Tools

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

  • 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.

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.

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.