Uses
A list of my favorite/current tools and software for doing what I love.
Hardware
- HP Elitebook X360 830 G6 (2020) (Windows OS)
- Got this laptop at the end of 2024. It's the first refurbished device I've bought. The battery doesn't last more than hours now so I hope to get that changed soon.
- Pebbles Keys 2 K380s (Color graphite) with Thunderbolt USB port
- I bought this when my four-year Chromebook suddenly broke on me. The temporal replacement laptop I got had a few fault keys so I got this keyboard and mouse set. The latter stopped working when I was in college in the US and I didn't have the time to fix. So the keyboard and USB are all that remains. I chose it because the items are supposed to be compact and quiet, kind of important when sharing a room in college and the items being an everyday carry. After getting a laptop with working keys, I reserved the keyboard for my desk and after moving out, I actively have to remember to use it because I do like it! I heard something about the app but I don't use that at all. Just to type.
- Taotronics TT-BH090 (Color black)
- Bought these about eight years ago with an Amazon gift card I won at a college raffle. From gluing the ear pads to failing to synchronize with my mobile phone, they're still hanging and I will continue to use them still they turn into dust (or stop working I guess).
- JLab Go Air Sport (Color teal)
- I bought these during my trip to Chicago in summer of 2023. I convinced myself I needed a pair or "workout" earphones and since then I've... actually used them a lot! They are easier to carry around than the headphones and that includes the gym. I think the battery is draining faster than before but planned obsolescence won't deter me from not buying new tech 👍.
- Xiaomi Redmi 10 C (Android OS)
- My mobile of daily use since 2021. Among regular uses, I check the live mobile versions of all my websites with it. This is also where I use my RSS feed reader app. Recently, I've moved from using the Play Store to F-Droid. My launcher of choice makes my phone look like a dumb phone. Pesky notifs begone!
Software
- Before Launcher
- My current minimalist launcher. Now that looked it up online, I feel like changing to a FOSS alternative. Been using it for years after I decided to stick with a minimalist launcher. My favorite feature is the daily temperature which I haven't really used for long. I do want an alternative that hides undeletable apps.
- New Pipe
- A Youtube app front-end. I don't use it as often but sure do feel the difference compared to the official app. No adds! Plus, it has RSS feeds.
- FairEmail
- Open-source email client. I use it to get the emails from my Microsoft and Gmail email accounts. Doesn't work with private alternatives. First time using a third party client so it's been a learning experience!
- FeedFlow
- My mobile feed reader app of choice. I don't have many feeds so I don't use it very often. Am looking for them though!
- F-Droid
- Open-source app alternative to the Android Play Store. Started using it in 2026 as I'm switching to FOSS alternatives as a way to Degoogle my tech use.
Stationary
- Field Notes, "County Fair" Summer 2010 Edition
- My first set of Field Notes. In 2023, I wanted to get into pocket notebooks but didn't want to invest too heavily. These were on sale so I grabbed two sets which have lasted at least three years. I don't have any particular relationship with the counties I got (Connecticut, , and). When breaking into a notebook, I add a piece of tape on the bottom of the cover and write "FNMMYY" where MM is the month and YY is the year when I started using it. So my current notebook is codenamed
FN0326because I started using it in March 2026.
- My first set of Field Notes. In 2023, I wanted to get into pocket notebooks but didn't want to invest too heavily. These were on sale so I grabbed two sets which have lasted at least three years. I don't have any particular relationship with the counties I got (Connecticut, , and). When breaking into a notebook, I add a piece of tape on the bottom of the cover and write "FNMMYY" where MM is the month and YY is the year when I started using it. So my current notebook is codenamed
- Dotted Journal
- Despite having [[2026 Changes to Journaling Practice|changed my journaling practice]] on 2026, I still have several dotted notebooks to get through.
- Washi tape
- I've been using washi tapes since 2018 and my use has dwindled. My latest purchase was an assorted set during my 2024 summer trip to Europe. Still have them. Not gonna buy any more till I finish them. Fortunately, I don't spend much time in Web 2.0 spaces anymore so I don't get FOMO as much as I used to. Doesn't mean I don't get the urge to buy when I enter stationary stores but I hold back, I promise!
- Crayola Markers
- Got a set of... twenty five I think, about eight years ago. Lately, I use them the most when doing yearly recaps, so that's a "not very often." They work so I'll keep using them till I run out.
- Zebra mildliners
- A really old purchase back when I got into bullet journaling in 2018. The most recent purchase for this brand was a yellow highlighter. Will get through this whole back before even considering what to use next.
- Miscellaneous stickers
- I really love buying stickers. It seems it's a family thing of sorts, being crafty. I do however purchase stickers from local artists without shame nor guilt. I last filled it up during Spring Break of 2025 so my stack isn't running out anytime soon even if I use them for my monthly set ups.
Web Development
- Visual Codium
- My current code editor. I changed from VSCode around the start of the year because the presence of Copilot was unnerving. Set up was a bit of a challenge but I managed to find an alternative to all extensions I used before. Definitely helps that I'm not a power user. I haven't deleted VSCode from my machine but I barely open it anymore.
- Github
- My git and repo host. Looking to change and move away from Microslop products but Github is so widely used that I haven't given the idea serious thought.
- Netlify
- My deploy option.
- Obsidian
- As I mention in this site's [[Colophon|colophon]], I use Obsidian to draft most of the pages of my code projects. Writing in Markdown helps me focus on getting the words down. For example, this whole page was drafted in a dedicated Obsidian vault!
- Web Browsers
- My daily driver is now Waterfox (previously Chrome). I use it to test my web dev projects views on desktop and mobile. I use Vivaldi for the same as a Chromium alternative.