This post is still in the writing phase but as with What I Use I am making it public on the off chance it can help someone.

Work

Word Processing

I write most things in markdown. I used to love the idea of Ulysses, but I just can’t justify the price. I recently learnt about Zettlr and it definitely seems great for most of my uses and I’m enjoying the zettelkasten possibilities it offers. For more mundane everyday tasks I use TextEdit (free with all Macs), Microsoft Word (for final versions of short assignments), and Google Docs.

For short assignments with Microsoft Word I use Zotero for reference manager (I have a separate post on this here). Otherwise I’ll just use footnotes reminiscent of the Chicago Style in large part as I like their full and short note styling.

For students there are a couple editing web apps that can provide feedback, just remember they can’t turn a chunk of stone into the Venus de Milo.

  1. Hemingway

Presentations

Depending on the topic being presented I find myself varying between three presentation solutions.

  1. Google Slides - This is best when I need to collaborate on a presentation and the presentation does not involve any significant mathematical operations or figures. My three favorite features are the ability to send a link that automatically creates a new copy, send a link that is already in presentation mode, and when presenting the ability to enable Q&A.
  2. Deckset - Only available on Mac OS. This is a simpler presentation solution that allows me to create a template (or use one of theirs) and then forget all about formatting. You create your slides in markdown so you can share that if you want to work on the content but the “visual” will be local.
  3. LATEX - Beamer - Great for presentations

For screen recording I use CleanShot X and for live presentations where I walkthrough computer process Presentify’s live annotation (combined with a Wacom Intuos tablet–I got a USB one, but if you can afford it the Bluetooth one would be far more practical) features are priceless!

Personal

Reading

For tracking my reading I am trying to use Zettlr as I don’t have the self discipline to use GoodReads.

Outdoors

I do a fair bit of trip planning for my kayaking and hiking trips. Some of the apps/sites I constantly find myself using are:

  1. FatMap
  2. Windy

Programming

For coding I find myself switching between the basic (but stellar) CodeRunner and Visual Studio Code