My "stack" as a twenty-something SWE who spends off-hours off-line

No. I’m not building my home lab or grinding out a new AI enablement app on the side.

I am lucky enough to work at a company that lets me develop my professional skills every day! And while I might have a list of ideas, when 4:30 rolls around, I typically don’t find myself reaching for the same screen that held my attention for the 8 hours prior.

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For those of you outside of this industry -

tech stack: the collection of tools, languages, libraries, platforms, apps, and pieces of software that a company uses

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Many people in the tech world extend software engineering to their personal lives. They might have a few tech stacks for various side projects, or might prefer a few core products that get used across initiatives.

So hypothetically, let’s say you were to stroll along the streets of downtown Seattle, maybe wander over towards South Lake Union, and ask someone “What’s your stack?”. I can almost guarantee you would find yourself watching as a sparkle, woken up from its daze, sees its opportunity to squeeze itself through a young engineer’s pupils as they tell you about their GitHub repo with a suite of life-changing Claude skills. Or about their last trip to BestBuy to get extra GPUs to host an LLM out of their laundry room.

Sometimes, I feel a little left out from the party.

So here’s my stack (read: current must-haves, core identity products)

• Clean Skin Club Supreme XL Towels cut into quarters

• Clindamycin 1% Topical Gel

• Schwinn Cruiser Bike from 2008

• Maybelline Rocket Lash Mascara

• Anissa Riviere Prints

• Donkey Warmies (his name is Moose)

• Sleep late, wake up late

• Cycling Classes

• Yellow Anthro Fiona Bag

• Goodwill Fire Truck Red Cashmere Pullover

• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

• Monthly Facials

• Hatch Alarm (I have the Gen 1 but I don’t think they sell anymore)

• Clues By Sam

• Graviet PJs

• Bombas Slippers

• Lake Walks

• Pacha & Monorail Espresso

• Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt

• Arm & Hammer Toothpaste

• Alohas Pink Sneakers

• Upcycled Etsy Curtains

• Tru Fru (milk choc strawberries @ Costco, but dark raspberries have my <3)

• Chickpeas

• Pickled Onions

• This Garlic Sauce

• Any handmade ceramic mug, but especially from Sam Dodie Studio

• Breville Barista Express

• Oatly 4 Ingredient

• Silky Scarves on Purses