Figma
SoftwareWhere the whole visual system starts — every screen, every token.
What forUI design, design tokens, and handing layouts to code.
- Collaborative and fast
- Strong token + variables support
- Gets pricey per editor
Tools
What we actually use.
The software, services, gear and goods actually in use — with the honest pros and cons. If it's on this list, it earned its place, and if it stops earning it, it comes off.
Some links here pay us a cut. It costs you nothing, it never changes what makes the list, and nothing is here that isn't actually in use.
01
Design
Free / $15/mo
Adobe Photoshop
SoftwareFor the image work nothing else handles as well.
What forRetouching, compositing and export-heavy image work.
- Unmatched for raster editing
- Subscription-only
- Heavy
02
Build
Cursor
SoftwareThe editor. AI pair-programming that actually keeps up.
What forWriting and refactoring code with an AI in the loop.
- Genuinely fast AI edits
- Familiar VS Code base
- Best features need the paid tier
Vercel
ServiceHosts and deploys the site — push to ship.
What forDeploying and previewing the site on every push.
- Zero-config deploys
- Preview URLs per branch
- Costs climb at scale
Supabase
ServiceThe database, production and branches, no fuss.
What forPostgres, auth and storage behind the whole studio.
- Real Postgres
- Generous free tier
- Branch tooling still maturing
Keychron K2
ProductThe keyboard everything gets typed on. Worth the desk space.
What forDaily typing — code, copy, everything.
- Great feel
- Wireless + wired
- Tall without a wrist rest
03
Write
Notion
SoftwareWhere the planning and the docs actually live.
What forNotes, planning docs and the studio wiki.
- Flexible
- Good for messy thinking
- Can get slow and sprawling
Claude
SoftwareThe thinking partner for writing, planning and shipping code.
What forDrafting, planning and pair-programming.
- Strong reasoning + long context
- Great at code
- Usage limits on the low tiers
04
Ship
Etsy
ServiceWhere the goods actually sell.
What forSelling digital goods and print-on-demand apparel.
- Built-in buyer traffic
- Handles checkout + delivery
- Fees add up
Printify
ServicePrint-on-demand for the apparel — no inventory, no warehouse.
What forProducing and shipping merch on demand.
- No upfront stock
- Wide product range
- Margins are thin
05
Business
Cal.com
ServiceBooking calls without the back-and-forth.
What forScheduling calls from the contact page.
- Open-source
- Clean booking flow
- Setup takes a minute
Resend
ServiceThe transactional email behind every form on the site.
What forSending form notifications and receipts.
- Developer-friendly
- Good deliverability
- Newer, smaller ecosystem
See what it all adds up to in the shop.
These are the means. The goods are the result.