This is my collection of essential software and tools for setting up new systems.
System & Productivity Tools
- NanaZip - Modern archiving tool for Windows with support for multiple formats
- Node.js - JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 engine for server-side applications
- Git - Distributed version control system for tracking changes in source code
- Windows Terminal - Modern, fast, efficient, powerful terminal application for command-line users
- Backblaze - Cloud backup service for automatic and continuous online backup
- StableBit - Suite of storage management tools including CloudDrive, DrivePool, and Scanner
- One Commander - Dual-pane file manager for Windows with tabs and advanced features
- StrokeIt - Mouse gesture recognition program for Windows to execute commands with gestures
- ShareX - Screen capture, file sharing, and productivity tool with extensive features
- Everything - Lightning-fast desktop search utility for Windows that locates files and folders
- Flow Launcher - Application launcher for Windows with plugin support and quick access to apps
- WinSCP - Free SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, and SCP client for Windows with GUI interface
- Microsoft PowerToys - Set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline Windows experience
- SyncBack - Backup and synchronization software with various versions and features
- Microsoft To Do - Task management application for organizing and managing daily tasks
- AutoHotkey - Open-source scripting language for automating Windows GUI tasks
- Balsamiq Wireframes - Rapid wireframing tool that reproduces the experience of sketching interfaces
- Carnac - Utility for displaying keyboard shortcuts and commands on screen
- Rainmeter - Desktop customization tool for displaying system information and skins
- Fan Control - Highly customizable fan controlling software for Windows systems
- Obsidian - Knowledge base that works on local Markdown files with linking capabilities
- RustDesk - Open-source remote desktop application alternative to TeamViewer
- Remote Desktop Manager - Centralized tool for managing all remote connections and credentials
- Malwarebytes - Antivirus and anti-malware software for protection against threats
- Fing Desktop - Network scanning and device recognition tool for network administration
- HWiNFO - Hardware analysis and monitoring tool for system information and diagnostics
- CPU-Z - System information software that gathers information on main devices
- ClipClop - Simple and clean clipboard manager for Windows
Media Tools
- MediaMonkey - Media jukebox, music manager, CD ripper, and audio converter
- Affinity Photo - Professional photo editing software as an alternative to Photoshop
- MP3Gain - Tool to analyze and adjust the volume of MP3 files without quality loss
- VLC Media Player - Free, open-source, cross-platform multimedia player that plays most media files
- Paint.NET - Free image and photo editing software with powerful features
- GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program - free and open-source image editor
- HandBrake - Open-source video transcoder for converting video between formats
- iCloud - Apple’s cloud storage and computing service for Apple device synchronization
- iTunes - Media player, media library, and mobile device management application
- PlexKodiConnect - Integration between Plex and Kodi media centers
- Shutter Encoder - Video and audio encoding/conversion tool with various codec support
- Lossless Cut - Swiss army knife for lossless video/audio editing and trimming
- Peepr - Simple and lightweight image and video viewer
- RipShout - ShoutCast stream player and ripper for recording internet radio
- QuickFixMyPic - Utility for converting and scaling images quickly
Firefox Tools
- Firefox CSS UI Setup - Custom CSS setup for Firefox to improve the user interface and appearance
- Tutorial: How to create and live-debug userChrome.css - Reddit tutorial on creating and debugging userChrome.css for Firefox customization
- Drag To Go + - Firefox extension that enables navigation gestures by dragging on the page
Text Editors
- Notepad++ - Free source code editor and Notepad replacement with syntax highlighting
- Sublime Text - Sophisticated text editor for code, markup, and prose with a slick interface
- Markdown Monster - Markdown editor and viewer with live preview and syntax highlighting
Visual Studio & Development
- Visual Studio - Microsoft’s integrated development environment (IDE) for various programming languages
- CodeRush - Visual Studio extension that enhances productivity with refactoring and navigation tools
- ZenCoding - Visual Studio extension for high-speed HTML and CSS coding with abbreviations
- Visual Studio Code - Lightweight but powerful source code editor from Microsoft with extensive extensions
- Azurite - Open source Azure Storage API server emulator for local development
Programming Utilities
- LINQ to DB CLI - Command-line tools for LINQ to DB database operations
- LINQPad - Interactive C#, F#, and VB development environment with instant feedback
- GitHub Desktop - GUI client for Git and GitHub that simplifies version control workflows
- Postman - Collaboration platform for API development with testing and documentation features
- Nightingale REST Client - Modern, resource-efficient REST API client for Windows
- dotPeek - Free .NET decompiler and assembly browser from JetBrains
- ILSpy - Open source .NET assembly browser and decompiler
- JustDecompile - Free .NET assembly decompiler and browser from Telerik
- dnSpy - .NET debugger and assembly editor with decompilation capabilities
- CodeTrack - Performance and memory profiler for .NET applications
- Process Explorer - Advanced task manager and system monitoring tool from Microsoft Sysinternals
- ShipThatCode - Utility to create installers and updaters for .NET projects using GitHub for hosting
- Fiddler - Web debugging proxy tool for logging and inspecting HTTP/HTTPS traffic
- DevToys - Swiss Army knife for developers with various utilities and formatters
- Localtunnel - Expose your localhost to the world for testing and sharing. Note you can do this in visual studio for a single project now. This project is still use useful for emulators etc though.
- ngrok - Secure introspectable tunnels to localhost for testing webhooks and APIs
- Eclipse Mosquitto - Open-source MQTT message broker for IoT and messaging applications
- MQTT Explorer - All-round MQTT client that provides a structured topic overview
SQL Tools
- SQL Server Downloads - Official Microsoft SQL Server downloads for various versions and editions
- SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) - Microsoft’s integrated environment for managing SQL Server infrastructure
- DBeaver Community - Free universal database tool and SQL client with support for multiple database systems
- SQL Prompt - Productivity tool for SQL Server that helps write, format, and refactor SQL code
- Plan Explorer - Free SQL query analysis tool from SolarWinds for examining execution plans
- DB Browser for SQLite - Visual tool to create, design, and edit SQLite database files
- How to Configure a SQL Server Alias - Tutorial on configuring SQL Server aliases for named instances
- Working with sql client aliases - Guide to working with SQL client aliases using the dbatools PowerShell module