Editor: NeoVim
After years of VS Code, I switched to NeoVim and never looked back. The modal editing paradigm rewires your brain for efficiency. Combined with LSP, Treesitter, and a good config, it's faster than any GUI editor.
Runtime: Bun
Bun replaced Node.js for me in most projects. The speed difference is real — install times, test runs, and dev server startup are all noticeably faster. See My Development Philosophy on shipping fast.
Database: PostgreSQL + Redis
PostgreSQL for anything that needs ACID guarantees. Redis for caching and session management. This combo powered Karmpath Architecture Decisions to handle 10K concurrent users.
Infrastructure: Docker + Tailscale
Docker for reproducible environments. Tailscale for mesh networking that just works. Together they form the backbone of the Prachyam Infrastructure Deep Dive stack.
AI: Claude + 23 MCP Servers
Custom MCP servers for AI-assisted development. Qdrant for semantic search across the codebase. This is where the industry is headed — see Lessons from Infrastructure for the deployment story.
Terminal: Alacritty + tmux + Zsh
Fast, minimal, and endlessly customizable. I type at 213 WPM so I need a terminal that can keep up.