2022 Software Review

As the year ends, I found it useful to take a look at the software I've used over the past 12 months. Here is a brief list of the main applications that I have enjoyed using:

• 1Password – So many passwords! I've found no cause to seek an alternative, despite using this for several years. Unlike some, I've enjoyed the update to 1Password 8.
• Emacs – I'm a big fan of Org mode, and use Doom as a base for my Emacs configuration.
• Arc – a browser that has a number of innovations. I love the new approach to tabs, use of spaces and temporary browser windows.
• Spark – after looking around at different mail clients, I returned to Spark. I've not been tempted by their new premium offering, but glad they have a clearer business model. Once I update to Ventura I may try Apple Mail again now it has snoozing, etc.
• Reeder – a fantastic RSS app that continues to get better year-on-year.
• EagleFiler – another new one for 2022. Despite no mobile client, this has become the way I organise my client files, and it is nice and easy to create links to items in EagleFiler which I often add into Org mode files tracking projects I'm working on.
• Tot – I'm using this on macOS and iOS now. A very convenient app for making quick notes which are likely only useful for a few hours – just a quick keyboard shortcut away.
• Craft – I started using this in 2021, and have using it a lot more this year. My main use case is for image heavy documents that I want to share via a URL with clients. Org mode is much better for long documents. However, when you wish to drag in a few images, or have a live document a client can access behind a password, this app works really well for me.
• Raycast – bye bye Alfred and hello Raycast. A love how quickly you can create quick links, and the shell script extensions are easier for me to work with than Alfred's graphical builder for actions.
• Grammarly – I'm only on the free tier, but this helps me out with silly grammatical mistakes that would otherwise litter my emails and blog posts.
• Day One – one of the few apps I have a subscription for. I've hooked up a Raycast extension to quickly log work thoughts this year, and continued to use it for tracking my children's achievements and other things which happen in my life.
• Sketch – I've not been tempted by Figma, especially now Adobe has purchased it. I love how easy it is to put together UI designs and create assets for my apps.
• Keyboard Maestro – I used this many years ago, and have started using again, primarily for filling in web forms. I've been working on a web app for a client and it is very form heavy.
• MusicBox – each Friday, I go through the new classical music releases on Apple Music and add into MusicBox. A fantastic 'listen later' app – a great example of how the Apple Music APIs can leverage new ideas!
• GoodLinks – I'm not good at going through my read later lists, but this is the app I use to get links that would otherwise distract me from what I'm working on into a bucket for later processing.
• Xcode, IntelliJ, AppCode, SimSim – as an iOS developer you have to use Xcode (which I tolerate). I've started using AppCode this year, only to find out they are sunsetting the product next year. SimSim allows me to get access to files in apps installed on my many iOS simulators – a lifesaver.
• Pichon (Icons8) – I've got a legacy unlimited Icons8 plan, and I get lots of use out of this. I'm in constant need of icons for the many client projects I work on, and nice to know I have this at my fingertips.
• Reveal – if I've got an iOS app UI issue, this is part of my process for getting it resolved. I don't use this frequently, but can save hours when needed – it paid for itself quickly!
• Numbers – the only spreadsheet I use. I use this once a month when doing my end of month accounting.
• SoundSource – My speakers are plugged into my monitor – this app allows me to control the volume using the volume keys.
• ColorSlurp – Whenever I require a colour for press states, or to find colours which work well together, I use this. I'm red/green colour-blind and apps like this stop me making too many colour mistakes!
• xbar – I have a little script which shows me the current clocked in task in Org mode.

SetApp is fantastic, and keeps adding useful apps each month. Here are the ones I use:

• Bartender – Keeps my macOS menu bar from becoming overwhelmed.
• CleanShot X – So much innovation in one app. I can't say too many good things about this. It is so much more than screenshots.
• Default Folder X – I don't use this very extensively, but saves a few seconds here and there when I an app wants a file I've got displayed in a Finder window.
• DevUtils – A good selection of tools – such as generating Lorum Ipsum text, or base64 encoding a string.
• Forecast Bar – Always good to know whether you should be feeling cold.
• ForkLift – Great SFTP/SCP client for use with my websites.
• Hookmark – I'm still getting my head around this. Useful for generating links which I can add into Org mode documents.
• MenubarX – I use this for playing Radio 3, and not becoming sad when I accidentally close the browser window.
• OpenIn – Gives me control over where links and files open.
• Paw – A nice UI for experimenting with APIs.
• Shimo – I need to use a VPN for connecting to some client servers, this gives me an easy way to manage these connections.
• Souvler – I used this years ago in iOS – and have started using this again on macOS for calculations where I would otherwise quickly get lost.
• SQLPro for SQLite / TablePlus – Great for looking at SQLite databases. I've found SQLPro has become unstable in the last couple of months, so I've switched to TablePlus.