Uses

Tools, setup, and workflow.

The hardware, software, and small workflow decisions I rely on to build, write, design, explore, and stay organised.

Michael’s desk setup

Main machine

2023 Apple iMac

The desk machine. Quiet, simple, and comfortable for longer sessions.

Portable machine

2024 MacBook Pro

The same environment in a smaller form when I want to work away from the desk.

Workflow

Dotfiles-led

My shell, Git defaults, and terminal tools are managed through a small public dotfiles setup.

Hardware

I prefer a setup that gets out of the way: Apple hardware, a clean desk, and input devices that feel familiar.

Main device

2023 Apple iMac

Apple M3 chip · 16GB unified memory · 1TB SSD · 24″ 4.5K Retina display.

Support device

2024 MacBook Pro

Apple M4 chip · 16GB unified memory · 512GB SSD · 14.2″ Liquid Retina XDR display.

Input

Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard

I use both the Apple Mouse and Trackpad, but the Mouse is still the one I reach for most.

Audio

AirPods Pro and Blue Yeti

AirPods for everyday listening, and a Blue Yeti when I need a clearer microphone.

Development

My development setup leans towards tools that are fast, predictable, and pleasant to spend time in. I like software that feels powerful without constantly demanding attention.

Most web work starts in WebStorm, Apple-platform experiments happen in Xcode, and GitLab acts as the long-term record of what I have built, changed, and abandoned.

Core tools

WebStorm

Web & TypeScript

Xcode

Swift & SwiftUI

GitLab

Source & project history

Terminal

A calm shell matters more than a clever one.

A lot of my workflow lives in the terminal, but I try to keep it readable rather than overloaded. The setup is designed to be useful every day: quick navigation, visible Git state, good defaults, and tools that degrade gracefully.

Read the dotfiles case study
zsh Starship Homebrew fzf zoxide eza ripgrep fd bat

dot
gs
ll
cdf
gacp "Improve uses page rhythm"

Languages & frameworks

The technologies I reach for most often when building modern interfaces, websites, and Apple-platform apps.

TypeScript Astro React Next.js Swift SwiftUI Tailwind CSS Framer Motion

Deployment & workflow

I like a simple path from idea to production, with enough automation to help without making the process feel hidden.

Idea

Sketch the shape of the thing.

GitLab

Commit the work and keep history visible.

CI/CD

Let automation catch the obvious things.

Vercel

Preview, ship, and iterate quickly.

Everyday tools

The smaller tools and services that support development, writing, communication, testing, and general organisation.

Apple Notes Safari Apple Terminal Discord Bluesky GitLab LinkedIn

Photography & personal tools

Not everything here is purely about development. Photography, music, and exploration all shape how I think about interfaces and detail.

Photography Urban exploration Piano Apple Photos Whisky notes