<pclass="question">Who are you, and what do you do?</p>
<pclass="answer">My name is Scott Wallace and I'm a hacker at heart. This means that I love technology and messing about with it until it does what I want it to -- not the other way around. I'm a "contracting IT Systems Engineer". I like to think that I specialise in automation but it's really just scripting myself out of work. I'm essentially a mercenary and will work for the highest bidder. My main area of expertise lies around the Internet and web technologies.</p>
<pclass="question">What hardware are you using?</p>
<pclass="answer">The only devices which go with me everywhere are, of course, my mobile phone (a <ahref="http://amzn.to/1ZxXDWs"target="_blank">Samsung Galaxy S5</a>), my keys in an <ahref="http://amzn.to/1ZxXJgF"target="_blank">Orbitkey</a>, my wallet (an <ahref="http://amzn.to/202xr2T"target="_blank">Exentri tri-fold</a>), a <ahref="http://amzn.to/1ZxXSRr"target="_blank">Leatherman Squirt PS4</a> and my <ahref="http://amzn.to/1OrjcgH"target="_blank">Moto 360</a> (v1).</p>
<pclass="answer">My everyday computer is a <ahref="http://amzn.to/202xHil"target="_blank">mid-2012 13" Macbook Air</a> and, when working from home, I use a late 2009 <ahref="http://amzn.to/1ZxYaaQ"target="_blank">iMac 27"</a> with an <ahref="http://amzn.to/202xSdK"target="_blank">Apple Magic Trackpad</a>.</p>
<pclass="answer">I also have an Nvidia <ahref="http://amzn.to/1W89ogO"target="_blank">Shield Tablet</a> which is good for reading eBooks, perusing the web and generally chilling out (<ahref="http://reddit.com/">Reddit</a>!).</p>
<pclass="answer">When travelling, to ensure I have Internet connectivity, I carry a <ahref="http://amzn.to/202y9NN"target="_blank">Huawei E5331</a> portable WiFi device with a local data SIM thrown in the back. So far it seems reliable and very unobtrusive. To reduce the amount of charging equipment required I also take an <ahref="http://amzn.to/202yujt"target="_blank">EasyAcc 25W 5 port USB charger</a> with me.</p>
<pclass="answer">Any and all of this is slung over my back in a <ahref="http://amzn.to/1W89y7S"target="_blank">5.11 Rush 12 backpack</a>.</p>
<pclass="answer">For media consumption I have a <ahref="http://amzn.to/1W89F3e"target="_blank">Raspberry Pi 2</a> and a <ahref="http://amzn.to/202yIXS"target="_blank">Google Chromecast</a> hooked up to a 40" <ahref="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001W3QUXK"target="_blank">Samsung Series 8 LED TV</a>. All the media is loaded onto a <ahref="http://amzn.to/1ZxZGtF"target="_blank">Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra-4</a> with enough space to last well into the future. To control the TV and Kodi I use the awesome <ahref="http://amzn.to/1ZxZN8t"target="_blank">Logitech Harmony 600</a> universal remote. I cannot recommend these remotes enough. The living room also houses a <ahref="http://amzn.to/202zc0a"target="_blank">Sonos Play:5</a> for streaming music and <ahref="http://amzn.to/202zdB3"target="_blank">Sonos Play:1</a>s in the dining room and kitchen.</p>
<pclass="answer">All the Macs run <ahref="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X_Mavericks"target="_blank">Mavericks</a> and content is kept in sync with <ahref="http://google.com/drive/"target="_blank">Google Drive</a>. I always have an instance of <ahref="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Terminal"target="_blank">Terminal</a>, enhanced with <ahref="http://mxcl.github.com/homebrew/"target="_blank">HomeBrew</a>, running and work wouldn't be the same without <ahref="http://www.skype.com/"target="_blank">Skype</a> or <ahref="https://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/">Hangouts</a> (and <ahref="https://www.virtualbox.org/"target="_blank">VirtualBox</a> for any Windows nonsense). <ahref="http://www.alfredapp.com/"target="_blank">Alfred</a> replaces Spotlight and enables clipboard history -- as well as a host of other functionality (it's great for those who love keyboard shortcuts). <ahref="http://justgetflux.com/"target="_blank">f.lux</a> is a must-have for those who have trouble falling asleep at night.</p>
<pclass="answer">I have <ahref="http://preyproject.com/"target="_blank">Project Prey</a> installed just in case my phone, tablet or laptop are lost or stolen.</p>
<pclass="answer">Photos taken on the phone are automatically uploaded to <ahref="http://smugmug.com/"target="_blank">SmugMug</a>, which is where all <ahref="http://photos.scott.wallace.sh/"target="_blank">my photos</a> are stored, via <ahref="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snapwood.smugfolio">their Android app</a>.</p>
<pclass="answer">Video transcoding on the desktop is handled by <ahref="http://handbrake.fr/"target="_blank">Handbrake</a> whilst <ahref="http://flexget.com/"target="_blank">Flexget</a>, a kick-ass piece of software, keeps all my media automatically up-to-date. The Raspberry Pi runs <ahref="http://openelec.tv/"target="_blank">OpenELEC</a> (Linux + <ahref="http://kodi.tv/"target="_blank">Kodi</a>) and HDMI-CEC (Samsung Anynet+) handles input from the remote.</p>
<pclass="answer"><ahref="http://www.python.org/"target="_blank">Python</a> is my language of choice but I also dabble in <ahref="http://golang.org/"target="_blank">Go</a>, <ahref="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)"target="_blank">C</a>, <ahref="http://www.gnu.org/s/bash/"target="_blank">BASH</a> (and Bourne shell), <ahref="http://www.php.net/"target="_blank">PHP</a>, and <ahref="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(programming_language)"target="_blank">Java</a> (for Android development). All recent code is kept on <ahref="https://github.com/scottwallacesh"target="_blank">GitHub</a>.</p>
<pclass="answer">My browser of choice is, of course, <ahref="http://www.google.com/chrome"target="_blank">Google Chrome</a> loaded with my favourite plugins: <ahref="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hdokiejnpimakedhajhdlcegeplioahd"target="_blank">Lastpass</a>, <ahref="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hangouts/nckgahadagoaajjgafhacjanaoiihapd"target="_blank">Hangouts</a> and <ahref="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/save-to-pocket/niloccemoadcdkdjlinkgdfekeahmflj"target="_blank">Pocket</a>.</p>
<pclass="answer">I have tried to move my working set of software into the Cloud. All my website passwords are random and tracked in <ahref="http://lastpass.com/"target="_blank">Lastpass</a>; I use either of <ahref="http://di.fm">di.fm</a> or <ahref="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.music"target="_blank">Google Play Music</a> for listening to music; <ahref="http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html"target="_blank">Google Apps</a> is used for Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Docs and Tasks; and <ahref="http://www.getpocket.com/"target="_blank">Pocket</a> for "tl;dr" functionality.</p>
<pclass="answer">And last, but certainly not least, <ahref="http://fre.ag/3672mfra"target="_blank">FreeAgent</a> helps me out with all the paperwork for my company (invoicing, taxes, timesheets, accounts, etc.).</p>
<pclass="question">What would be your dream setup?</p>
<pclass="answer">A simple, light but fast computer that has access to the Internet from anywhere and acts as a WiFi-hotspot, even when closed. My mobile phone would be a combination of a <ahref="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_area_network"target="_blank">PAN</a>, the laptop and my watch. All powered with <ahref="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8297934.stm"target="_blank">nuclear batteries</a>. I'd also really love there to be a single movie and TV streaming service that provided all the world's content to anyone with a subscription and Internet access.</p>
<pclass="answer">I'd also love an adjustable height desk such as the <ahref="http://www.geekdesk.com/"target="_blank">Geek Desk</a>.</p>
</div>
<divid="footer">Format taken from <ahref="http://usesthis.com/"target="_blank">The Setup</a></div>
