---
title: "/uses 💻"
date: 2021-05-27 08:25:17-0400
description: "Things I use daily."
image: "images/bigsur.png"
layout: etc
css: |
  h2 img.emoji {
    margin-right: 2px;
  }
---

~~I regularly get messages asking about which tools I use to work.~~

Nobody has asked me what I use. Ever. But here's a list of my daily drivers and necessities anyways, mostly revolving around my Apple sheepy-ness. Inspired by [many, many others](https://uses.tech/). ❤️

{{< image src="images/bigsur.png" alt="My mess of a desktop." link="/uses/images/bigsur.png" />}}

## 🍎 Hardware {#hardware}

- [**MacBook Air** (2020)](https://browser.geekbench.com/v5/cpu/8124907)
  - Apple M1 (8‑core CPU, 8‑core GPU) 🏎️ 💨
  - 16 GB RAM
  - 1 TB SSD
- [**MacBook Pro 15"** (Mid-2018)](https://browser.geekbench.com/v5/cpu/1074682)
  - Core i9 @ 2.9 GHZ, [theoretically 🔥 🧯 🚒](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx8J125s4cg)
  - 32 GB RAM
  - 1 TB SSD
  - Radeon Pro 560X – 4 GB
  - Most importantly, I haven't touched it since M1 stole my heart (for a third of the price). 💔
- **iPhone 13 Pro**
  - 512 GB in Graphite 😎
  - [Abyss Blue Silicone Case](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MM2J3ZM/A/iphone-13-pro-silicone-case-with-magsafe-abyss-blue)
  - [Saddle Brown Leather "Wallet"](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MHLR3ZM/A/iphone-leather-wallet-with-magsafe-saddle-brown)
  - Belkin's MagSafe [Car Vent Mount Pro](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HPBJ2ZM/A/belkin-car-vent-mount-pro-with-magsafe) is awesome too, btw.
- **iPad Pro 10.5"**
  - 256 GB in Space Gray
  - Smart Keyboard & Apple Pencil
- **Apple Watch Series 6** (GPS)
  - Aluminum – Space Gray
  - 40mm (I have incredibly small wrists.)
  - Usually with the [Midnight Blue sport band](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLL02ZM/A/42mm-midnight-blue-sport-band-s-m-m-l), 🏳️‍🌈 [Pride Edition woven nylon band](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MQ4F2AM/A/38mm-pride-edition-woven-nylon), or employee 🏋️ [Close Your Rings Challenge woven nylon band](https://www.macrumors.com/2018/04/03/apple-employees-rewards-challenge/).
- **Google Pixel 4a**
  - For some recreational Android development and experimentation.
  - Activated on [Google Fi](https://fi.google.com/) during rare trips.
  - Really just putting this here in a futile effort to prove I'm not a _complete_ Apple sheep. 🐑

## 💾 Development {#development}

- [**iTerm 2**](https://iterm2.com/)
  - My various [ZSH aliases](https://github.com/jakejarvis/dotfiles/blob/main/zsh/aliases.zsh) and [functions](https://github.com/jakejarvis/dotfiles/blob/main/zsh/functions.zsh) are in [my `.dotfiles` repository.](https://github.com/jakejarvis/dotfiles)
  - [Oh My ZSH](https://ohmyz.sh/)
    - [zsh-autosuggestions](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions)
    - [zsh-syntax-highlighting](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting)
- [**Visual Studio Code**](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
  - [All of my settings.](https://github.com/jakejarvis/dotfiles/tree/main/vscode)
  - Themes:
    - [GitHub Dark theme](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitHub.github-vscode-theme)
    - [Material Icon theme](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=PKief.material-icon-theme)
    - [Source Code Pro font](https://github.com/adobe-fonts/source-code-pro)
  - Extensions:
    - [Better TOML](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=bungcip.better-toml)
    - [Docker](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-azuretools.vscode-docker)
    - [Duplicate action](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=mrmlnc.vscode-duplicate)
    - [EditorConfig](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=EditorConfig.EditorConfig)
    - [GitHub Copilot](https://copilot.github.com/)
    - [GitHub Pull Requests](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitHub.vscode-pull-request-github)
    - [GitHub Repositories](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitHub.remotehub)
    - [Hugo Language and Syntax Support](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=budparr.language-hugo-vscode)
    - [Live Share](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=MS-vsliveshare.vsliveshare)
    - [markdownlint](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=DavidAnson.vscode-markdownlint)
    - [npm](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=eg2.vscode-npm-script)
    - [Prettier](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=esbenp.prettier-vscode)
    - [Remote Development Pack](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode-remote.vscode-remote-extensionpack)
    - [Stylelint](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=stylelint.vscode-stylelint)
    - [Word Count](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode.wordcount)
- [**Homebrew**](https://brew.sh/)
  - [View my messy `Brewfile` dump](https://github.com/jakejarvis/dotfiles/blob/main/Brewfile) with all of my installed packages.
- [**Xcode**](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/)
- [**Docker Desktop**](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop)
- [**Parallels Desktop Pro**](https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/)
  - Switched from VMware Fusion when Parallels beat them to the punch with [M1 support](https://www.parallels.com/blogs/parallels-desktop-m1/).
- [**Tailscale**](https://tailscale.com/)
  - For connecting to remote servers and my ["homelab"](#home) without exposing ports to the world. Highly recommended!
- [**Sketch**](https://www.sketch.com/)
- [**Adobe Creative Cloud**](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html)
  - Still on the \$20/month [Student Plan](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/buy/students.html), somehow. 🤫 Will need to re-evaulate once I'm kicked off; it's hard to justify spending almost 3x that...
- [**Transmit**](https://panic.com/transmit/)
- [**Postman**](https://www.getpostman.com/)
- [**BrowserStack**](https://www.browserstack.com/) & [**Percy**](https://percy.io/)
- [~~Sequel Pro~~](https://www.sequelpro.com/) → [**TablePlus**](https://tableplus.com/)
- [~~Robo 3T~~](https://robomongo.org/) → [**TablePlus**](https://tableplus.com/)
- [**ImageOptim**](https://imageoptim.com/mac)
- [**Sip**](https://sipapp.io/)
- [**Local**](https://localwp.com/) for WordPress development.

## 🌎 Browsing {#browsing}

- [**Firefox**](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/developer/) 🦊
  - [My default `user.js` settings.](https://github.com/jakejarvis/dotfiles/blob/main/firefox/user.js)
  - Add-ons:
    - [1Password Classic](https://support.1password.com/cs/1password-classic-extension/)
    - [BetterTTV](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/betterttv/)
    - [Cookie Editor](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/cookie-editor/)
    - [Decentraleyes](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/decentraleyes/)
    - [Facebook Container](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/facebook-container/)
    - [Firefox Multi-Account Containers](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/)
    - [HTTPS Everywhere](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/https-everywhere/)
    - [Mailvelope](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/mailvelope/)
    - [React Developer Tools](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/react-devtools/)
    - [OctoLinker](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/octolinker/)
    - [Privacy Badger](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/privacy-badger17/)
    - [uBlock Origin](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/)
- [**Google Chrome**](https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/?extra=devchannel) 😈
  - For testing only! See more of [my de-Googling efforts below](#cloud).
  - Add-ons:
    - [AMP Validator](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/amp-validator/nmoffdblmcmgeicmolmhobpoocbbmknc?hl=en)
    - [Lighthouse](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lighthouse/blipmdconlkpinefehnmjammfjpmpbjk?h1=en)
    - [React Developer Tools](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/react-developer-tools/fmkadmapgofadopljbjfkapdkoienihi?hl=en)

## 💻 macOS {#macos}

- [**1Password**](https://1password.com/)
- [**Little Snitch**](https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html)
- [**iStat Menus**](https://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/)
- [**Backblaze**](https://www.backblaze.com/) [(referral link)](https://secure.backblaze.com/r/00x84e)
- [**Silicon Info**](https://github.com/billycastelli/Silicon-Info)
- [**MacUpdater**](https://www.corecode.io/macupdater/)
- [**Unshaky**](https://unshaky.nestederror.com/) ⌨️ (on my 2018 MBP)
  - Toooo &nbsp;lzy too vist &nbsp;&nbsp;the&nbsp; Aple Stre geeniusses oonce &nbsp;agin&nbsp; to fiix tthe&nbsp; keeybbbboord. 😒 🦋
- [**DaisyDisk**](https://daisydiskapp.com/)
- [**AppCleaner**](https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/)
- [**GPG Suite**](https://gpgtools.org/)
- ~~VLC~~ → [**IINA**](https://iina.io/)
- [**Transmission**](https://transmissionbt.com/)
- [**Paragon NTFS**](https://www.paragon-software.com/us/home/ntfs-mac/#)
- [**Amphetamine**](https://roaringapps.com/app/amphetamine)
- [**coconutBattery**](https://coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/)
- [**The Unarchiver**](https://theunarchiver.com/)
- [**WiFi Explorer**](https://www.intuitibits.com/products/wifi-explorer/)
- [**Parsec**](https://parsec.app/)

## 📱 iOS {#ios}

I have far too many apps to count, but here the essentials that have earned a spot on my home screen:

- [**1Password** (beta)](https://apps.apple.com/app/id568903335)
- [**Waze** (beta)](https://apps.apple.com/app/id323229106)
- [**Google Maps**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id585027354)
- [**Dark Sky**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id517329357)
- [**Xfinity Stream**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id731629156)
- [**SiriusXM**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id317951436)
- [**Audible**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id379693831)
- [**Pocket Casts**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id414834813)
- [**Sonos**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1488977981)
- [**Plex** (beta)](https://apps.apple.com/app/id383457673)
- [**Microsoft To-Do**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1212616790) (RIP Wunderlist 🙏)
- [**Discord**](https://apps.apple.com/app/id985746746)

## ☁️ Cloud {#cloud}

I've been making recent efforts to [de-Google](https://www.stallman.org/google.html) my life, with mixed results...

- ~~Gmail~~ → [**Fastmail**](https://www.fastmail.com/) [(referral link)](https://ref.fm/u20274504) & [**Mail.app**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Mail)
- ~~Google Drive~~ → ~~Dropbox~~ → [**iCloud Drive**](https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive)
  - [Read why.](/notes/dropping-dropbox/)
- ~~Google Docs~~ → [**Microsoft Office**](https://products.office.com/en-us/mac/microsoft-office-for-mac) (hey, it works 🤷)
- ~~Google Photos~~ → [**iCloud Photos**](https://www.icloud.com/photos/)
- ~~Google Analytics~~ → [**Netlify Analytics**](https://www.netlify.com/products/analytics/) [(my review)](/notes/netlify-analytics-review/)
- ~~Google Public DNS~~ → [**Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1**](https://1.1.1.1/dns/) on my home network.
- ~~GoDaddy~~ → ~~Google Domains~~ → [**Cloudflare Registrar**](https://www.cloudflare.com/products/registrar/) (and [**ISNIC**](https://isnic.is/en/) for this domain, of course 🇮🇸)

Other geeky stuff:

- [**DNSimple**](https://dnsimple.com/) [(referral link)](https://dnsimple.com/r/eb6ced548f1e0a) & [**Cloudflare**](https://www.cloudflare.com/) for domain DNS.
- [**Netlify**](https://www.netlify.com/) and [**Vercel**](https://vercel.com/) for static sites.
- [**Linode**](https://www.linode.com/) [(referral link)](https://www.linode.com/?r=0c5aeace9bd591be9fbf32f96f58470295f1ee05) and [**DigitalOcean**](https://www.digitalocean.com/) [(referral link)](https://m.do.co/c/afcf288a7dac) for virtual Linux servers.
- [**Backblaze**](https://www.backblaze.com/) [(referral link)](https://secure.backblaze.com/r/00x84e) for off-site MacBook backups.
- [**Gitea**](https://gitea.io/en-us/) as a [self-hosted](https://code.jarv.is/) Git backup/mirror.
- [**Plex**](https://www.plex.tv/) + [**Sonarr**](https://sonarr.tv/) + [**Radarr**](https://radarr.video/)

## 🏠 Internet of ~~Things~~ [Crap](/notes/shodan-search-queries/) {#home}

- [**Synology RT2600ac**](https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/RT2600ac)
- [**Synology DiskStation DS218+**](https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/DS218+)
- [**Dell Inspiron 3647**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HWML468/), slightly upgraded and running [**VMware ESXi**](https://www.vmware.com/products/esxi-and-esx.html), as a really, _really_ crappy home server.
- [**Philips Hue**](https://www2.meethue.com/en-us) color bulbs, dimmer switches, etc.
- 2x [**ecobee3 lite**](https://www.ecobee.com/en-us/smart-thermostats/smart-wifi-thermostat/) smart thermostats (HomeKit support was a must.)
- 2x [**Sonos One**](https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/one.html) (with Alexa turned off...allegedly.)
- [**Petcube Play**](https://petcube.com/play/) 😻