Who are you, and what do you do?
I'm Justin Garrison, a maker, developer, and educator working at Sidero Labs. I got the itch for electronics and software in college, but didn't have a lot of access to tools and software at the time so I have little formal training. All of my early interests were working on cars which got me very comfortable with tools early in life.
I enjoy tinkering with hardware and occasionally write software, and usually I write a blog post or make a video about what I learned. I also contribute to a few different large open source projects as a frequent beta tester and occasional bug fixer.
I sometimes draw terrible comics and animations, but I enjoy consuming them more than creating them. I'm also the host of the Fork Around and Find Out podcast.
What do you use to get the job done?
I have been using Linux as my primary operating system since I got my first computer. Using it as my daily driver has taught me a lot about how it works and how to fix it which has been my job at multiple companies. I'm a contributor and user of Talos Linux, Bluefin, and Bazzite distributions.
I do most of my professional work in a terminal including software development in Neovim. Because I spend so much time in a terminal I maintain lists of TUIs and tmux plugins that help me find new, useful tools.
Most of my art is done on an iPad Pro 10" in Procreate or on my desktop with a Wacom Cintiq 16" with Krita. I also do a lot of white boarding with tldraw.com or a physical white board. My video editing is primarily done in DaVinci Resolve on my desktop, but occasionally I use my iPad with a Speed Editor when I'm traveling.
I have a lot of random tools and electronics I use for hardware projects, and almost all of them are no-name, cheap tools. I've never felt the need to buy a Dremel brand rotary cutter or a Weller soldering iron. I like to use Adam Savage's strategy for buying tools -- he buys the cheapest version possible of a new tool and only when it breaks does he evaluate if he should buy the more expensive option.
My podcasting and live streaming are done via Riverside.fm and Streamyard and audio editing is all done in Audacity.
I use a Fully standing desk that I've had for 8 years since I started working from home. I regularly use a WalkingPad for light exercise while I'm answering emails, Slack messages, or sometimes while I'm on meetings.
What would be your dream setup?
My dream setup would include more space and a window. Almost every office I've had has been in a windowless room -- including my current setup. My retrofitted garage is wonderful for projects, but it is very small and 1/2 of it is still used as a garage for storage.
I would love more bench space for larger projects, more storage space to stay organized, and maybe dedicated space for exercise and filming. If my garage were twice as big it would almost be big enough.
My computing and software setup are plenty powerful enough for my needs and I'm always making small improvements depending on what my current interests and needs are. I use my iPad for a lot of writing on the go -- built in cellular radio is great -- and I look forward to something like Apple Vision Pro that doesn't require macOS or AR glasses that can be used with just a keyboard for getting work done or plugged into my Steam Deck for gaming while traveling