Tools I Use

Hardware

• MacBook Pro
• Graphene OS (running on Google Pixel)
• 45Drives HL4 Server
• Synology NAS

Domain & Hosting Services

• PorkBun (Domain Registrar)
• Vultr (Virtual Server for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Website, Storage)

Server & Infrastructure

• Rocky Linux (OS for home server)
• OpenBSD (OS for remote server)
• Tailscale (Service to VPN into home network securely)
• Dovecot (IMAP Email Server)
• httpd (Web Server)
• Radicale (Contacts & Calendar)

Command Line Tools & Utilities

• Vim (Text Editor; Terminal)
• rsync (File transfer and synchronization)

Cloud Storage & Backups

• StorageBox (Cloud Storage)
• Backblaze (Cloud Backups for MacOS)

Website Analytics

• GoatCounter (Privacy-friendly website analytics)

Productivity & Knowledge Management

• Obsidian (Knowledge Management; MacOS, gOS)
• Logseq (Knowledge Management; MacOS)
• Anki (SRS/Flashcard Learning)
• Adobe Acrobat Pro (PDF Editor; MacOS)
• NextCloud (Self-hosted cloud server)
• Zotero (Reference Manager; MacOS)
• Readwise (Highlights Manager)
• ChatGPT (AI Chat Generator)
• Open WebUI (Self-hosted web UI for AI chat; multi-model with local model support)

Multimedia & Capture Tools

• Zettle Notes (Quick notes for gOS)
• Drafts (Text capture; iOS)
• Karakeep (Multimedia Capture Tool; open-source MyMind replacement)

Messaging & Communication

• MailMate (Email Client; MacOS)
• Thunderbird (Email Client; gOS)
• Signal (Secure Messaging Client; iOS, MacOS)
• Proton Mail (Secure & Private Email with E2EE)
• SimpleLogin (Email Aliasing)
• Family Album (Family Photo-sharing)
• GPG Tools (OpenPGP Email Signing & Encryption; MacOS)

Browsing & Online Privacy/Security

• Firefox (Web Browser, privacy-configured)
• UBlock Origin (Browser Extension)
• Cookie AutoDelete (Browser Extension)
• Mullvad VPN (VPN; primary)
• Private Internet Access (VPN; secondary)
• Two-Factor Authenticator (open source)
• Stop The Madness (Browser Extension)

Home & Lifestyle

• Immich (Self-hosted Photos App)
• Home Assistant (Self-hosted Smart-Home Server)
• Frigate NVR Home Surveillance NVR (open-source)
• OsmAnd (Open-source offline maps and navigation)
• Garmin (Health & Fitness Watch)
• Strava (Fitness Activities Social Media & Tracking)
• Windy (Weather App)

Personal Finance

• YNAB (Personal Budgeting)
• Spliit (Open-source alternative to Splitwise)

Entertainment & Learning

• Readwise Reader (Read-it-Later App)
• Snipd (Podcast Player; gOS)
• Spotify (Music Streaming)
• Calibre (eBook Manager; MacOS)
• Jellyfin (Self-hosted Media Server; Synology)
• Audiobookshelf (Self-hosted Audiobook Server; Synology)
• Lichess (Free & open-source online chess)
• MonkeyType (Learn-to-Type; WebApp)
• Keybr.com (Learn-to-Type; WebApp)

Related Posts

• Web Publishing Workflow
• Information Capture Workflow

Note: Many thanks to Derek Sivers for his "Tech Independence" guide, which enabled the setup of self-hosted services (Mail, Website, Contacts, Calendar, Storage).