---
title: "/uses"
date: "2024-05-29"
lastmod: "2024-06-02"
description: "The hardware, software, services, and gear which I use (almost) daily."
toc: true
timeless: true
categories: slashes
---
*Here's some of the stuff I use and how I use it.*

### Hardware
*Not counting my [homelab](/homelab).*
- **[Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition](https://frame.work/products/laptop-chromebook-12-gen-intel)** (i5-1240P | 32GB RAM | 1TB NVMe). Yep, it's an overpowered Chromebook, and my primary computing device. I make full use of the [ChromeOS Linux Development Environment](https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-library/guides/containers/containers-and-vms/), with [Nix](https://nixos.org/) for package management.
- **[Pixelbook](https://blog.google/products/pixelbook/introducing-pixelbook/)** running [NixOS](https://nixos.org/) for when I need a "real" Linux computer.
- **[BOOX Note Air3 C](https://shop.boox.com/products/noteair3) e-ink tablet** for reading and (hand)writing notes (more on this [here](https://blog.jbowdre.lol/post/boox-note-air-3-c-e-ink-writing-tablet)).
- **[Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer](https://www.creality.com/products/ender-3-pro-3d-printer)**, or at least that's how it started. It's got a direct-drive conversion, a "silent" board running Klipper firmware, and more printed part upgrades than I can remember.
- **[Weatherflow Tempest Weather Station](https://shop.tempest.earth/products/tempest)** to help me get my Wx nerd on.

### Everyday Carry
*What has it got in its pocketses?*
- **[Flipper Zero](https://flipperzero.one/)** running [Momentum Firmware](https://momentum-fw.dev/) in my pocket or bag for on-the-go hacking and exploration.
- **[Leatherman FREE K4](https://www.leatherman.com/free-k4-590.html)** knife/multitool in my pocket for cutting and tinkering.
- **[Milky lactase tablets](https://shopmilky.com/)** in my wallet so I can enjoy dairy without consequences.
- **[Oura Ring](https://ouraring.com/product/rings/heritage)** (3rd generation, Heritage Black) on my middle finger for sleep and readiness/recovery tracking.
- **[Pixel 8 Pro](https://store.google.com/product/pixel_8_pro)** in my pocket, running [GrapheneOS](https://grapheneos.org/) as my daily-driver (more on how I use that [here](https://blog.jbowdre.lol/post/daily-driving-grapheneos)).
- **[Pixel Buds Pro](https://store.google.com/product/pixel_buds_pro)** in my ears, with noise cancelling so I don't have to acknowledge the world around me.
- **[Pixel Watch 2](https://store.google.com/product/pixel_watch_2)** on my wrist, for notifications and fitness tracking.
- **[ProxGrind RF Field Detector Card](https://www.redteamtools.com/RFID_LF_HF_Field_Detector_Card)** on my keychain to quickly learn about RFID/NFC readers.
- **[Ridge Wallet](https://ridge.com/products/aluminum-gunmetal)** in my pocket for keeping my cards handy.
- **[RovyVon Aurora A7 EDC Flashlight](https://www.rovyvon.com/collections/aurora-keychain-flashlights/products/aurora-a7-usb-c-gitd-sky-blue-keychain-flashlight-4th-generation)** in my pocket for keeping the darkness at bay.
- **[Ti EDC Backpack](https://bigidesign.com/pages/ti-edc-backpack-landing-page)** for carrying my stuff, and keeping it organized while in transit.
- **[Yubico Yubikey 5C NFC](https://www.yubico.com/product/yubikey-5c-nfc/)** on my keychain for hardware token things.

### Software
*Computer and web apps.*
- **[Calibre](https://calibre-ebook.com/)** for collecting, converting, and managing my eBooks.
- **[Fish shell](https://fishshell.com/)**, a really smart, modern, heavily configurable shell.
- **[Home Assistant](https://www.home-assistant.io/)** for controlling my "smart" home.
- **[Home Manager](https://github.com/nix-community/home-manager)** for managing packages and configurations across multiple systems ([dotfiles](https://github.com/jbowdre/dotfiles)).
- **[Immich](https://immich.app/)**, a self-hosted photo and video management solution.
- **[Linkding](https://github.com/sissbruecker/linkding)** as a self-hosted bookmark manager.
- **[Miniflux](https://miniflux.app/)**, a self-hosted minimalist feed reader.
- **[Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/)** for collecting/organizing notes. You can see some of them [here](https://notes.runtimeterror.dev/).
- **[Phanpy](https://phanpy.social/#/)**, a minimal and opinionated Mastodon web client.
- **[Tabby](https://tabby.sh/)**, a beautiful cross-platform terminal app.
- **[tmux](https://github.com/tmux/tmux)** because *I heard you like terminals so I put a terminal in your terminal so you can terminal while you terminal*.
- **[Vim](https://www.vim.org/)** for coding and development without a GUI.
- **[VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com/)** for most coding and development.

### Android Apps
*Skipping the obvious ones for services mentioned elsewhere on this page...*
- **[Cheogram](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cheogram.android.playstore)** ([F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/packages/com.cheogram.android/)) XMPP client, with great integration to [jmp.chat](https://jmp.chat/).
- **[Element](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=im.vector.app)** ([F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/im.vector.app/)) Matrix chat client.
- **[Firefox Focus](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.focus)** Fast and private web browser for throw-away browsing sessions.
- **[Firefox](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox)** for general web browsing.
- **[JBV1](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.johnboysoftware.jbv1)** gives super powers to my Valentine One radar detector.
- **[Lagrange](https://skyjake.github.io/fdroid/repo/)** browser for [Gemini](https://geminiprotocol.net/).
- **[RaceBox](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pro.RaceBox.androidapp)** / **[RaceChrono](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.racechrono.app)** for recording GPS/acceleration data during my [autocross runs](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwzr4uKY-x-EwCv-rWNGefdikuW6Oy9O_).
- **[RadarScope](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope)** weather radar and information.
- **[SimpleX Chat](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=chat.simplex.app)** ([F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/chat.simplex.app/)) for end-to-end encrypted chats without any user identifiers.
- **[Squoosh](https://squoosh.app/)** for compressing and EXIF-stripping photos before sharing.
- **[Tasker](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.dinglisch.android.taskerm)** for automated profiles on my phone.
- **[WiFiman](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubnt.usurvey)** for scanning a testing wireless networks.
- **[Yubico Authenticator](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yubico.yubioath)** for storing TOTP secrets on a hardware token.

### Services
*These may include affiliate links.*
- **[Cloaked](https://join.cloaked.app/?utm_source=referral&utm_campaign=Ee83SGN8OR)** for generating unique identies (email addresses + phone numbers) for every web sign-up.
- **[Fastmail](https://app.fastmail.com/signup/?STKI=/u29803368)** for fast, private email service with a ton of nice bonus features.
- **[Forward Email](https://forwardemail.net/)** for routing email to/from my various project domains.
- **[JMP.chat](https://jmp.chat/)** for a phone number backed by XMPP.
- **[NextDNS](https://nextdns.io/?from=2jujzdcc)** for privacy-protecting ad-blocking DNS filtering in the cloud.
- **[Obico](https://www.obico.io/)** for controlling and monitoring 3D prints.
- **[omg.lol](https://home.omg.lol/referred-by/jbowdre)** for some really handy web tools and one of the best communities of interesting people.
- **[Privacy.com](https://app.privacy.com/join/JMMQ7)** for creating virtual merchant-locked credit cards to keep me safe when shopping online.
- **[Tailscale](https://tailscale.com)** for connecting all my various systems and making them think that they're on the same LAN.