Software I use, gadgets I love, and other things I recommend.

I get asked a lot about the things I use to build software, stay productive, or buy to fool myself into thinking I’m being productive when I’m really just procrastinating. Here’s a big list of all of my favorite stuff.

Development tools

  • Visual Studio

    When I need full-scale enterprise tools, Visual Studio delivers everything from powerful debugging to seamless Azure integration.

  • Visual Studio Code

    I don’t care if it’s missing all the bells and whistles of heavyweight IDEs—Visual Studio Code remains my go-to editor for speed, flexibility, and extensibility.

  • SQL Server Management Studio

    For database work, I switch to SQL Server Management Studio for its comprehensive control.

  • Azure Data Studio

    I switch to Azure Data Studio for a more modern, developer-friendly experience.

  • NGROK

    When it’s time to demo or test webhooks, NGROK makes exposing local servers to the internet seemless.

Design

  • Figma

    Figma is hands-down the best tool for modern interface design and collaboration. Figma helps bring ideas to life faster, without ever needing to leave the browser.

Productivity

  • Microsoft To Do

    Microsoft To Do keeps me focused better than any complex productivity suite ever could. With its clean interface, smart daily planning (“My Day”), and deep integration with Outlook and Microsoft 365, it helps me stay on top of personal and project tasks without the clutter. Sometimes, less really is more.

  • Azure DevOps

    Azure DevOps delivers the end-to-end workflow that actually gets things shipped. From code repos and CI/CD pipelines to project boards and test plans, it brings everything together in one tightly integrated platform. Whether I’m tracking user stories or automating deployments, Azure DevOps keeps the entire software lifecycle moving with precision.