Based on various things I’ve read on the internet, there seems to be a bit of confusion about what kinds of tools people should be using to get their shit done. Posts about "Top 10 X for Y" and such. Let me clear that up for you.

There is only one true way to configure and use a computer, and after many years of trial and experimentation, I have found out what that way is. To save you all the trouble of going through that lengthy process yourself, I’ve prepared the following cheatsheet for you to use as a reference.

This will be particularly useful if you find yourself embroiled in a religious war. You may, for example, think that the devout of the Church of Emacs are justly battling it out with those who hold to the creed of Vim. I’m here to clarify for you that this is all just an illusion. There is only one correct choice for editing, and anything else is not heresy: it’s just plain incorrect.

So, without further ado, I present my list.

How to be right Version control

Git is the best version control system. Choosing Mercurial is incorrect. Choosing anything else is absurd.

Text editing

Vim is the best editor. Using Emacs is permitted only for ironic purposes (note that this includes using Emacs with the "Evil" layer or with Spacemacs).

Using a full-fledged IDE is unjustified, unless your employer forces you to do so, in which case it is weakly justified. For each hour you spend at work in the IDE, you should spend 15 minutes hacking on side-projects in Vim outside of work hours, to prevent your mental clarity from being diminished. Note that due to Vim’s efficiency, you can expect an order of magnitude more productivity in it despite spending only 25% as much time.

Code font

You should be using Adobe’s Source Code Pro in its "Light" weight. You may be forgiven for using a baseline-corrected version of Microsoft’s Consolas, but only if you didn’t know about Source Code Pro (and now, you do). Using any other font is, by definition, invalid.

Color scheme

You should use the "Default Dark" scheme from Base16. Under extremely bright ambient conditions, you may switch to "Light Ocean" or "Light Grayscale". Other color schemes are factual errors and should be erased.

Operating systems

macOS is the best desktop operating system. It is permitted to install Windows only for playing games. You may install Linux only if your employer forces you to use a non-Apple laptop. (Oh, that reminds me: it is a logical fallacy to buy a non-Apple laptop.)

For mobile, iOS is the only logical choice (all other choices are illogical, especially Android). Note the corollary here, which is that the iPhone itself is the only logical choice of mobile phone.

On the server, you should be using a Red Hat strain of Linux, specifically, Amazon Linux. This is because you should be using AWS for your cloud computing needs. (And on the subject of Amazon, make sure that you use a Kindle, because all other e-readers are suboptimal.)

Window management

Hammerspoon is the correct way to manage window layouts, and specifically, the right way to use it is to configure it like I do. Anything else is wrong.

Shell

Zsh is the only correct shell. Using Bash is a violation of the laws of physics, so please stop it before you create a dangerous wormhole in the fabric of space-time.

While we’re on the subject of configuration, you should install or steal shamelessly from my dotfiles. Working with an exact, up-to-date copy is 100% correct. Each deviation from that takes you one step farther from perfection. I reserve the right to alter the definition of perfection at any time without notice (other than via adding new commits to the master branch).

System configuration

You should be using Ansible * . Using Puppet or Chef instead is an common mistake which you would do well to correct.

* : Note that this is true even if you have nothing to configure; if this is the case, you should create an excuse for using Ansible, such as needing an elaborate and convoluted mechanism for installing your dotfiles.

Calendar, Mail and "Todos"

After an exhaustive search, I have established that Fantastical is the best calendar, the Gmail iOS app and the Gmail website inside Firefox on the desktop) are the only way to read and send email, and Things is the best todo list.

Beware of your choices here: choosing to use Microsoft Outlook is as bad as using child labor to produce internet-enabled home thermostats, and picking any email provider other than Google is morally equivalent to destroying the Amazonian rain forest. (To be honest, I wished I’d chosen something else, like Fastmail, but it’s hard to extricate oneself from Google’s loving embrace. Chrome is actually the best web browser, but I’m recommending Firefox instead as a first baby step away.)

Backup solution

You should backup your data with Arq. Using Time Machine is a faux pas. All other alternatives are ill-advised.

Keyboard Layout

You should be using Colemak. Any other layout is incorrect, with Qwerty being the most incorrect of all possible layouts.

Customization

Karabiner is the only right way to configure your keyboard. Additionally, there is only one admissible configuration, which can be found in my dotfiles.

Hardware

Only Topre switches are viable. All other keyboard switches are unfunny jokes (Cherry MX switches may get a laugh or two, however, before they get booed off stage).

If in doubt about what kind of Topre-equipped keyboard you should buy, just buy any Realforce keyboard.

Terminal

Use iTerm, unless you want to be wrong (but note: wanting to be wrong is itself wrong). Use tmux for terminal multiplexing, and never screen.

On the subject of GUI versus terminal, remember to use Vim and tmux preferentially over MacVim. The former is self-evidently correct.

Secret management

Store your secrets in 1Password. Using the same password everywhere, using weak passwords, failing to use a password management solution at all, or using any password management solution other than 1Password are all indistinguishably wrong.

System add-ons

Failing to install iStat Menus, Bartender and Alfred is a configuration error and should be corrected at your earliest convenience.

Conclusion

I hope this has been helpful. Depending on your pre-existing degree of enlightenment, I expect this list to save you a lot of time, and affect your life anywhere from transcendingly to profoundly. Feel free to tweet or email me your appreciation.