Hello, everyone! Today, I want to share my setup as a Software Engineer — everything I use daily for programming, meetings, and more, which helps me in my work life.

Let's start with something that I'm using for the coding part:

1. IDE

Super important for everyone who wants to code effectively. This will allow you to use all the features and benefits. My choice:

• PhpStorm
• Visual Studio Code

If you're not familiar with some of them, here are the links to their official websites to learn more:

• PhpStorm
• Visual Studio Code

You might ask:

Why did you choose them, and what do you use them for, Maks?

I'm coding there using: TypeScript, JavaScript, PHP, and I'm currently learning Flutter. I mostly use PhpStorm because it was my preferred IDE when I started my career. For Flutter, I use Visual Studio Code.

However, I recommend choosing an IDE based on what you like visually and the programming language you'll be using. For example, for Flutter, React, or Vue, Visual Studio Code might be a better option. It's lightweight, supports lots of cool plugins, and it's FREE.

On the other hand, PhpStorm is more specific, especially for PHP development. It does support other languages without any issues, and it also offers great plugins and embedded Git tools (which I think are better than VSCode). But it's NOT FREE (you get a 30-day trial, or it's free if you're a student), and it's a heavyweight IDE.

2. Testing Tools

To be able test Backend (endpoints), I'm using:

• Postman

Why? I think it's the most comfortable app for testing, and it has all the features I need. I won't go into too much detail — we could write a book about it, haha! But you can read more about it here: 10 Postman Features Everyone Should Know

3. Database Manager Tools

In the past, I only used phpMyAdmin or accessed the database directly inside the AWS EC2 container, but later I realized that wasn't very convenient, so I switched to:

• MySQL Workbench

The best option for me — I have everything I need, and I was able to install it everywhere: macOS, Windows, and Linux, without any problems.

You can also read more about it here: MySQL Workbench Features

4. Terminal

I'm using Windows PowerShell when working from my Windows laptop, or Warp on macOS. Warp is free, though it also has some paid features, and it includes a lot of cool tools, like AI. You can read about it here: Warp.

Now, let's continue with something that helps me manage my productivity and daily routine:

5. Workspace to manage my ideas/documents/drafts

As a Software Engineer, it's extremely important to have a place where you can leave all your thoughts, notes, drafts for cool ideas, documentation, or even a structured plan for how you'll spend your vacation in Switzerland next month. For all of that, I'm using:

• Notion
• Notes (macOS)

Notion is amazing, really! You can use it for a lot of things related to your job (not just IT). I use it for planning my finances, jotting down cool ideas, and even as my personal documentation book for Nest.js and Express.js. So I think it's amazing, and I highly recommend using it.

Here's the link: Notion

6. Workspace to manage my Tasks as Software Engineer

Of course, as a Software Engineer, you need to use a task tracking system. I've used many of them on my journey, but here are the two that work best for me:

• JIRA
• Trello

You may use one or the other depending on your needs. Trello is a simple tool that's great for organizing tasks and projects, easy to use, and flexible for both personal and team work. JIRA is more advanced, built for managing larger projects like software development, with tools for tracking issues, planning sprints, and creating reports. I think Trello is best for its easy setup and flexibility, while JIRA is better suited for large teams and complex projects. However, most of the time I only use JIRA, with maybe 3% of the time spent on Trello.

3. Calls/Meetings/Communication

For calls, meetings, and communication, I'm using:

• Google Meet (Meetings)
• Slack (Communication/Calls/Memes)

It's a must-have kit, I think! :) I would suggest using whatever suits you visually and has the best UI/UX for you, but for me, these are the perfect apps. I've used Teams, Skype, Zoom, and Telegram, but none of them worked well for me for work — some were super slow with a lot of bugs, and others I didn't like because of their UI.

And now, let's talk about the final part — helper tools and websites I'm using:

• Stack Overflow (Less frequently than 4 years ago, but I still check solutions there)
• ChatGPT (For both work and personal use, it's my handy man)
• MidJourney (For generating awesome images with a lot of details)
• Gmail (Emailing)
• AWS tools (For managing servers)
• GoDaddy (For domains only)

That's basically most of what I'm using almost every day as a Software Engineer. Please feel free to share your thoughts, questions, or comments!

Thank you, and have a great week!