Brandon's Blog

Uses

This page has everything I use, both hardware and software-wise, to be a productive person. If you decide to make your own uses page on your site, consider adding it to uses.tech created by Wes Bos.

My primary work operating system is macOS, so most tools and software listed here are specific to that. I also want to make note of my “dotfiles” macOS bootstrapping scripts available here https://github.com/brandonb927/dotfiles that are very opinionated, but a great starting point for others.

Code Editor #

• Visual Studio Code
• Theme: Min Dark (a light variant is included with the theme)
• Font: Comic Mono

Desktop Apps #

Development #

• Docker - development tool for running code inside a “virtual machine”
• iTerm2 - a terminal that is 100x better than the default Terminal.app
  • zplug — zsh plugin manager
  • p10k theme — terminal theme
• Ngrok - when you need to expose an application to the internet from your local network

Security #

• ExpressVPN — the only VPN I trust because they don’t retain any logs
• 1Password Password Manager — 🇨🇦 Canadian and trustworthy, the two traits to look for in a quality product for storing passwords

Productivity #

• Raycast — Spotlight search, but 10x better
• F.lux - reduces the strain of your screen on your eyes at night, backed by science!
• Plex Media Player - I have a Plex server at home and I use plex on all my TVs and devices
• Spotify - I have a HUGE Spotify library and I need to rock out sometimes
• Steam - I have a rather large Steam library and sometimes I like to play my games
• Sync.com - 🇨🇦 Canadian and trustworthy, a solid Dropbox alternative with end-to-end encryption
• Rogue Amoeba software:
  • Loopback — Cable-free audio routing
  • Audio Hijack — Professional audio capture tool
  • Soundsource — Powerful sound control
• Parsec — Low-latency remote desktop control

Menubar #

• Ice - hides apps in your menubar and allows for a hotkey to show them
• stats - a menubar app to show stats about your system
• Flameshot - screen recorder/screenshot tool
• Stay - I’ve never been happy with macOS window management when plugging in a display, this tool allows you to store window locations on a per-display configuration basis, and even a per-app basis
• Hyperduck — Send links from iOS to your Mac

macOS Maintenance #

• AppCleaner - sometimes you just gotta delete every trace of an app that is installed
• DaisyDisk - when you want to visualize your disk space, this is the app you want to use

Office/Desk Setup #

• MacBook Pro (2023 14-inch M3 Pro)
• MacBook Pro (2019 15-inch Intel i7 6-core, last of it’s kind)
• Standing Desk:
  • Effydesk Business dual-motor standing desk frame in white - You can get $15 off your order by using my referral code
  • 72” Acacia wood countertop
• Chair: Steelcase Series 1 in purple and light grey with a white base
• Monitors:
  • Dell 27” 4K U2723QE
  • Dell 27” 4K U2721Q
  • Dell 27” 4K U2718Q (discontinued, succeeded by the U2720Q)
  • Dual monitor desktop mount — used to hold up my monitors, at a great price
  • Single monitor desktop mount — mounted in my network closet to display NVR cameras (more info on that below)
• Keyboard: Keychron K3, RGB aluminum frame with brown switches, Wrist rest, Uncrowned Kings black leather desk pad
• Mouse: Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac
  • Backup: Logitech MX Master 2S
• Dock: Caldigit TS3 Plus — sure it’s expensive (and the TB4 version has been out for awhile), but this is honestly one of the best investments I’ve ever made for my home office. All the i/o that would connect to my MacBook Pro via different cables and dongles now connects to the TS3+ first, then I have a single Thunderbolt 3 cable that connects from it to the MacBook which also supplies 87W of power, all in one single mess-free cable!
• Dongles:
  • Sabrent Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort adapter — because there is only a single DisplayPort input on the TS3+ sadly, but a few Thunderbolt 3 ports, connects the two monitors to the dock
  • Satechi aluminum USB-C dongle — my on-the-go adapter that lives in my backpack
• Webcam: Logitech c920 — previously used a mirrorless DSLR camera for my webcam, downsized in 2023 to free up some desk space
  • Previous: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 — see my post on how to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam
• Headset: Razer Blackshark v2 — I spent years with a boom arm and mic, switched up to a headset to free up desk space in early 2024
• Speakers: Bose Companion 2 Series III — the things I love about these speakers are they’re small, loud, and have two aux inputs!
• Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM3 — my main headphones for both home and on-the-go use
• Gaming controller: XBox One, Winter Forces
• Backpack: Peak Design 30L Everyday, Ash colour
• Water bottle: Yeti Rambler 769mL, black, insulated

I have an APC 11-outlet 2880 joules surge protector mounted on the underside of the desk which is then attached to an APC 600VA UPS battery backup and surge protector on the floor.

In my 12U network rack I have (in order from top to bottom):

• TP-Link TL-SG1024D gigabit unmanaged, 1U rackmountable
• UniFi UDM Pro
• UniFi 8-port switch with PoE connected over SFP to the UDM-Pro and supplying PoE for:
  • UniFi Protect G4 Doorbell
  • UniFi FlexHD Access Point
  • 2x UniFi NanoHD Access Point
• Raspberry Pi 4 B+ running Homebridge and AdGuard
• 24-port blank keystone 1U patch panel
• Reolink NVR for PoE cameras
• Plex media server
• 8-outlet 1U rack mount PDU power strip, 120V/15A

Throughout my office and the house I have a few IoT devices: some TP-Link HS105 wifi outlets, a few Sonoff DIY smart switches, and two Echo speakers which are basically used for two things: turning the smart switches on and off, and setting cooking timers.

Photography #

• Nikon Z 5 + FTZ adapter — my main camera
• Nikon Z 50 + Nikon Z 18-140mm lens — my secondary camera and lens, primarily used by my wife
• Nikon Z 28-75mm f2.8 lens — this is a great mid-level lens for the full-frame line of Nikon Z cameras, and works really well on my Z 5
• Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 Art DC lens — purchased used, dropped once onto some rocks on a beach in 2019 but built like a tank and still works fine
• Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 lens — purchased used, though it was discontinued due to poor sales this lens is bloody amazing on APS-C cameras
• Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 lens — purchased used from Kerrisdale Cameras in Victoria, BC (best camera shop)
• Tokina AT-X 11-20mm Pro DX f2.8 lens — purchased used, this is my go-to lens for astro photography and landscape photography on the Nikon Z 50
• 72mm Breakthrough Photography X4 6-stop ND filter
• Black Diamond Spot 325 Headlamp — an invaluable piece of kit for when I’m out doing astrophotography, it’s very bright and has a “red light” mode

I also have some of my shots from Flickr over on my photos page if you’re curious!

Amateur Radio #

See my dedicated page on amateur radio.