- Published on
 
Everything I use
- Authors
 
- Name
 - Kyle Leslie
 - @KyleLeslie
 
Table of Contents

macOS 💻
Applications I use and like on my Macbook. Some are Apple only, lots are cross-platform. I try to stay away from Apple services like iCloud.
Check out this playlist for other application suggestions
Text-editors and terminals
See my post about my note-management solution for more details
- iTerm2: best terminal for mac
 - VScode: Most versatile text-editor/ IDE available.
 - Zettlr: Best cross-platform markdown editor for all my notes
 
Media and files
- Dropbox: don't use it as much anymore, but still handy
 - IINA: solid media player with more polish than VLC
 - Handbrake: for converting video files
 - PopcornTime: for those movies you can't find on Netlix or Disney+... (use a VPN)
 - Syncplay: for watching local movie files with friends remotely (without lag or bandwidth issues)
 - Syncthing: amazing custom syncing between devices (I use it with my Zettlr notes and for moving things from my phone to my laptop)
 - Transmission: my favourite bittorrent client
 - Videostream: for casting local files from your computer to the chromecast
 
Ultilities
- AppZapper or AppTrap: great utilities for removing all files from uninstalled applications permanently
 - BetterSnapTool: for customizing window-snapping and gestures (can't remember if paid or free). There are lots of apps like it now
 - Fantastical: Probably the most powerful calendar app out there. Don't use it anymore since they moved to subscriptions, but worth mentioning if you want something like this
 - f.lux: for controlling blue light
 - Unclutter: great little utility for keeping jot notes, hiding files away temporarily and accessing your clipboard
 - Pushbullet: ultilty/ extension for sending notes and links between devices
 - Stuffit Expander or The Unarchiver: for expanding compressed files
 
Other
- KeepPassXC: encrypted password vault. Moving to BitWarden soon though
 - Lingon: free version can be useful for testing your Automator scripts
 - Signal: for messaging
 - VPN: Used to use PIA, but currently going through 30 day trials of VPNs that rate highly on this site to see which one I like the most
 
Phone 📲
I have the OnePlus 6 and really love it
Favourite Android apps:
I use Google opinion rewards to earn Google Play credits to pay for paid apps.
- Nova Launcher (free & paid): Best launcher on android. Highly customizable. Goes on sale frequently
 - Edge-gestures (paid): For controlling brightness, screen-rotation, split screen etc with edge-gestures.
 - Tasker: Powerful automation. not super intuitive though
 - Slide - reddit client(free): absolute best android reddit client IMO. No ads, clean UI, can colour code subreddits for quick scanning, well maintained, highly customizable.
 - Offline Reader for Reddit (free): Very customizable and simple tool for scheduling subreddit's to be downloaded. Great for busses
 - Evernote: used mostly for todo lists and reminder. nice widget
 - Today weather: accurate weather app with a clean widget Files
 - Solid Explorer (paid w/ 14 day trial): powerful file-management and access to local and remote servers
 - Syncthing (free): file syncing cross platform. see my note-management post
 - Markor (free): markdown editor for mobile. see my note-management post
 - Firefox web browser (free): Firefox > chrome because you can use adblock (I still use chrome for some things).
 
Media
- YouTube Vanced (free): Add free youtube
 - NewPipe (free): Download youtube videos to view offline later (great for bus rides)
 - Videostream (free and paid): remote control for videostream
 - Plex client (free and paid): remote control for plex (or watch it on mobile if you pay for the plex pass)
 - Flud (free and paid): Clean bittorrent client. I paid
 - PopcornTime: streaming alternative. install with Fdroid. use a vpn
 - Simple ABP (free): great audio-book player if you have your own files
 - Libby (free): watch documentaries and listen to audiobooks with library account
 
Automation setups
(will probably upload tasker profiles here later)
Tasker:
- Sleep timer: for when I want to set my phone up for bed-time
- dim screen to minimum
 - set volume to medium
 - open spoitfy to rain playlist
 - play on shuffle,
 - set sleep timer to 30mins
 - open alarm clock app
 
 - Download reddit: for when I want my offline reddit client refreshed without wasting time
- Open Offline reddit app
 - Swipe to open side-bar
 - Scroll down to bottom
 - Click "subreddits" button
 - Pull down to intiate download
 
 - Workout: for when I want to get my phone ready for a workout
- Open podcast app
 - Select gym music
 - Play
 - Open clock app
 - Swipe right to timer
 - Input 10.00 minutes (my first interval)
 - Toggle split-screen to 'On'
 - Open Google sheets shortcut to workout spreadsheet
 
 
Google home routines:
- Eugenes dinnertime song @4:30pm (button and voice command): plays the dinner time song for Eugene so he knows it's time to eat (and doesn't bother us for dinner until then)
 - Turn On/Off the TV (button and voice command): for turning the TV on and off via a WeMo
 
Desk setup 💻
Chair: Herman Miller Aeron
Desk: Anthrodesk Programmable Dual Motor
Monitor arm: Jarvis Monitor Arm
Mechanical Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid (CHERRY MX Red Switches)
Mouse: Razer Deathadder 3500(had this forever)
Dreams for the future...
- ultrawide monitor
 - Macbook pro (202x)
 
Media server 📺
What I currently use for my home media server
Hardware:
I use a Raspberry Pi left-over from my first year web development college course, and an old 1TB harddrive from Western Digital as a NAS. Otherwise, just a strong internet connection and a Chromecast makes wirelessly managing my media library and creating a 'personal' Netflix super simple and easy.
Software:
I have Plex Media server installed on the Raspberry Pi, and the Plex app downloaded on my phone, PC and Macbook. I use Solid Explorer (paid app) to manage downloads and copy files from my phone to my media server when convenient.
Plans for the future
- Sonarr
 - Radarr
 - Jackett
 - Synology NAS (or homemade alternative)
 
Editors + Terminal 📄
What I use to code:
What I use for note-taking:
- Zettlr: Best cross-platform markdown editor for all my notes
 
Networking 📡
My home network setup
- VPN: Used to use PIA, but currently going through 30 day trials of VPNs that rate highly on this site to see which one I like the most. Current front-runners are Mullvad or ExpressVPN. Worst is definitely NordVPN
 
Router can't be near TV or PC so I use a Powerline adapter for more consistent connection to the Nintendo Switch and the PC. Then I use a little Ethernet switch to split up the powerline connection and give more priority to whichever device I'm currently using.
Planned additions to this page:
- Windows only applications
 - pictures of my favourites