This is my web development toolbox.

My main machine is an iMac with 4GB RAM, with a second monitor.

And these are the apps I use:

Alfred

  • App launcher, file/web searcher, iTunes controller, and so much more!
  • For me, it replaced QuickSilver, which had replaced the built-in Spotlight.
  • Mapped to Command-Space

Notational Velocity

  • Superb note-taking.
  • Syncs with Simplenote web version, which syncs with the iPhone/iPad app — notes everywhere!
  • Accessed with Command-Shift-V

Dropbox (Referral link)

  • Adds a Dropbox folder to your computer that is synced across all devices. Works everywhere (Windows/Mac/Linux/iOS).
  • This is a good roundup of Dropbox tips: The Ultimate Dropbox Toolkit & Guide

To Do / Task Management

  • I was using Things, but I’ve started using Taskwarrior (command line tasks!). Lately I’ve been using good ol’ pen & paper checklists!
  • For personal projects/tasks, I use 2do on iPhone & iPad which syncs with Toodledo

Fluid App

  • Turns web apps into Mac apps
  • Used for Lighthouse (bug tracking), PbWiki (internal dev wiki), & Basecamp

TotalFinder

  • Adds tabs to the OS X Finder
  • Essential to reduce window clutter!

Textmate Sublime Text 2

  • Not using Textmate much anymore.
  • Instead, using Sublime Text 2 (with Vintage mode) & MacVim
MacVim
  • For TextMate users, this guide is invaluable: TextMate to VIM
  • I’ve been switching back & forth between MacVim & Sublime Text 2
Vim Browser Extensions
  • These extensions provide Vim keybindings for web browsing.
  • Super-useful in my quest to never touch my mouse…
  • Vimium in Chrome
  • Vimperator in Firefox

Photoshop

Firefox with Firebug

  • Still the best for development, though Chrome’s dev tools are quite good

Google Chrome

  • For anything other than development. Super fast!

Transmit

  • FTP app, can also access S3 buckets

1Password

  • Keep all your passwords in one place, and also good for storing software keys, and “wallet backup”

Adium

  • IM client, not much to say here

Cloud App

  • Best Feature: Auto-uploads screenshots and adds the URL to your clipboard
  • Alternative: GrabBox – Auto-uploads screenshots to your DropBox (bypassing Cloud app’s 10 upload/day limit on free accounts)

Hazel

  • Helps keep files organized
  • Can run rules like “make files in the Downloads folder red that are older than 3 days”
Sequel Pro
  • MySQL GUI
  • Essential window management for large screens
Dotfiles

And some online services I pay for (some of these are affiliate links):

  • Github Codebase  (See this post for why.)
  • Linode (VPS)
  • Webfaction (Hosting for side projects/staging sites.)
  • HTTPme (Reseller hosting for legacy clients)
  • Jungle Disk (To back up my work and home computers.)
  • Amazon Web Services (S3: Static asset hosting, and backup archival)
  • Netflix (Cancelled this for now. I was barley using it, and seldom watch TV/movies these days.)
  • Rdio (Great selection of music. I pay for the Unlimited plan, which allows syncing to your mobile. Replaces iTunes except for albums Rdio doesn’t have.)

This is a list of “contenders”–apps I’ve recently discovered that could quickly become “essential”:

  • KeyRemapForMacbook - Change your key mappings. So far, I just changed CAPS LOCK to ESC.