My workbench
Tools I use as a front-end developer
A small, opinionated set of tools I reach for when building marketing sites, useful little products, and other internet projects. This is the real stack, not a drawer full of software I opened once in 2022.
The short list
What I build with
Updated as the stack changes.
Next.js
My default for websites that need to be quick, content-friendly, and not painful to maintain six months later.
Why it stays: The App Router, server rendering, and sensible deployment story make it a practical fit for marketing sites and small products.
TypeScript
JavaScript, but with fewer avoidable mysteries hiding in the console at 4:57 PM.
Why it stays: It makes refactors safer and component contracts clearer, especially once a site grows beyond a few pages.
React
The component layer underneath most of the sites and little internet corners I build.
Why it stays: It is still the best balance of flexibility, ecosystem, and familiar patterns for the work I do.
Vercel
Where I deploy Next.js sites when I want preview URLs, sensible defaults, and a boringly reliable path to production.
Why it stays: Preview deployments make review much easier, and the platform removes a lot of infrastructure ceremony for the kinds of sites I build.
Figma
For working through layout, visual systems, and the small details that make a site feel intentional rather than assembled.
Why it stays: It gives design and development a shared source of truth before the browser becomes the place where every decision gets made twice.
How I choose
Fewer tools, fewer weird surprises
The goal is not an elaborate productivity ritual. It is a stable, understandable setup that leaves more room for the part people can actually see and use.
- Use the smallest tool that solves the actual problem.
- Prefer a clear handoff over a clever setup only I understand.
- Keep the stack close to what the next person can maintain.
A note on links
I only recommend tools I would use myself. Some links may become affiliate links in the future; if they do, this page will say so clearly before you click. Recommendations will stay independent.
See the small things I make