Has this ever happened to you? You’re out about town, you pop over to a friend’s house, and they ask you how to install that computer-thingee they got for Christmas. You say, “Sure, as long as you have #1 non-magnetic Phillips and anti-static strap.” To which they just stare at you blankly (most likely because they graduated with a Bachelor of arts). You do have the tools – but they’re all at home. Your computer cred is on the line: what are you going to do?

How about using those gift cards and building yourself your very own geek box? A geek box is an ordinary toolbox that has been conscripted to serving bits, not bolts. Personally, I’m a fan of the Israeli made ZAG 20’’ toolbox (almost for entirely cosmetic reasons). I love the bright yellow sidewalls – it seems a bit zippier than the craftsman gray or red that I grew up with. In the US the Zag boxes are sold under the Stanley label at Kmart or Target.

On top pull out drawer I keep a variety of lighter arts and crafts stuff for paper prototyping (scissors, colored pencils, straight edges) along with other small tools (voltage checker, needle nose pliers, electrical tape, etc). The large compartment on the bottom has a number of CAT-5 cables, a power strip, an extra mouse, and a number of extra routers (old Vonage boxes from canceled services make great, cheap connections in a networking pinch).

Finally, I’ve covered the box with all those bumper stickers accumulated throughout the years. Because I often meet with clients I make sure to keep my laptop dogma free and inoffensive as possible. The geek box, however, makes a great place to show off whatever company sent me shwag this week.

The geek box has come in handy on numerous ColdFusion User Group and CodeAway meetings. Just like a winter survival kit while crossing Wyoming, don’t go to your next programmer related get together without it!

Have you made your own geek box? Let me know! Throw the pic online somewhere and link to it from the comments below!