Primary IDE
PhpStorm
The deep Laravel integration, powerful refactoring, and built-in debugging make it worth every penny. I've tried VS Code, but always come back.
The Stack
Tools & Setup
A peek behind the curtain at the hardware, software, and services that power my daily work. Updated as my setup evolves.
15+
Daily Tools
8
Languages
100%
Self-Hosted
Development
The tools I use to write, test, and deploy code every day.
VS Code
For front-end work, quick edits, and projects outside PHP. The extension ecosystem is unmatched for web development.
Docker
Consistent environments from development to production. No more "works on my machine" issues.
Git & GitHub
Version control, code reviews, and CI/CD pipelines. GitHub Actions powers all my automated deployments.
TablePlus
Beautiful, fast database management. Clean interface for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite connections.
Warp Terminal
Modern terminal with AI-powered command suggestions. Rust-based, blazingly fast, and beautiful.
Graphic Design
Creating brand identities, illustrations, and print materials.
Daily Driver
Adobe Illustrator
My primary tool for logo design, brand identities, vector illustrations, and print-ready artwork. 19+ years of experience.
Daily Driver
Adobe Photoshop
Photo editing, digital manipulation, web graphics, and complex compositing. Essential for client projects.
Figma
All UI/UX design, web prototyping, and client presentations. The collaboration features are game-changing.
Adobe InDesign
Multi-page documents, brochures, catalogues, and print layouts. Perfect for professional publishing.
3D Design & Visualisation
Architectural renders, product visualisation, and 3D modelling.
Primary
SketchUp
Quick 3D modelling for architectural concepts, interior design, and product visualisation. Fast workflow for client presentations.
Blender
Open-source powerhouse for complex 3D modelling, animations, and photorealistic renders. Amazing for organic models.
3ds Max
Industry-standard for architectural visualisation and product rendering. V-Ray integration for photorealistic output.
Productivity
Staying organised and getting things done.
ActiveCollab
Self-hosted project management for all client work. Complete control over data with custom workflows for each project type.
Obsidian
Local-first note-taking with powerful linking. All my documentation and knowledge base lives here.
Spark Mail
Smart inbox that actually helps manage email chaos. Team collaboration features are excellent.
Hardware
The physical tools on my desk.
Main Machine
AMD Threadripper Workstation
Custom-built workstation for heavy development, 3D rendering, and running multiple VMs. The 32 cores handle anything I throw at it - Docker containers, large codebases, Blender renders, all simultaneously.
CPU: AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX 32-Core
RAM: 256GB DDR4
OS: Windows 11 Pro
Dual 27" 4K Monitors
Dell UltraSharp displays. One for code, one for browser/design. Can't go back to single monitor life.
Keychron K2
Mechanical keyboard with brown switches. Perfect balance of tactile feedback without being too loud.
Logitech MX Master 3
The horizontal scroll wheel alone is worth it. Seamless switching between devices.
Self-Hosted Services
Running my own infrastructure for control and privacy.
Self-Hosted
Nextcloud
File storage, calendar, contacts, and more. Complete Google alternative under my control.
Authentik
Single sign-on for all my self-hosted services. One login to rule them all.
Umami Analytics
Privacy-focused website analytics. No cookies, no tracking, just useful data.
Curious about something?
Got questions about my setup or want recommendations? I'm always happy to chat about tools and workflows.
Inspired by uses.tech — a curated list of developer setups.