Brian Hartsock's Blog

Inspired by Hanslemann’s tool list, and realizing that if my hard drive fails I want to have links to all the tools I need, I have started my own tool list. This page will probably change all the time.

What I use everyday

• Pidgin - IM, IM, IM
• Google Docs – Although I have only been using Google Docs for a few weeks, it solves many of the problems I see regarding collaborative documents. In my role, I have rarely created a document that shouldn’t be shared. MS Office hasn’t caught onto this. Google has. I don’t want features, I want collaboration.
• Console – Never again will I use cmd.exe. Console gives so many features it isn’t funny. Currently, I have Cygwin, Powershell, MySQL, and Cmd all in different tabs on my Console. Plus, I can resize very easily. Oh, and it’s transparent, so I look cool. If you aren’t using this, you don’t know what your missing.
• Launchy – The best app launcher around. Simple, sweet, perfect. And transparent, man am I cool.
• VirtualWin – Although not nearly as awesome as Gnome’s virtual desktops, close enough. The best virtual desktop software for Windows that I have tried. Lacking in many areas, but it works. Who cares if I don’t see my boss IM me on another desktop right?
• Putty – Even though Cygwin could accomplish the same task, I can’t actually stop using Putty. It’s my jam.
• Notepad++ – When notepad just won’t work. I basically use this for quick and dirty syntax highlighting.
• Trac – Trac is like a wet dog. You love the dog, but man does it smell. There are a ton of things I wish I could do, but it just works. Wiki, source control integration, ticketing, workflows … awesome.
• Skype – Stop using your cell phone. Buy a webcam and start video chatting for free.
• ClearType Tuner – Don’t turn your eyes against you, this is a must. It makes text so clear and readable I can’t ever go to a computer that doesn’t have something similar.

Amazing tools

• Powershell - Named accordingly, Powershell is the most powerful shell/scripting language I have ever used. Is it quick and easy? Yes. Can it integrate with .NET objects? Yes. Never again will I create an EXE to accomplish a scripting task.
• Cygwin – Love my VIM. It’s just nice to be able to do things like execute Perl and PHP without having to install a ton of stuff for Windows. SSH, SCP, and SFTP are must haves too.
• Camtasia – Screencasting is my new love. I have barely done it, but I see the power in it. Camtasia is the best way to do it that I have seen.
• Reflector – Yes you can browse the source code of the .NET libraries you are calling. Pretty fun.
• 7zip – Not only does it provide a ton of compression options, but it is the easiest thing to use since a tea cup. If it only requires two clicks to do something, my mother can learn it.
• Jungle Disk – Don’t buy another flaky hard drive. Just backup to Amazon S3 (or Mosso Cloud Files in a few months woot) with Jungle Disk. Simple, easy and it works on Windows Mac and Linux
• Paint.NET – Best free graphics app for Windows that I have used. Much simpler and prettier than Gimp.
• Foxit PDF Reader: Lightweight PDF reader that loads super fast. Ad driven, but they are so small I barely notice.
• SnagIT – Simple, yet super powerful screen capture utility. Want to make your blog look professional? Use it.

Eyecandy

• Ubericon – Just install it. It looks cool.

Web Development must haves

• Firebug – If I interview a web developer and they don’t know what Firebug is, they are no longer interviewing for web developer. Just plain developer. Get it.
• YSlow – If I interview a web developer that uses YSlow, I am thinking this guy cares a lot about the performance of his website.
• Wireshark – When your so frustrated with SOAP you almost decide to convert everything to REST, Wireshark to the rescue. It’s how you determine what is really going on

.NET Development

• NUnit – Testing is a must. Just use it.
• TestDriven.NET – An easy integration for Visual Studio and NUnit, NCover, etc. Right click -> Run Tests
• NCover – What is automated testing with a code coverage percentage?
• FxCop – Make sure your code isn’t doing anything stupid, even though it might work.
• Selenium – Web testing made easy. Pretty fun to watch you code work.

Yes, you can run it on your desktop

• MySQL – I am amazed at how few developers run this on their desktop. It works and it is super easy to test out ideas without effecting anyone.
• Memcached, Windows Port – Windows port of Memcached. Great for testing out theories right on your local machine.

Home Media

• PlayOn – Play On brings streaming media to your media center, via XBox 360 or XBMC.