All-remote workspace

All-remote workspace

GitLab is my first all-remote job, with the handbook being a great helpful resource. I'm iterating on finding the best equipment, shared on this page.

Current Setup

The standing desk and curved monitor reasons are detailed in this blog post in April 2020. Four years later in April 2024, I iterated on the setup and added a new monitor, improved audio/video installation and connection management. Research and setup are explained in this blog post. In late 2024, I have integrated a Gaming PC into the current setup.

Ergonomic desk and chair

The standing desk helps with different work positions since April 2020. Additionally, I replaced the old IKEA chair with an ergonomic chair for tall folks (6.5ft/2m) in December 2022. The Löffler ergonomic chairs enforce active sitting, similar to an exercise ball, no more back hurting.

  • IKEA Bekant standing desk, white stained oak veneer, black (160x80 cm / 63x31.5")
  • Löffler FIGO K95, Ergo Top, Color: Ruby A53, Armrests: Multifunctional armrest 002, Options: With Lumbar Support, Height: from 181cm, Fixation: Exclusive mechanic fixation.

Lighting

I've been reading the GitLab handbook and watched this helpful video, and continued iterating with Elgato Keylights and Philips Hue setups.

The Elgato Keylight provide lighting in front, helping with recordings. They are connected to the Macbook and Streamdeck through Wifi. The Philips Hue lights on the ceiling, and the lightstrip in the background can be adjusted to different color themes and dimming modes. This not only helps with remote calls and recording but also creates a cosy space where my mind can relax.

The Hue lights are connected to a central Philips Hue bridge, which itself is connected to Apple Home. "Hey Siri, remote office light on" has become my new routine during focus work.

  1. Elgato Keylight MK.2 (2x) - elgato.com
  2. Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance Infuse Large Ceiling Lamp, L white (2x) - philips-hue.com
  3. Philips Hue White and Colour Ambient Lightstrip Plus - amazon.de

Video

I've updated the 34" monitor and webcam from April 2020 with a 49" monitor and a FaceCam/Prompter setup in April 2024. A detailed setup description is available in this blog post.

  1. Samsung Odyssey OLED Gaming Monitor G93SC (49") - samsung.com
  2. Elgato Prompter - elgato.com
  3. Elgato Facecam Pro - elgato.com
  4. Elgato Master Mount L - elgato.com
  5. Elgato Solid Arm - elgato.com
  6. Elgato Streamdeck MK.2 - elgato.com

Audio

I've updated the microphone and streaming setup in June 2021, and again in April 2024.

Work Macbook

After three years with the Intel-based Macbook and overheating adventures with external monitors, I got upgraded in June 2023 to a Macbook Pro M1 Max, 32 GB RAM, the performance difference is huge. One additional benefit with the M1 Max silicon processor was the support for Touch ID embedded into the Apple Magic Keyboard. This allows to keep the lid closed all the time, thus not requiring the notebook stand anymore.

My dotfiles project helped with bootstrapping the new Macbook Pro in less than 1 day.

Gaming PC

In late 2024, I've integrated a Gaming PC with Windows in my office setup. While initially aimed at gaming only, the PC also serves for AI research with learning how to run LLMs and run performant workloads. The environment is also made for embedded development which often requires Windows.

All details are described in this blog post.

Accessories

  • Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (English/US) - apple.com
  • Apple Magic Trackpad, Black Multi-Touch Surface - apple.com
  • Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (replaced ear cushons after 3 years) - bose.com
  • Timemachine backup disk: WD My Passport SSD 4 TB Mobile SSD Storage (NVMe Technology, USB-C and USB 3.2 Gen-2 Compatible, Read 1050 MB/s, Write 1000 MB/s) Dark Grey - amazon.de
  • YubiKey 5C NFC (2x) - amazon.de

Connection management

  • Caldigit TS4 dock, supports 6x USB-C ports (3x Thunderbolt 4/USB4, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2), 5x USB-A (3.2 Gen 2), 1x DisplayPort 1.4 and more. Works perfectly together with Macbook Pro M1 Max, Samsung Odyssey 49" gaming monitor, and streaming setup (details in this blog post from April 2024) - caldigit.com, amazon.de
  • KVM Switch: UGREEN 8K @ 60Hz Displayport KVM Switch, DP 1.4 KVM Switch, KVM Switch 2 PC 1 Monitor, 4K @ 240Hz, 4 Port USB Switch, KVM Switch USB C, 4 Port USB Switch - amazon.de
  • Network Switch: NETGEAR GS316EP Switch 16 Port Gigabit Ethernet LAN PoE Switch Plus - amazon.de
  • Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe, 15W Wireless Maximum Charging Power, Compatible with iPhone 15/14/13/12 Series, Apple Watch Series 1-7/SE, and AirPods Pro/3/2 (Includes 30W Power Supply) - amazon.de
  • Anker Charging Station for Anker Prime Power Bank, 100W Fast Charging Power with 4 Ports - amazon.de

Travel

  • Macbook sleeve: Native Union Stow Slim, 14", Indigo. It provides a magnetic closure, and keeps the Macbook safe - nativeunion.com
  • Speaking: Belkin USB-C Video Adapter (HDMI, VGA, DVI, Display Port) - amazon.de
  • iPhone powerbank: Anker 633 Magnetic Battery, 10,000 mAh Foldable Magnetic Wireless Power Bank - amazon.de
  • Macbook powerbank: Anker Prime 27,650 mAh Power Bank (250 W), 3-Port Power Bank, Smart App Control - amazon.de

Desk

Always with the Eisenhower matrix in sight, and more easter eggs and memories. The most recent updates from April 2024 are described in this blog post.

Apps and settings

I manage most of the apps and settings with dotfiles and Homebrew in this repository. I've also written a blog post with more insights on ZSH and alike.

Insights into my workday

You can learn more about my routines, workflows and experiences in my yearly reflection blog posts: 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years.

More all-remote resources can be found in the GitLab handbook. 🦊

Remote background easter eggs

I like toying with easter eggs and memories in my background. How many can you spot? Schedule a coffee chat :)