- 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