Tools I Actually Use.
I prefer fewer, better tools over a sprawling stack. Every item on this list earned its spot by surviving real work. I update my technology when they are outgrown, not when something shiny comes up.
Workstation
15" MacBook Pro (2019)
Primary machine.
Thinkpad T420
Linux workhorse.
11" iPad Pro with Apple Pencil
Thinking and sketching device.
Yoga Ball
Ergonomic seating.
Editor and IDE
Cursor
Primary editor with AI integration.
VS Code
Language-specific IDEs.
AI in the Loop
Claude and Claude Code
Primary AI pair.
Deepseek
Hard-nosed technical tutor.
Thinking and Writing
Obsidian
Note-taking and planning.
Tldraw
Whiteboard.
Staying Organized
Notion
Task and project management.
Cairn
Session sized planning.