AI Tools & Software
Reviews, roundups, and guides for AI coding tools, writing tools, image tools, and MCP servers
Best MCP Servers in 2026: Top Picks for AI-Powered Development
The best MCP servers in 2026 are Playwright MCP for browser automation, Context7 for documentation lookup, and Postgres MCP for database workflows. These servers extend AI coding assistants with real-world capabilities that go far beyond chat.
Chrome Gemini Skills Library, Reviewed: The 5 Categories and the Skills Worth Pinning
Chrome's pre-built Gemini Skills library at chrome://skills/browse ships 50+ one-click prompts across five categories: Learning, Research, Shopping, Writing, and Productivity. This review walks each category, calls out the patterns that earn a permanent place in the side panel, and gives a framework for evaluating any pre-built Skill so you can decide which to pin and which to ignore.
Cursor Canvases: When to Ask the Agent for a UI Instead of Text
Cursor 3.1 introduced interactive canvases -- agent-generated dashboards and custom interfaces that render as durable artifacts in the side panel of the Agents Window. Built from a first-party React component library (tables, charts, diagrams), canvases are best for multi-source data exploration, repeated triage, and reusable mini-tools you keep using all session.
Gemini in 2026: Google's Full AI Stack Explained (Chrome, Workspace, CLI, AI Mode, Antigravity)
Google's AI stack in April 2026 is six distinct products built on the same Gemini model family: Gemini 3.1 Pro for the model itself, Gemini in Chrome and Workspace for consumer surfaces, Gemini CLI for the terminal, Antigravity for agentic IDE work, AI Mode and AI Overviews for Search, and the Gemini API for developers. This guide maps the whole stack, shows where each piece actually wins versus the competition, and tells you which one to reach for in which workflow.
Perplexity Personal Computer: Complete Guide to the Always-On Mac AI Agent
Perplexity Personal Computer is a Mac app launched April 16, 2026 that lets a Perplexity agent operate your local files, native apps, and browser through a single Cmd+Cmd activation. It runs best on a dedicated Mac mini for 24/7 use, requires the $200/month Perplexity Max plan, and works through a sandboxed action layer with auditable, reversible actions. This guide covers setup, the workflows where it actually saves time, and what to do when it goes sideways.
Warp's Universal Agent Support: The Terminal as an Agentic Development Environment
Warp's April 2026 universal agent support brings first-class integration for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode in a single terminal -- with vertical tabs, status indicators, code review, mobile remote, and a rich input editor. It is Warp's bet that 'ADE' beats both IDE and traditional terminal for multi-agent work.