Defaults
========

My default choices for tools and technologies

Date: February 7, 2026


When I need a tool for a task, these are my default choices.

## Editor

**Neovim** - For everything text-related. See &lt;a href=&quot;/neovim/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;Neovim Configuration&quot; data-description=&quot;Neovim configuration with lazy.nvim for plugin management&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;Neovim Configuration&lt;/a&gt;

Fallback: &lt;a href=&quot;/helix/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;Helix Editor&quot; data-description=&quot;Helix - a post-modern modal text editor&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;Helix Editor&lt;/a&gt; for quick edits when neovim config is broken.

## Terminal

**kitty** - Primary terminal. See &lt;a href=&quot;/kitty/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;kitty Terminal&quot; data-description=&quot;kitty - a fast, feature-rich, GPU-based terminal emulator&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;kitty Terminal&lt;/a&gt;

Fallback: &lt;a href=&quot;/wezterm/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;WezTerm&quot; data-description=&quot;WezTerm - a GPU-accelerated cross-platform terminal emulator&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;WezTerm&lt;/a&gt; when I need better cross-platform consistency.

## Shell

**zsh** - With autosuggestions, syntax highlighting, and starship prompt. See &lt;a href=&quot;/zsh/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;zsh Configuration&quot; data-description=&quot;zsh shell configuration - my primary shell with autosuggestions, syntax highlighting, and custom functions&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;zsh Configuration&lt;/a&gt;

## Multiplexer

**tmux** - For persistent sessions and popup workflows. See &lt;a href=&quot;/tmux/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;tmux Configuration&quot; data-description=&quot;tmux configuration for persistent terminal sessions with popup windows and session management&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;tmux Configuration&lt;/a&gt;

Fallback: &lt;a href=&quot;/zellij/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;Zellij&quot; data-description=&quot;Zellij - a terminal workspace with batteries included&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;Zellij&lt;/a&gt; when I want built-in multiplexer without external tool.

## Version Control

**git** - With delta for diffs and gitui for UI. See &lt;a href=&quot;/git/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;Git Configuration&quot; data-description=&quot;Git configuration with aliases, delta for diffs, and work/personal separation&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;Git Configuration&lt;/a&gt;

## Tool Management

**mise** - For all language runtimes and dev tools. See &lt;a href=&quot;/mise/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;mise Tool Management&quot; data-description=&quot;mise - the universal version manager for development tools&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;mise Tool Management&lt;/a&gt;

Replaced: pyenv, nvm, rbenv, and friends.

## Fuzzy Finder

**fzf** - Integrated with shell and editor. See &lt;a href=&quot;/fzf/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;fzf&quot; data-description=&quot;fzf - a command-line fuzzy finder&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;fzf&lt;/a&gt;

## File Manager

**lf** - Fast terminal file manager. See &lt;a href=&quot;/lf/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;lf&quot; data-description=&quot;lf - a terminal file manager written in Go&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;lf&lt;/a&gt;

**yazi** - Alternative with async I/O. See &lt;a href=&quot;/yazi/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;Yazi&quot; data-description=&quot;Yazi - a terminal file manager&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;Yazi&lt;/a&gt;

Fallback: Standard shell commands for simple operations.

## Window Manager

**Hyprland** - Wayland compositor on main machine. See &lt;a href=&quot;/hyprland/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;Hyprland Window Manager&quot; data-description=&quot;Hyprland - a dynamic tiling Wayland compositor&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;Hyprland Window Manager&lt;/a&gt;

Fallback: &lt;a href=&quot;/awesome/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;Awesome Window Manager&quot; data-description=&quot;Awesome WM - a highly configurable X11 window manager&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;Awesome Window Manager&lt;/a&gt; when I need X11.

## Browser

**Brave** - Primary browser with good privacy defaults.

Fallback: Firefox for testing and sites that break on Brave.

## Search

**ripgrep (rg)** - For code search

**fd** - For file finding

Both integrated with &lt;a href=&quot;/fzf/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;fzf&quot; data-description=&quot;fzf - a command-line fuzzy finder&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;fzf&lt;/a&gt;.

## Notes

Plain markdown files in git repos.

Todo: &lt;a href=&quot;/tmux/&quot; class=&quot;wikilink&quot; data-title=&quot;tmux Configuration&quot; data-description=&quot;tmux configuration for persistent terminal sessions with popup windows and session management&quot; data-date=&quot;2026-02-07&quot;&gt;tmux Configuration&lt;/a&gt; todo session with backlog/doing/done files.

## Communication

- **Email**: Fastmail
- **Chat**: Signal, occasionally Discord
- **Video**: Jitsi, Zoom when required

## Operating System

**Arch Linux** - Main development machine

**Ubuntu** - For servers and containers

## Why Defaults Matter

Having defaults reduces decision fatigue. When I reach for a tool, I already know what to use. This lets me focus on the actual problem instead of evaluating options.

&lt;div class=&quot;embed-card&quot;&gt;
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      &lt;div class=&quot;embed-card-title&quot;&gt;Uses&lt;/div&gt;
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