bwc9876.dev
Files for my website
bwc9876.dev
Uses page
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src/layouts/Layout.astro
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src/layouts/Layout.astro
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src/pages/uses.astro
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src/pages/uses.astro
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---
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import Layout from "@layouts/Layout.astro";
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import ExtLink from "@components/ExtLink.astro";
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---
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<Layout title="Uses">
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<h1><span class="gradient-text">Ben C</span> Uses</h1>
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<p>
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Here's a list of stuff I use everyday. While I do like all the stuff I list here, keep in mind
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I'm not trying to tell you that you should/have to use it as well. I just have a lot of love and
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appreciation for the tools I use and the people who made them, so I wanted to share that here.
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</p>
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<section>
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<h2>Hardware</h2>
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I'm a big Valve fan so I like naming my devices after companies in their games.
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<h3>Framework 13 Laptop (<code>aperture</code>)</h3>
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<p>
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My main laptop! I bought the Intel version back in 2023 and still love using it. The internal
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mic doesn't work and the keyboard is failing a bit but I will use this thing until it doesn't
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turn on anymore.
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</p>
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<h3>Custom built Desktop (<code>black-mesa</code>)</h3>
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<p>
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Desktop of theseus I've had for a good while now. Currently has an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and a AMD
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Radeon RX 7800 XT GPU. I used it a lot for gaming but I haven't played much recently. Now it
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acts as a server for silly projects like <a href="/projects/bingus-bot">Bingus</a>.
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</p>
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<h3>Raspberry Pi 4 (<code>mann-co</code>)</h3>
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<p>
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Rpi I use mostly for testing stuff. I also sometimes plug it in and have it WOL my desktop
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every minute in case my power goes out 💀.
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</p>
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<h3>Pixel 7</h3>
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<p>
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Phone I use for phone things. I've been trying to use it less and less. I'm hoping I can
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install an alternative Android version like GrapheneOS soon-ish. Especially since Google is
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trying to kill the only cool thing about Android.
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</p>
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</section>
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<section>
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<h2>Software</h2>
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Too much software.
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://nixos.org/">NixOS</ExtLink> (Linux Distro)</h3>
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<p>
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I started using NixOS when I started college and never looked back. Having a unified
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abstraction for configuring my system is a dream come true. All of my configs are public and
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available <a href="https://tangled.org/bwc9876.dev/nixos-config" target="_blank"
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>as a Git repository</a
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>.
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</p>
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<p>
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I use an alternative implementation of Nix called <ExtLink href="https://lix.systems/"
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>Lix</ExtLink
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>.
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</p>
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<h3>Command Line</h3>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://nushell.sh/">Nushell</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Nushell is my favorite shell. It is data-oriented and nice to use. It has a lot f nice stuff
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for converting data formats and transforming data. It makes scripting easy.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://starship.rs/">Starship</ExtLink> (prompt)</h4>
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<p>
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I use starship to generate my shell's prompt. I like how configurable it is and copy my config
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to other platforms and shells to get a consistent experience.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://github.com/ajeetdsouza/zoxide">Zoxide</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Zoxide is a nice utility that remembers directories I've <code>cd</code>'d into. When I <code
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>cd</code
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> again it uses that database to find a suitable directory without needing me to type in the whole
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path. As an example, I can <code>cd</code> into my NixOS config by just typing <code
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>cd ni</code
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>.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://tldr.sh/">tldr</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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tldr is a concise version of man, with a community maintained list of documentation that tells
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you how to do common actions with a given command.
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</p>
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<p>
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I use a tldr implementation called <ExtLink href="https://tealdeer-rs.github.io/tealdeer/"
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>tealdeer</ExtLink
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>.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://github.com/sharkdp/bat">bat</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Bat is a pretty version of cat that gives syntax highlighting and auto-pages if needed. It
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also has stuff for viewing manpages and diffs.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://yazi-rs.github.io/">yazi</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Yazi is TUI file manager. I really like it for quick file operations. It also has a mount
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plugin for udisks and can extract archives automatically.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://www.musicpd.org/">MPD</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Daemon for playing music! It's nice that I can change players while still having the same
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underlying system. It also can announce songs to Discord and MPRIS.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://rmpc.mierak.dev/">rmpc</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>Command line controller for MPD, I really like how simple it is. And it supports Cava.</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://just.systems/man/en/">just</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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A refreshingly simple command runner that <em>just</em> works. I write recipes in a Justfile and
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it runs the commands I specify.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://docs.jj-vcs.dev/latest/">jujutsu</ExtLink> (jj)</h4>
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<p>
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An alternative to Git. From the moment I started using it I loved it. It has very good UX and
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makes my life so much easier. The underlying repository is still Git too!
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://neovim.io/">neovim</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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I like terminal editors, and <ExtLink href="https://github.com/nix-community/nixvim"
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>Nixvim</ExtLink
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> makes configuring it very nice.
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</p>
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<h4>
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<ExtLink href="https://github.com/pythops/impala">impala</ExtLink>, <ExtLink
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href="https://github.com/pythops/bluetui">bluetui</ExtLink>
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</h4>
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<p>Both TUIs for managing Wifi/Bluetooth, very handy!</p>
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<h3>Graphics</h3>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://niri-wm.github.io/niri/">Niri</ExtLink> (Window Manager)</h4>
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<p>
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Niri is a wayland window manager that lays out windows as an infinite strip of columns. I
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really like this methodology and have started to like having my sites and apps as columns. I
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have firefox set to open links in new windows now too since it's easier to manage that way.
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</p>
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<p>In addition to Niri I use the following programs to build a graphical shell.</p>
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<ul>
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<li>waybar</li>
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<li>swaync</li>
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<li>swayosd</li>
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<li>hyprlock</li>
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<li>swayidle</li>
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<li>rofi</li>
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</ul>
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<p>The config I use for each of these are in my NixOS flake.</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://www.firefox.com/en-US/">Firefox</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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I've used Firefox for a while. It's my favorite to configure with Nix, and I can disable all
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their annoying stuff (suggestions, new tab stories, AI stuff, telemetry) pretty easily.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://catppuccin.com/">Catppuccin</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Catppuccin my beloved. I like the color scheme and the Nix integration is amazing. All must be
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cat.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://github.com/zaps166/QMPlay2">QMPlay2</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>Video player I like to use, it's mostly for local files. For music I use MPD/rmpc.</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://wezterm.org/">Wezterm</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Wezterm is a nice terminal emulator that is fast enough for me. However, I don't have a use
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for a lot of its features, might switch to something else soon.
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</p>
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<p>
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Also it keeps freezing? Although this may be just my laptop so I'm not gonna blame it there.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://kdeconnect.kde.org/">KDE Connect</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Connecting my phone to my computer. It syncs clipboard, media controls, and notifications! I
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love using it.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://keepassxc.org/">KeepassXC</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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A nice password manager. I can't configure it with Nix that well but I live with it. I like
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how it can manage SSH keys as well, putting them in my agent when the DB is unlocked.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://syncthing.net/">Syncthing</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Not <em>really</em> graphical but putting it here anyway. Easy, reliable sync between my devices.
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I use it to sync data between my laptop, desktop, and phone. I sync my entire photo and music library
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(surprisingly fits fine on my phone) as well as my KeepassXC database.
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</p>
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<h4><ExtLink href="https://font.subf.dev/en/">Maple Mono</ExtLink></h4>
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<p>
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Nice looking monospace font for my editor! I like the ligatures and it has nerd fonts builtin.
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</p>
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</section>
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<section>
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<h2>Sites/Services</h2>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://witchsky.app">Witchsky</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>Alternative frontend for Bluesky. A lot of neat features and a catppuccin theme!!!</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="github.com/haileyok/cocoon">Cocoon</ExtLink> (Self-hosted)</h3>
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<p>
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Self hosting my PDS is scary and fun. Cocoon seemed simple so I went with it, and it works
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great! I might try tranquil at some point too.
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</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://tangled.org">Tangled</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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I get to self host my own repositories while still getting social features. Tangled is such a
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neat idea and I really want to see it succeed.
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</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://porkbun.com">Porkbun</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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They're a good registrar. I'm not gonna lie "AI generated domain search" seems so silly to me.
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I really don't get the point. Either way it's a nice experience and their UI is easy to use.
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</p>
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</section>
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<section>
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<h2>Languages/Frameworks</h2>
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Stuff I like using.
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://nixos.org/">Nix</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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I don't just use it for my system! I like using Nix to develop my software. Setting up dev
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environments is easy and distributing packages is nice. The language itself isn't perfect, but
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the pros heavily outweigh the cons.
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</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://rust-lang.org/">Rust</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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Rust is a nice language. I struggled to find a "go-to" language for my projects but after
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learning Rust I really like using it. It's my favorite language.
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</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://tauri.app/">Tauri</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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Rust and web, my two favorite things! Tauri lets you write most application logic in Rust and
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then use a WebView for the frontend. It uses the system webview (for better or for worse). It
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might be a bit overkill but also nuh uh.
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</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://astro.build/">AstroJS</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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Astro is really nice for SSG. I don't use it for SSR but it's probably good for that too. I
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just really like having integrations with other frameworks and the content collections system
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is so wonderful to use. Their docs also made me want to get into technical writing. It's
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usually my go-to for making any static site since I know it well and it's versatile. This
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website is made with Astro :)
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</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://vite.dev">Vite</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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Vite is a nice build tool. Astro is built on top of it but when Astro is too much (like when
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I'm using Tauri), Vite is a great choice.
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</p>
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<h3>
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<ExtLink href="https://docs.astral.sh/uv/">uv</ExtLink>, <ExtLink
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href="https://docs.astral.sh/ruff/">ruff</ExtLink
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> (Python)
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</h3>
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<p>
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Modern Python tooling THANK GOD. uv is a great package manager with actually nice UX. Ruff is
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a good lightweight formatter and linter.
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</p>
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<h3>
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<ExtLink href="https://oxc.rs/docs/guide/usage/linter">oxlint</ExtLink>, <ExtLink
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href="https://oxc.rs/docs/guide/usage/formatter.html">oxfmt</ExtLink
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> (JavaScript/TypeScript)
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</h3>
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<p>Replacements for eslint and prettier. Both are a lot faster and not as bloated. Big fan.</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://www.djangoproject.com/">Django</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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I don't use it much anymore but I'd still die for it. It's so easy to use and the ORM is my
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favorite
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</p>
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<h3><ExtLink href="https://typst.app/">Typst</ExtLink></h3>
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<p>
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I use Typst for any documents or slide shows I create. I love having a language to use instead
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of having to do WYSIWYG editing. <a href="/resume.pdf">My Resume</a> is made with Typst.
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</p>
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</section>
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<section>
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<h2>Finding Cool Things</h2>
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<p>
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Most of this stuff I did not discover on my own! I read a lot of sites like <ExtLink
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href="https://lobste.rs/">lobsters</ExtLink
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> to learn about new projects. I also like social media (and social media-adjacent) sites like Bluesky,
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GitHub, and Tangled to find new projects!
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</p>
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</section>
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</Layout>