Who are you, and what do you do?
- +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.
- +What hardware are you using?
- -The only devices which go with me everywhere are, of course, my Google Pixel 2, my keys in an Orbitkey, my Ridge wallet, a Leatherman Squirt PS4, an Archer 1A V3 torch and my Garmin Fēnix 3 HR. When travelling, to reduce the amount of charging equipment required, I take an EC Technology 8-Port 60W 12A USB Charger with me.
- + +The only devices which go with me everywhere are, of course, my Google Pixel 2, my keys in an Orbitkey, my Kore Essentials wallet, a Leatherman Squirt PS4, an Archer 1A V3 torch and my Garmin Fēnix 3 HR. When travelling, to reduce the amount of charging equipment required, I take an EC Technology 8-Port 60W 12A USB Charger with me.
+My everyday computer is a mid-2016 13" Macbook Pro Retina with no extras.
-I also have an ancient 5th generation Kindle which is good for reading eBooks when chilling out.
+I also have an old 5th generation Kindle which is good for reading eBooks when chilling out.
-Any and all of this is slung over my back in a Deuter Race Exp Air backpack.
+Any and all of this is slung over my back in a Overboard Pro-Light backpack.
For media consumption I have a Roku 3 hooked up to a 40" Samsung Series 8 LED TV. To control the TV and the Roku I use the awesome Logitech Harmony 600 universal remote. I cannot recommend these remotes enough. The living room also houses a Sonos Play:5 for streaming music and Sonos Play:1s in the dining room and kitchen.
- -For getting to and from work I ride a Rose Pro DX Cross-3000 bike. It runs with a Nite Rider Lumina Micro 250 & Solar rear light set, a Go Pro Hero 4 and I chose the Hiplok V150 to lock it up on casual rides. Podcasts are piped directly into my brain using AfterShokz Trekz Titanium bone conduction headphones.
- + +For getting to and from work I ride a Pedale88 Crono-S bike. I chose the Hiplok V150 to lock it up on casual rides. Podcasts are piped directly into my brain using AfterShokz Trekz Titanium bone conduction headphones.
+And what software?
- +All the Macs run Mac OS X Sierra and content is kept in sync with Google Drive and Resilio for the more sensitive stuff. Software installation is scripted which makes setting up new installation a cinch. I always have an instance of iTerm2 v3, enhanced with HomeBrew, running and work wouldn't be the same without HipChat or WhatsApp (and VirtualBox for any VM requirements). Alfred 2 replaces Spotlight and enables clipboard history -- as well as a host of other functionality (it's great for those who love keyboard shortcuts). f.lux is a must-have for those who have trouble falling asleep at night.
- +Photos taken on the phone are automatically uploaded to Google Photos.
- +Local media is served from The Cloud via an iMac with Plex Server to the Roku. Keeping the media library up-to-date is tasked to Sonarr and Radarr.
- +Python is my language of choice but I also dabble in Go, C, BASH, PHP, and Java (for Android development). All recent code is kept on GitHub.
- +My browser of choice is, of course, Google Chrome loaded with my favourite plugins: Enpass, Join by joaoapps and Pocket.
- -I have tried to move my working set of software into the Cloud. All my website passwords are random and tracked in Enpass; I use either of di.fm or Google Play Music for listening to music; Google Apps is used for Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Docs and Tasks; and Pocket for "tl;dr" functionality.
- + +I have tried to move my working set of software into the Cloud. All my website passwords are random and tracked in Enpass; I use either of di.fm or Google Play Music for listening to music; G Suite is used for Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Docs and Tasks; and Pocket for "tl;dr" functionality.
+And last, but certainly not least, FreeAgent helps me out with all the paperwork for my company (invoicing, taxes, timesheets, accounts, etc.).
- +What would be your dream setup?
- +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 PAN, the laptop and my watch. All powered with super-futuristic batteries that don't require charging as we know it today.. 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.
- +I'd also love an adjustable height desk such as the Geek Desk.