build software, the tools I rely on to stay productive, my favorite guitars and effects, and the gadgets I love. Here's a big list of all of my favorite stuff.Workstation
- 14-inch MacBook Pro, M3 Max, 36GB RAM (2023)
- I have been using a Mac since the 2000s. From the 2010s, I was able to use a Mac for work as well. Now I rely on it in almost every scenario.
- Dell 34 Curved Gaming Monitor (S3422DWG)
- The Dell 34 Curved Gaming Monitor offers an immersive 3440x1440 ultra-wide resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. This makes it perfect for both work and gaming. The VA panel delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro ensures a smooth experience without screen tearing.
- Keychron Q60 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard
- The Keychron Q60 is a high-quality 60% mechanical keyboard. I have customized mine with Gateron Jupiter Banana switches. The hot-swappable PCB makes it highly customizable.
- PFU HHKB PROFESSIONAL HYBRID TYPE-S (SNOW)
- It is the well-known Happy Hacking Keyboard. I have been using it since the first generation released in 1997. I am so used to it that I cannot work without it. The typing experience is great and lightweight to carry around. It is durable and the best keyboard out there.
- NeoVim powered by LazyVim
- The fancy IDE features that everyone relies on just get in the way for me. I used to be an Emacs devotee, but now the venerable but new NeoVim is the best text editor out there.
- WezTerm
- I'm honestly not even sure what features I get with this that aren't just part of the macOS Terminal but it's what I use.
Design
- Pixelmator Pro
- I use this software for image processing, which is Mac-specific and fast, reasonably priced compared to Photoshop, and it works well for me.
Productivity
- LaunchBar
- Not the newest, but the fastest, Alfred seems to be the favorite, but I've been using this launcher for a long time.
Guitars
- YAMAHA REVSTAR RSP20
- A high-quality YAMAHA guitar made in Japan. While it is sometimes perceived as a budget version of the YAMAHA SG, it features practical specifications like contour body shaping and chamber construction. The 5-way pickup selector makes it a straightforward and highly playable instrument.
- Fender 70th Anniversary American Vintage II 1954 Stratocaster
- The 70th anniversary Stratocaster model released in 2024. It is a faithful recreation of the 1954 original. This particular one weighs under 3.5kg with a dry pristine tone.
- AriaPro II PE-1500RI
- A reissue of AriaPro's flagship PE-1500, designed with their own interpretation in 1970s Japan when Les Paul replicas were popular. With an all-maple body and a 648mm scale—the same as a Stratocaster—it delivers a brighter tone than a typical Les Paul while maintaining its own character.
- Epiphone CASINO
- A 1983 Epiphone CASINO. Built by Matsumoku Industries in Japan during this period, it's often referred to as "Japan Vintage" and has exceptional build quality that rivals many American-made examples from the same era.
- Epiphone USA Texan (FT-79)
- Handcrafted by Gibson luthiers at the Bozeman Montana factory. While it shares the body design with the Gibson J-45, the Texan uses a regular 25.5-inch scale. This gives it higher string tension and a brighter tone than the J-45.