Author Archives: Student Tom

Raycast vs Alfred vs Spotlight – which Mac launcher for devs?

Switched to MacBook Pro for dev work and want to optimize my workflow. Everyone raves about Raycast but Alfred has been around longer.

What I need:

  • Quick app launching (obvs)
  • Clipboard history
  • Window management
  • Code snippets
  • GitHub/Linear integrations (I’m a dev)

Is Raycast worth the $10/mo after trial? Or is Alfred still king for power users?

Also – does it actually boost productivity or is it just terminal flex? 😆

Best hosting for a small Next.js app in 2026?

Building my first real project and need to deploy it. It’s a simple Next.js app with some API routes.

I’ve been looking at:

  • Vercel – seems easiest but the free tier limits?
  • Railway – looks good but mixed reviews
  • Cloudflare Pages – free and fast?
  • DigitalOcean – more control but harder to set up

What’s the best choice for a solo dev with basically no budget? 😅

Main concerns: cost, ease of use, and potential to scale later.

Need advice – which laptop should I get for coding in 2026?

Hey everyone, finally upgrading my setup and so confused rn 😅

Been using a 5-year-old Dell and it’s dying. My budget is around $1500-2000.

Main use: Full-stack dev (React/Node) + some Docker stuff + maybe some light ML later

Should I go MacBook Pro M4 or stick with Windows? Like I know Mac is popular among devs but Windows has WSL2 now…

Also considering: should I wait for the new M4 MacBooks or just get now?

pls help a brother out 😭