Toolbox

This is my web development toolbox.

My main machine is an iMac with 4GB RAM, with a second monitor.

And these are the apps I use:

Alfred

  • App launcher, file/web searcher, iTunes controller, and so much more!
  • For me, it replaced QuickSilver, which had replaced the built-in Spotlight.
  • Mapped to Command-Space

Notational Velocity

  • Superb note-taking.
  • Syncs with Simplenote web version, which syncs with the iPhone/iPad app — notes everywhere!
  • Accessed with Command-Shift-V

Dropbox (Referral link)

  • Adds a Dropbox folder to your computer that is synced across all devices. Works everywhere (Windows/Mac/Linux/iOS).
  • This is a good roundup of Dropbox tips: The Ultimate Dropbox Toolkit & Guide

To Do / Task Management

  • I was using Things, but I’ve started using Taskwarrior (command line tasks!). Lately I’ve been using good ol’ pen & paper checklists!
  • For personal projects/tasks, I use 2do on iPhone & iPad which syncs with Toodledo

Fluid App

  • Turns web apps into Mac apps
  • Used for Lighthouse (bug tracking), PbWiki (internal dev wiki), & Basecamp

TotalFinder

  • Adds tabs to the OS X Finder
  • Essential to reduce window clutter!

Textmate Sublime Text 2

  • Not using Textmate much anymore.
  • Instead, using Sublime Text 2 (with Vintage mode) & MacVim
MacVim
  • For TextMate users, this guide is invaluable: TextMate to VIM
  • I’ve been switching back & forth between MacVim & Sublime Text 2
Vim Browser Extensions
  • These extensions provide Vim keybindings for web browsing.
  • Super-useful in my quest to never touch my mouse…
  • Vimium in Chrome
  • Vimperator in Firefox

Photoshop

Firefox with Firebug

  • Still the best for development, though Chrome’s dev tools are quite good

Google Chrome

  • For anything other than development. Super fast!

Transmit

  • FTP app, can also access S3 buckets

1Password

  • Keep all your passwords in one place, and also good for storing software keys, and “wallet backup”

Adium

  • IM client, not much to say here

Cloud App

  • Best Feature: Auto-uploads screenshots and adds the URL to your clipboard
  • Alternative: GrabBox – Auto-uploads screenshots to your DropBox (bypassing Cloud app’s 10 upload/day limit on free accounts)

Hazel

  • Helps keep files organized
  • Can run rules like “make files in the Downloads folder red that are older than 3 days”
Sequel Pro
  • MySQL GUI
  • Essential window management for large screens
Dotfiles

And some online services I pay for (some of these are affiliate links):

  • Github Codebase  (See this post for why.)
  • Linode (VPS)
  • Webfaction (Hosting for side projects/staging sites.)
  • HTTPme (Reseller hosting for legacy clients)
  • Jungle Disk (To back up my work and home computers.)
  • Amazon Web Services (S3: Static asset hosting, and backup archival)
  • Netflix (Cancelled this for now. I was barley using it, and seldom watch TV/movies these days.)
  • Rdio (Great selection of music. I pay for the Unlimited plan, which allows syncing to your mobile. Replaces iTunes except for albums Rdio doesn’t have.)

This is a list of “contenders”–apps I’ve recently discovered that could quickly become “essential”:

  • Concentrate – Helps you focus on tasks (i.e. “Coding”). Most useful feature is blocking time-wasting websites, but also can open programs you need to work on your task, close programs you don’t need, and more. (As a side note, this software has a great trial feature–you can use it for 60 hours, which means by the time you need to pay, you’ll have 60 hours of productivity behind you, and it has likely paid for itself!)