What I use?

Anticipating any questions, I have decided to create separate page with the specifics of software and hardware I use.

It is a panoramic view of my room. There is a wardrobe, a low TV cabinet, and a big corner desk. All furniture is black and white. The walls are white. The ceiling is also white with ball-shaped lamps hanging from it.
My cave that I rarely leave.

Services 🛎️

  • Toggl Track - to track the time of my productive activities.
  • Google Keep - I use it for raw notes, grocery lists and, “sudden idea” situations.
  • Apple Notes - I use them for raw, chaotic and more "creative" notes.
  • Evernote - was my primary note-taking tool for a long time (I have some notes there, but I'm switching to Notion).
  • Notion - I use it for structured notes, tasks, and project management. An all-in-one, productive, and project management tool (todo list, notes, kanban boards, and more).
  • GitHub - all source code of my site is there. I also use GitHub Actions for CI/CD.
  • Netlify - my hosting CDN. It also has additional features like anonymous analytics.
  • Vercel - my current CDN hosting.
  • ConvertKit - when you receive an email from my Newsletter, it's due to ConvertKit.
  • Udemy - a platform with educational courses. I finished some technical tutorials there.

Tech stack 🛠️

  • TypeScript - rewriting my site was a good opportunity to learn TypeScript. It's a superset of JavaScript with static typing.
  • React - the most popular front-end framework. I was hesitant about JSX at first, but now I like it.
  • Gatsby - the page you're looking at was generated by Static Site Generator - Gatsby. It provides performance, scalability, and security out of the box.
  • Gatsby theme i18n & react i18next - plugins used for website internationalization.
  • Next.js - meta-framework based on React. I used it to build my new website. It's more flexible than Gatsby, but it requires more configuration.
  • Style components - it helps me create reusable components and design primitives. My design system is consistent because of that.
  • Panda CSS - CSS-in-JS library with build-time-generated and type-safe (what?) styles. I chose it because it was compatible with React Server Components but stayed for thoughtful API.
  • MDX - an enhanced Markdown. The main format for my content. I use it over Markdown because I can use my custom components with it.
  • Prettier - formats code for me. I can pay less attention to style and yet have perfect formatting.
  • ESLint - lints code for me. It points out when I'm doing something stupid in the code.
  • Jest - framework for unit testing.
  • Vitest - Vite is a French word for "quick." Vitest is noticeably faster than Jest, so I switched it. The migration was pretty easy because the API is similar.
  • Testing Library - utilities that encourage good testing practices (like finding elements via ARIA roles).
  • Cypress - a framework for end-to-end testing. You can simulate user behavior with it (clicking, scrolling, etc.).
  • Cypress Axe - a library for end-to-end accessibility testing. Accessibility is a missed out aspect of many websites.
  • Playwright - it offers full feature parity with Cypress and more, so I switched to it.

Apps 💻

  • Visual Studio Code - I use Microsoft's code editor to write Microsoft's TS code, with the help of Microsoft's Copilot. I install packages from Microsoft's npm and push them to Microsoft's GitHub. Damn you, Bill Gates! At least I use a MacBook.
  • Cursor - I also use the VSC fork that pushed Microsoft to enforce its license. The AI integration here is deeper, I must admit.
  • Figma - my primary design tool. It is intuitive and component-centric. Creating design systems with it is convenient. It has a growing community that produces many helpful extensions and design files. You can even access it via browser.
  • Notion - there is a Notion app for most OSes.
  • Obsidian - recently, I've been playing with Obsidian for note-taking. I like the performance, simplicity, and graph feature. It shows links between your notes, creating a big interconnected shape similar to a neuron network in a brain.
  • Google Chrome - my primary browser. It is often leading when it comes to adopting new web dev features. I use it for browsing and developing the web. Extensions:
  • Mozilla Firefox - a supporting browser. I use it for browsing and testing feature support (I also like its grid tools).
  • Safari - another supporting browser for testing purposes. Sometimes, I use it to take advantage of the ✨Apple ecosystem✨.
  • Spotify - is my audio center. I listen to music while coding and to podcasts while walking.
  • Peek - handy when I want to make a gif or short screen recording on Ubuntu.
  • Nvidia GeForce Experience - Nvidia software for updating GPU drivers, optimizing game settings, and recording screen.
  • AMD Adrenalin - AMD software for updating GPU drivers, optimizing game settings, and recording screen.
  • MSI Afterburner - software for manually overclocking GPU.
  • Razer Synapse - an app for configuring Razer stuff.
  • Logi Options+ - an app for configuring Logitech stuff.
  • Steam - most of my games are on Steam. "Be Gabe. Do nothing. Win."
  • EA App - I use it mainly for the Battlefield series and some EA titles.
  • Ubisoft Connect - I like some Ubisoft series (Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell, Watch Dogs).
  • Discord - for communication.

Desk setup 🖥️

Other gadgets 📱

  • Samsung Galaxy S20FE - my primary phone. Almost a flagship, but for two-thirds the price. It has a 120Hz display with good PPI, Snapdragon 865, quality cameras, and other features like induction charging.
  • iPhone 15 - standard iPhone from 2023 is pretty similar to the Pro version. The only thing I miss is the 120Hz display. Because a $800 smartphone shouldn't have one, right Apple?
  • iPad Air 11-inch - I like handwritten notes, but they are not searchable at all. An iPad with an Apple Pen Pro replaced my notebooks. I use it as a starting point for a creative process and read technical documentation on it. It can work as a secondary, wireless screen for MacBook, which is pretty sick, I admit.
  • Plantronics BackBeat Fit Sport - my Bluetooth headphones when I'm on the go. I use them when walking, running, or skipping rope.
  • Sony WH-1000XM4 - it's an on-ear, noise-canceling pair of headphones. I use them when I want to shut myself off from the world or when my neighbor discovers a handyperson in himself.
  • AirPods Pro (2nd generation) - I needed a more portable pair of headphones for gym and travel. They seamlessly switch between different Apple devices - it's super convenient.
  • Apple Watch Series 9 - I use it to track my sleep and fitness. It pairs well with my MacBook and iPhone.
  • Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 4 - I like physical books. I prefer them over ebooks. Still, this portable device is perfect when I want to read something and don't want to carry much weight.
  • PlayStation 4 Pro - my current console. I've played on Sony machines since PS1. That won't change because I'll probably buy PlayStation 5. I enjoy their exclusive titles (especially from Naughty Dogs). Console couch co-op is still my favorite type of multiplayer.
  • PlayStation 5 - yup, I finally bought it. Besides 4k, 60fps (let's say), and HDR, the loading times are impressive. I think now I understand that fuss about built-in SSD. Haptic feedback is also quite an experience. Fundamentally, DualSense simulates your character's actions with different forces and vibrations - like touching the grass. It's hard to explain, so I encourage you to test it yourself.
  • DualSense Charging Station - such a simple gadget, yet it brings about such an improvement to the charging task.
  • Steam Deck OLED White Limited Edition - there seems to be a consensus in the gaming community that a handheld console with a performance similar to PS4, running even big AAA titles, is awesome. I agree. Finally, maybe I play through my Steam pile of shame.
  • LG OLED 48C21LA - I don't watch TV, so I bought it mainly for consoles. The TV offers a 120Hz refresh rate, 4k, HDR, and VRR, so it can fully utilize PlayStation 5 potential. All the content looks good on the OLED panel. Overall, I think it's a great bang for your buck.
  • Chemex Coffee Maker - a jug in the form of an hourglass for coffee making. It takes a minute for the coffee to pour over the filter, but it's really clear.
  • Bialetti Moka Pot - in 1933, Alfonso Bialetti invented the Moka Pot and named it after the city of Mocha, in Yemen, renowned for the quality of its coffee. I use its successor for the induction hob.
  • A safety razor - I shave like my grandfather. I was surprised at how clean shaved my face can be using it. But it requires patience and caution. And I also reduce plastic waste a bit.