Every year I tweak something. New monitor, different keyboard, rearranged desk. This year's iteration feels like it might actually stick — everything clicks together in a way that previous versions didn't. Here's the full rundown.
The desk
Flexispot E7 Pro standing desk, 160×80cm bamboo top. I stand maybe 30% of the day, usually during afternoon meetings and code reviews. The preset buttons are underrated — one tap and it goes to my exact sit/stand heights. I added a cable management tray underneath that keeps everything invisible.
Display
Dell U3423WE — 34" ultrawide, 3440×1440, IPS. Not the fanciest panel, but the pixel density is right for code (140 PPI), the USB-C hub powers my laptop, and the curve is subtle enough for terminal work. I tried dual monitors and kept getting distracted. One wide screen, split with tmux, is my sweet spot.
Input
Keyboard: Keychron Q1 Pro with Gateron Oil King switches (linear, 55g). I tried tactile switches for six months and went back. The sound profile with some foam dampening is that satisfying "thock" without being obnoxious on calls.
Mouse: Logitech MX Master 3S. I tried a trackball. Hated it. Went back within a week. The horizontal scroll wheel is genuinely useful in spreadsheets and wide codebases.
Audio
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (80 ohm) for focused work. They're closed-back, comfortable for hours, and the isolation is good enough that I don't need ANC. For calls, I use Apple AirPods Pro — the convenience factor wins over audio quality when I'm just talking.
Software layer
The hardware only works because the software layer is dialed in:
Terminal: Ghostty (replaced WezTerm this year — native GPU rendering is noticeably smoother). Multiplexer: tmux with a minimal config. Shell: zsh + starship prompt. Editor: Neovim (see my other post). Dotfiles managed with GNU Stow and a private git repo.
Window management: Raycast + custom scripts for my most common layouts. I have three presets: "coding" (editor full-screen), "review" (editor left, browser right), and "meeting" (video top, notes bottom).
The non-obvious stuff
A good desk lamp matters more than you think. I have a BenQ ScreenBar that clips to the monitor — no glare on screen, even light on the desk. And a small plant. I'm not a plant person, but having one green thing in my peripheral vision makes the space feel less like a bunker.
Total cost of this setup, accumulated over 3 years of incremental upgrades: roughly $2,800. Not cheap, but considering I spend 8-10 hours a day here, the per-hour cost is negligible.