My Stack

These are the tools, apps, and services that I use in both work and life. I don’t list everything, just the things that make a material difference to my life or have been a delight to use. In some cases I have provided referal links but the name of each item is a direct, referal-free, link.

Computing

• M3 MacBook Pro - My last laptop was the MacBook (12 inch) and I maintain this was the most delightful computer I have owned. I used an iMac for heavier computing tasks but at almost 7 years old, I increasingly ran into software compatibility issues. I picked up an M3 MacBook Pro on launch day and upgraded to 4TB of storage. I’ve been very happy with the machine since. Why MacBook Pro and not MacBook Air? I use two external screens.

• iPhone 14 Pro - I’ve been very happy with the iPhone 14 and haven’t been tempted to upgrade. I went for 256 GB in the Deep Purple finish.

Mac

• 1Password - We rely on 1Password family plan for documents, passports, and passwords.
• Maestral - An open source Dropbox client without the bloat.
• Bartender - Take control of your menubar.
• Things - A beatuifuly simple personal task manager.
• Fantastical - Allows me to bring personal, work, family calendars in one place.
• Obsidian - An IDE for text files. Text files are powerful when you can link them together.
• iA Writer - Disctraction free writing. This is where I draft blog posts.
• Pastebot - I can’t live without the ability sequentialy paste multiple items.
• Ivory - A Mastodon client that feels familiar to an ex-Twitter user.
• ScreenFlow - I’ve found the interface simple enough for editing screencasts or tutorials.
• CleanShot X - I take a lot of screenshots. Being able to edit them easily is a lifesaver.
• Audiohijack - Capture, route and transcribe audio. Great for Podcast / Music recording.
• Loopback - Create virtual audio devices and combine audio sources.
• VSCodium - Free/Libre Open Source Software Binaries of VS Code
• Gitea - Self hosted Git projects for things that don’t need to be in the cloud.
• Drone CI - Self hosted CI. Lightning fast build/deploy.

iOS

• Things - A beatuifuly simple personal task manager.
• Fantastical - Allows me to bring personal, work, family calendars in one place.
• Overcast - A podcast player that has saved me 377 hours with smart speed.
• Ivory - A Mastodon client that feels familiar to an ex-Twitter user.
• Skritter - Learn to read and write Chinese (or Japanese) characters.
• Pleco - The only Chinese dictionary app you’ll ever need.

Services

• Fastmail - I have been absolutely delighted with Fastmail. As the name suggests, mail is fast. The interface is simple and I’ve yet to find a client, or a configuration they don’t support. Get 10% off your first year here.
• Backblaze - Per-machine pricing means I’m not worrying about how much data I back-up. Love that physically attached external drives are included in the price. I’ve not yet had to do a full restore, but have reliably restored folders and files on multiple occasions. Get 1 month free here.
• Tailscale - More than just a VPN. I use Tailscale to put all my devices on the same private network. Really handy to be able to use any device as an exit node for your trafic.
• Apple Music - I want to like Spotify but they seem to ignore the concept of albums in favour of playlists and this grates with my desire to keep my collection neatly organised.
• Bookwyrm - Like Goodreads but not owned by Amazon and with a cleaner interface.
• Readwise - Read everything, take notes, sync anywhere. Get yourself an extra free month.
• Mullvad - My VPN provider of choice. Combined with Tailscale, I’ve been able to remain online while travelling.

Office

• Brother HL-L2375DW - We wanted a colour printer, but the cost (toner) and size of a colour laser printer pushed us towards going black & white. I picked up the Brother HL-L2375DW mainly for its size. It has been rock solid. We’ve tucked it in a cupboard, connected it to the network and it has been working reliably without the need for any additional software.

Desk

• Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk - I have the slightly longer 1800x800 version of the natural top but this is no longer available. Link takes you to the closest alternative.
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad - An expensive keyboard but I love the ability to use TouchID.
• Logitech MX Master 3 - This is the most comfortable mouse I’ve found. The MX Master 3 is no longer available but the 3S is similar.
• Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD Monitor - This is my primary monitor and sits in the centre of my desk. It is wide enough to put two applications side by side (e.g. code and preview).
• Dell UltraSharp 27 4K PremierColor Monitor - Secondary monitor mounted in portrait off to the side. I use this for Zoom calls.
• Logitech Brio 4k - Wide angle, reasonable performance in low light. To get the best out of it, I turn off auto focus, auto colour, etc.
• DT 770 Pro (80 Ohm) - The most comfortable headphones I’ve found for extended use. They sound great too.

• Qingping Air Monitor Lite - The two things that appear to affect my productivity and focus more than anything else are air quality and sleep. This device sits on my desk and provides a constant read-out of air quality.

• Benq ScreenBar - Desk lighting that allows me to work comfortably without lighting the whole room.

Personal Finance

• You Need a Budget - A budgeting app flexible enough to work. Get 1 month free here.
• Monzo - A bank that is younger than you. Get £5 for opening and using your account.

Photography

• Canon EOS 6D Mark II - This was my first foray into full-frame photography and it has been a delight to use. It also appears to be the last camera to include GPS built in.

• Canon EF 40mm F/2.8 STM - This is the lens I use most when travelling.

• Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8 II USM - This is the best lens I’ve ever owned. Great for portraits but also great for general photography. Only downside is the weight.

• Peak Design Capture - When walking around cities with children I need my hands free. I was carrying my camera in a backpack and never getting it out to use it. The Capture lets me carry the camera where I can reach it. Great for practicality, less so for style.

• Adobe Creative Cloud - Photography Plan - I went with the 20GB plan as I don’t need more cloud storage.

• The Print Space - The best print service that I’ve found. If you are new to photo or artwork printing, make sure to order their sample pack. It’s a beautiful collection of prints with different inks on different papers. Use this discount code for 50% off your first order: QLJD8D5.

Transport

• Tern GSD - We don’t have a car, instead we have a Tern GSD. Two kids and shopping, in all weather. The Tern GSD has been our primary mode of transport for several years now. We’ve carried camping gear and a child. We’ve helped friends with school pick-ups. We’ve carried supplies for a party. The bike has been a dream to ride.

Clothing

• Arcteryx SV Jacket Blue Tetra - I haven’t bought an outdoor jacket in over 15 years. But faced with temperatures of -24ºC in Beijing last winter I went looking for a new jacket. I’ve loved everything about this jacket; the colour, the fit, the wind resistance, the ability to put the hood up over a helmet, the placement of pockets, the list goes on.

Accessories

• Peak Design Everyday Case - Delightfully slim, comfortable to hold. The attahment point is flush with the case which means you can still use other MagSafe accessories without removing the case.

• Peak Design Out Front Bike Mount - The combination of magnets and a simple locking mechanism mean this mount pulls the phone out of your hand and locks it into position. One handed removal whilst wearing gloves makes this a dream.

• Osprey Talon 33 - A comfortable backpack that can hold everything a family of four needs for a day out.

• Ucon Acrobatics Hajo Medium Backpack - Comfortable, waterproof, made from recycled bottles.

Piano

• Roland FP 30X - Full size weighted keys, compact, and sound that can fill a room at home. We’ve loved this as a first piano. The simplicity and the lack of visible features keep it relatively distraction free for anyone just starting out. Would be nice to have the ability to record to wav files, but this is far from essential.
• MuseScore - If you need to write (or play) music, MuseScore is a delight to use.
• SimplyPiano - Learn to play the piano from scratch. For eager parents out there, the app assumes your children are able to read. There are points where written instructions scroll past along with the music. Once you get over that hurdle they can play unattended. Get 1 month free here.