The Tools I Use
Computers are, for the most part, useless piles of plastic and regret. But occasionally, you find a bit of software that has... speed and power.
Let's be honest. Most technology is rubbish. It's designed by people who wear turtlenecks in the summer and it exists solely to make your life more complicated. However, every now and then, you find a collection of tools that actually work. Tools that don't just sit there gently drooling while you try to get things done.
Here is the digital shed where I keep the hammers and spanners of my life. And I promise you, they are the best tools... in the world.
1. VS Code
This is my main IDE. I have tried VS Code, and I stick with it. I know, I know—everyone is talking about Cursor these days. I've tried Cursor. It's fine, if you like a car that tries to steer for you every time you want to go around a corner. But for me, I like to be in the driver's seat. I use the free version of VS Code because, frankly, it's all the editor anyone really needs. It's solid, it's reliable, and it doesn't try to be too clever for its own good.
2. Claude Code (The Brain in the Basement)
Now we get to the heavy artillery. Claude Code, specifically using Opus 4.5. This isn't just a chatbot; it's like having a genius in your basement who never sleeps, never complains, and doesn't demand a pension. I am continuously impressed—actually, I'm slightly terrified—at what it can do. I use it to bounce ideas off, to write code that would take me a fortnight to figure out, and generally to fill all the massive knowledge gaps I have. It's magnificent.
3. The Search Engines (Gemini & Co)
Google Gemini is the other one. It's a great alternative to Claude and that other one everyone talks about. I use them all, because in the world of AI, you want as many opinions as possible. It's like having a committee of experts, only they don't argue about where to go for lunch.
4. Google AI Studio (The Designer)
If you like this website—and if you don't, you're wrong—you should know it was built using Google AI Studio. It's a tool that allows you to build good-looking frontend UIs without having to sacrifice your sanity to the gods of CSS. It is fast, it is efficient, and it is how modern things should be made.
5. LinqOptima (The Professional Mask)
LinkedIn is a strange place. It's a desert of corporate buzzwords where people "reach out" and "circle back" until they lose the will to live. LinqOptima is what I used to fix mine. It optimizes your profile—the text, the photo, the lot. Since I applied it, I started getting more views. It makes you look like a person of substance rather than just another cog in the machine.
6. Flikness (The Physical Reality)
I am at an age where my body is starting to make noises it shouldn't. Flikness is my personal trainer. It's a coach that tells me what to eat and how to train so I don't collapse after a light jog. I use it for running plans and body exercises. It's like having a very disciplined person shouting at you from your phone, which is exactly what I need.
7. HeyBarcelona (The Real Stuff)
Finally, we have HeyBarcelona. If you go to Barcelona and eat at a restaurant with a picture of a paella on a plastic board, you are a lunatic. You need this site. They have properly written articles about each venue, and it's the only way to find actual, genuine nourishment in a city full of tourist traps. It's the difference between eating a microwave meal and a feast fit for a king.
"A man is only as good as his tools. And if his tools are powered by AI, he's basically a god."
So there you have it. My digital toolkit. Now, go away and build something. Or go to Barcelona and eat a decent ham. Either is fine.