Uses

As I really enjoy reading about what other people use for their work and hobbies, here's my /uses page covering my current setup, tools and everyday items. A living document inspired by uses.tech, that I'll try to keep somewhat up to date.

Workstation

Terminal and IDE

Ghostty: My terminal emulator of choice. Combined with herdr it's a great tool for all my workflows.
Zed: My current IDE of choice.
JetBrains Mono: The font I use in terminal and IDE.
Pi: My AI harness, which I can thoroughly recommend. A good introduction can be found here or here.

Browsers

I use different browsers for different purposes:

Zen: My utility browser for browser-based tools I use a lot (GitHub, JIRA, etc.)
Helium: For development. Chrome dev tools without all the Big-G stuff.
Orion: For general browsing without tracking worries.
Safari: For everything involving Apple Pay.
Finicky: To help using the right browser for the right purpose.

Design

Figma: For everything digital.
Affinity: For editorial work.

Apps

Obsidian: For structured knowledge management and meeting notes.
Apple Notes: For everyday stuff and quick notes.
1Password: Password management for both work and personal use.
Mimestream: For work email (as we use Google suite).
Notion Calendar: For work scheduling.
Apple Mail: For private email.
Apple Calendar: For private scheduling.
Spotify: Unfortunately no other music streaming stuff works quite as good for me as the Big-S.
Slack: For work-related team communication.
Raycast: For … well, kind of everything.

Dev tools

Fork: I've been using Fork for years and still think it's the best Git UI out there. Coming from a design background, I prefer a proper graphical interface over just the CLI for Git.
Ray: For debugging in PHP.
OrbStack: For Docker.
TablePlus: For databases.
Homebrew: For macOS package management.
nvm: For everything Node that's not in Docker.
Herd: For everything PHP that's not in Docker.

Hosting

Uberspace: For this site and all private projects.

Hardware

MacBook Pro 14" (2026): Great tool for all the work I do with M5 Pro chip and 48GB RAM.
Dell 40" Widescreen: Super nice for having side-by-side windows, particularly for work.
Halcyon Elora: A custom low-profile mechanical split keyboard, which is amazing for typing. Sunset Kailh Choc v1 switches, MBK legend keycaps.
Logi MX Master 3: Using this for years, still no need to change that.
Mousepad: Nerdy mousemat from retroshirty.com 🤓
Apple Magic Trackpad: For development work I prefer a trackpad, as there is so much scrolling involved.
AirPods Pro (1st gen): For voice communication and audio on-the-go.
Sony MDR-7506: For music while working in the office. I've replaced the old cushions a while ago, but the headphones themselves are brilliant.

Everyday carry

iPhone 17 Pro: Eventually I had to replace my trusted iPhone 13 Mini. I still would prefer the smaller form factor, but the new camera is great.
Timex Expedition Titanium: Very nice mechanical watch that I got from my wife for my 40th birthday. I literally wear it every day.
Fujifilm X100F: My compact camera, which I use when travelling light and on bike tours. With the switch to the iPhone 17 Pro I admittedly use it less than I used to.
Fujifilm X-E3: My (only slightly) larger camera, with interchangeable lenses.
Peak Design Everyday Sling: Perfect size for the cameras that I use plus all the little things that I carry around with me.

Bike

I proudly ride a Fairlight Faran 2.5, an adventure bike that I've set up for everything from daily commutes to multi-day/week tours.

Drivetrain + components

Shimano XT 1x12 (10–51T): With an SLX 32T chainring. Plenty of range for any terrain, particularly when pulling the trailer with our little girl up a hill.
Shimano XT PD-T8000: Probably my oldest piece of bike gear, but they're just really good. Clipless on one side, flat on the other.
Brooks B17: The classic leather saddle. Gets better with every ride.
BLB Drifter Bar: Jones Loop-like handlebars with ESI grips and Brooks bar tape.
TRP Spyre: Mechanical disc brakes with Shimano BL-4700 levers.

Wheels + tires

DT Swiss G540: With Schwalbe G-One tires.

Racks + fenders

Old Man Mountain Elkhorn: Rack in the front with a Wald 137 basket.
Racktime ECO Tour: Rack in the rear.
Pelago aluminium fenders: In silver.

Bags

Top tube and frame bag are always on the bike, the fork packs, panniers and drybag are used for longer tours.

Tailfin Wedge Frame Bag: 3.5L, and the 1.1L Flip Top Tube Bag for essentials.
Ortlieb Fork Packs: On the front.
Ortlieb Back Roller Classic: Panniers in the back.
Vaude Drybag: On the rear rack.

Lights + safety

SON 28 Hub Dynamo: For lights and charging a power bank on longer tours.
Busch & Müller: Front and back light. Reliable and bright enough for what I do.
MET Vinci MIPS: Always ride with a helmet. Safety first!

Shoes

Giro Rumble VR: Super comfy SPD-compatible shoes that look great (not too much like racing) and that you can actually walk in (yay Vibram soles), at least somewhat.

Navigation

I use my phone for navigation, mounted to the stem with a Peak Design Universal Bar Mount. These apps have proven useful:

RideWithGPS: For tour planning. Switched after the Komoot sellout and not regretting it so far.
MapOut: For shorter routes and day rides.