From productivity tools to software essentials (and maybe a few impulse buys that just look productive) - here's everything I actually use and recommend. Consider this my ultimate setup list.
Workstation
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16” Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
My reliable powerhouse that makes development feel effortless. The 16-inch screen gives me the perfect canvas for coding, while the robust hardware shrugs off my habit of opening fifty-too-many Chrome tabs alongside Docker containers and VS Code windows. It's technically a gaming laptop, but I've found its raw power and excellent build quality translate perfectly to development work (though it probably thinks I'm boring). The keyboard has this satisfying feel that makes typing a genuine pleasure - even during those coding sessions where I'm basically having a conversation with my error messages.
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JLab Audio Talk Go Plug and Play Microphone
My pocket-sized podcast studio! Perfect for those client calls where I need to sound professional, even if I'm still in my pajamas. It's got some fancy 96kHz/24BIT specs, but all you need to know is it makes me sound way cooler than I actually am.
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Royal Kludge RK100 Tri-Mode RGB 100 Keys Hot Swappable Mechanical Keyboard
My sleek keyboard that lets me type like a ninja at midnight. It's so quiet, my neighbors probably think I'm just staring at my screen all day. Still rocking those RGB lights though - because who doesn't need a personal light show while coding? Perfect for those late-night programming sessions when everyone else is asleep.
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Logitech G502 X Plus Wireless RGB Gaming Mouse
This isn't just a mouse - it's like having a tiny spaceship for my hand. Packed with buttons I'm still discovering new uses for, and the RGB lighting syncs with my keyboard for maximum workspace aesthetic. Yes, it's a gaming mouse, but it makes debugging feel more epic!
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Logitech G435 Ultra-light Wireless Bluetooth Gaming Headset
Ultra-light headphones that let me zone into work while blocking out the world. Perfect for both intense coding sessions and sneaking in some gaming during lunch breaks. The dual mics mean people can actually hear me clearly when I'm explaining why their website isn't working.
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M57 Full Mesh Breathable Office Ergonomic Chair
My ergonomic savior that keeps my back happy during those long coding marathons. Full mesh design means no more sweaty developer moments, and enough adjustable parts to make it feel like a transformer. It's basically my office BFF.
Development tools
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Visual Studio Code
My coding BFF that practically reads my mind at this point. The integrated terminal is my command hub, Git integration keeps my commits clean, and the extensions? Let's just say I've never met a problem I couldn't solve with "Ctrl+Shift+X". Plus, IntelliSense catches my typos before they become 3 AM debugging sessions!
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Excalidraw
Where my messy thoughts turn into clean diagrams. When words fail, I fire this up and start drawing boxes and arrows until things make sense. It's like having a whiteboard that fits in your pocket - minus the marker stains on your hands!
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Postman
My favorite tool for sweet-talking APIs. Whether I'm testing endpoints or documenting them, Postman's got my back. Collections feature is like having a neat filing cabinet for all my API chaos - except it actually makes sense!
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GitHub Desktop
For when I want to manage my repositories without feeling like I'm decoding the Matrix. Makes branching and merging feel less like surgery and more like playing with Legos. Perfect for those "oh no, what did I just commit?" moments.
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Chrome DevTools
My detective kit for when websites misbehave. The performance tools help me figure out why things are running slower than my morning brain, and the network tab shows me where all those mysterious requests are going. Console.log is still my best friend though!
Design
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Figma
My digital canvas where ideas come to life! It's like Google Docs for design - minus the accidental 3 AM edit notifications. The plugins are like tiny design superheroes - there's one for every "I wish I could..." moment. And yes, I spend way too much time picking between fonts that look exactly the same.
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Adobe Creative Cloud
The grandmother of all design tools that still schools the youngsters. Photoshop for those "can you remove the background?" requests from family, and Illustrator for when I need vectors so clean they make other designers cry. Worth every penny of my ramen noodle budget!
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Coolors
For when my brain says "make it pop" but forgets to specify how. Hit the spacebar until something looks good - it's like Tinder for color palettes! Saved me from countless "is this too blue?" existential crises.
Productivity
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Notion
My life's operating system! It's where my to-do lists breed more to-do lists and where I pretend I'm super organized. Half journal, half project manager, half knowledge base... yes, that's three halves, and somehow Notion makes it work. The perfect place for both my million-dollar ideas and my grocery lists.
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Undistracted
Because apparently, I can't be trusted with YouTube's suggested videos. Turns social media from an endless rabbit hole into actually useful tools. It's like having a responsible adult standing between me and that "just one more video" spiral. Thanks to this, I occasionally get work done!