Who are you, and what do you do? What do you like to do outside of work?

My name is Luis. I’m a software engineer based in Houston, Texas, where I’ve worked remotely for most of my career. I build solutions spanning various tech stacks depending on the needs of the project. Recently my focus has been cloud infrastructure, while my core competency is front-end development.

What hardware do you use?

MacBook all the way! I have a custom PC I built for light gaming and video capture, but I’ve always felt more comfortable using a Mac for development.

When I record a development tutorial, I’ll connect my MacBook to the Elgato 4K capture card on my PC.

The following peripherals make it as easy as inserting a single USB-C into the Macbook to get started:

1. USB-C hub
2. HDMI splitter
3. KVM switch

After that, front and center, is my ErgoDox EZ keyboard, Magic Trackpad 2, and my Logitech G604 mouse. For sound, it’s a mix of AirPods, Bose QC35ii, and PreSonus Bluetooth studio monitors. When recording, I use a Blue Yeti microphone. For a webcam, I use a Logitech 1080p Pro. All this easily plugs into the KVM switch so that I can work between multiple computers.

The monitors I use are mounted on these easy-to-move arms. The arms, desk, and legs were not made to work with each other, but I was able to drill, cut, and screw to make it all fit the way I wanted.

And what software?

For development, VS Code and HyperTerminal. My laptop stays open primarily as a terminal screen and for TouchID, which comes in handy when used with 1Password. ClickUp has been my main program for keeping track of all my workflows and ensuring I stay up to date with tasks and my team. Spark email is also great for a sane inbox. Its delegation and email sharing options are probably my favorite features.

What’s your keyboard setup like? Do you use a custom layout or custom keycaps?

I tried to keep my layout as close to the standard Mac keyboard as possible with the goal of slowly introducing changes. I’ll admit it hasn’t changed a whole lot since then. At the moment, I only use the first layer, which helps with writing JS/React effectively.

What would be your dream setup?

I’d probably upgrade my desk legs next. The ones I have now can be raised; however, they are not tall enough to make standing a comfortable option.