Uses
Stuff I used in general and some of my opinions on them. This page isn't necessarily an endorsement for any of the products, services, or software I use. I was fairly into internet privacy and avoiding big tech in favour of FOSS at some point which influenced what I currently use.
Website
- IDE / Text editor: VSCodium
- Literally Visual Studio Code's open source version, which means no Microsoft telemetry or branding. I mainly make use of the git source control GUI, autofill suggestions, colour picker, and Emmet abbreviations.
- Site Host: Cloudflare Pages
- If you're not already on Cloudflare, I wouldn't recommend it. If you look at Cloudflare's features in isolation, they seem very appealing. Until you consider that they power 1/4 of the internet so if they're down, your site will be down like every major site. In terms of morality, they advocate for neutrality and free speech. Also sounds good in theory, until it's not.
- Git repository host: GitLab
- I chose this because Cloudflare pages can connect to either a GitHub or GitLab repository. GitHub was a no-go (owned by Microsoft after all) so I chose GitLab.
- Static site generator: Eleventy
- Makes writing templated content so much easier. I literally write everything in JSON files now.
- Templating language: Nunjucks
- Domain registration: Porkbun
- Guestbook service: Atabook
Creative
- Pen tablet: Huion HS64
- Relatively affordable and a good size. I bought cheaper it on Huion's Shopee store.
- Drawing program: Krita
- FOSS n shiettt.
- Drawing program: MS Paint
- Did you know the Windows 11 version has layers?
- Vector art program: Adobe Illustrator
- I get Adobe Creative Cloud from my school, might as well make the most of it.
- Image manipulation program: Adobe Photoshop
- I use this occassionally for final edits.
- Coloured pencils: Faber Castell 36 Watercolour Pencils
- I think I bought this for school a long time ago.
- Pen: M&G Q7 Gel Pen 0.5mm
- I love drawing my sona with this pen
- Pen: Uni-ball Signo RT1 0.38mm
- I like this pen for normal writing.
- Sewing machine: Brother JV1400
- I literally just bought this machine why is it already discontinued 😠Yeah I bought it because it was the cheapest. It gets the job done amirite (I still haven't used it yet... but I share it with my family so it's whatever)
Devices
- Computer: Lenovo Legion 5
- It was the "cheapest" out of the laptops my school's vendors were offering on discount. I mainly chose it because I like that the base actually has the thickness to accommodate a variety of ports. Unlike... a certain fruit-named company... Imagine needing a dongle just to connect to USB Type-A... Though the screen being able to flex does scare me a bit.
- Operating system (Computer): Windows 11
- I can hear the booing already. I need it for school... I grew up in an Apple household so I don't have enough experience with the other Windows versions to being able to tell how supposedly "bad" Windows 11 is.
- Main phone: iPhone 13
- My first non-hand-me-down phone. It blue.
- Operating system (Main phone): iOS 17.5.1
- When iOS 18 came out, I didn't like the UI change. Now iOS 27 is out and I still refuse to update.
- Other phone: iPhone 6
- I just use this as an MP3 player and digicam, I don't plan on using this as my main phone or anything. It was a hand-me-down so I didn't have to spend a dime on it, heh! More about it here (I probably don't have a link for this yet lol...)
- Operating system (Other phone): iOS 12.5.8
- Homelab: Lenovo 500e 2nd Gen Chromebook (8GB RAM, 64GB Storage)
- My chromebook from my old school. I changed the firmware with Mr Chromebox
- Operating system (Homelab): Debian GNU/Linux 13 Trixie (headless)
Other
- Browser (Chromium-based): Brave
- I use it for websites I need cookies for (to stay logged in). At the time when I chose it, I thought it was basically as good as hardened Firefox but with less steps. Now I'm not so sure if I recommend it..? For one, the browser itself is bloated with crypto and AI you have to debloat first. The CEO is also homophobic... I really need to change this browser.
- Browser (Firefox-based): LibreWolf
- Better privacy-focussed alternative to Firefox, no Mozilla bloat. I use this as a, so called, "ephemeral browser" which basically means it clears history and cookies whenever you close it so it's best for quick searches. If I want to save something I bookmark it.
- Browser (Phone): Safari
- One day I thought "why the heck do I use Google and Chrome" so I just use the default browser now. It just works.
- Search Engine: DuckDuckGo
- Media Player: VLC
- I use it on my computer and phones. In fact, it was the only media playing app that was still available on iOS 12.
- Tag editor: Mp3tag
- Email service: Proton
- It's a popular privacy-focussed Google Workspace alternative but there are a few problems.
- Email service: Tuta mail
- Another free privacy-focussed email service. Yes, I use multiple email services for my different email addresses. Compartmentalise and diversify!
- Password manager: Bitwarden
- Idk how I used to live with using my phone and browser password managers separately.
- Music discovery: YouTube
- Since I stopped using Spotify a long time ago, I pretty much find all my music on YouTube ...I also get my music from there too...
(Unless I actually own the CD itself of course)