Reformat PC Craziness - Free Windows Software for Developers

I had to reformat my PC, no way out of it, but little did I expect the amount of time to get all my software installed.

I keep a list of the absolute necessary software that I need to do my work, they have to be free, open source, help me be productive and to keep my PC as clean as possible this time, I narrowed them down to 1/3 of the software that used to be on my computer and yet? It's still HUGE. What in the world? I looked them over and over again, I just can't live without any of them, it's crazy I'm telling you.

Okay, I develop both .NET applications and Java applications, so maybe I overdone it a little bit, but in all seriousness, I really think I need the following software which comprise about 2/3 of my list and around 71 programs!! If you are .NET developer and/or Java Developer, I think you ought to check them out as well if you don't already have them.

Non-Programming Specific Software for a Developer (19 items)

• Altiris
  
  I need Altiris to install any rarely used or beta software. This way, I can easily uninstall them and activate them when I need it. It keeps my PC healthy, must have!
  
  
• xplorer2lite
  
  A replacement for windows explorer. It provides tabbed interface, advanced file manipulation capabilities (split files, rename files, preview files, bookmark, hook into command prompt, folder synchronization, etc) Just some of the functionality that I use. 
  
  
• IZar Zip Utility
  
  Absolutely the best zip utility, second to none. Support many many extensions, including  .iso extensions. I need this to be installed FIRST before I can install my visual Studio files.
  
  
• AVG AntiVirus
  AVG AntiSpyWare
  AVG AntiRootKit
  
  Self explanatory. Need to get my PC/Code protected and AVG is probably one of the best free ones that I've used.
  
  
• VirtualWin Virtual Desktop Manager
  
  Okay, I work with a lot of programs opened up at the same time. I need multiple desktops, VirtualWin is probably one of the best free one that I've used with very small footprint. Must have (although MS virtual desktop is good too if I only need 4 virtual desktops)
  
  
• Task Arrange
  
  Like I mentioned, I have so many windows opened at the same time, even with virtual desktop, I still might have many windows opened in a particular one. However, I like them to be in a particular order, so I can be productive, task arrange helps me order them in the fashions that helps my brain think the best. MUST have.
  
  
• PowerToys
  
      SyncnToy 1.4 (will install to a folder you specifcy)
      ClearType Tuner
      TweakUI PowerToy
      Open Command Prompt Here PowerToy
      TaskSwitch
      PowerCaculator
      ImageResizer
      Virtual Desktop
  
  All these utilities are needed. SyncToysynch your folders really well,  I have multiple PCs, before going to sleep, run it and be done with it, although xplorelite offers similar functionality, but for mass files, I still use SyncToy. 
  
  ClearType is a must if you want to protect your eyes.
  
  TweakUI just lets you tweak so many things on your windows, can't live without it.
  
  Open Command prompt here is needed when I develop my Java applications, very convent,
  
  TaskSwitch basically replace your traditional alt-tab and displays a preview of all the window, since I alt tab all the time, check. Power Calculator is just bigger, love it.
  
  ImageResizer helps me resize a lot images at the same time easily, very handy.
  
  Virtual Desktop again,  if I only need 4 desktops, then I will choose this over Virtual Win and the reason is I can't see it in my processes, so it "seems" like it takes even less memory that virtual win.
  
  
• PC File  Inspector Recovery
  
  You know we all accidentally deleted a piece of code and only later, oh shoot, I needed it but it's already deleted!! What to do? PC Inspector comes to rescue. Do yourself a favor and install it, save yourself some headaches later.
  
  
• Eraser   
  
  You think you deleted your file? Well, with PC File Inspector, you can recover it. We all have those files that we want to permanently delete them without anybody have the chance ever to see them again. Eraser is what you need. I'm anal when it comes to privacy, so it's a must tool.
  
  
• KeePass
  
  How many passwords do a normal developer holds in their brains? Let's see, personal items including emails, online bank, online bank to work related ones like company logons, test server, database servers, production servers, subversion/cvs, application passwords..just to name a few. Are we superman? We need a secure software to keep our password. Keepass is the answer.

Generic Tools for a Generic Developer (15 items)

• TIghtVNC
  
  If you are like me, then I know you have multiple PCs. I have a test server (cvs, subversion, web servers, etc), a database server, a development server and a multi-media (music, movies, etc). How do you switch back / forth and remotely control your PCs easily? TightVNC is REAL "tight"! You ought to see for yourself. 
   
  
• Process Explorer (Replacement of FileMon)   
  
  Okay developers. If you don't have this, then you are missing out. You get to see all files, processes, activities on your computer at any given time, if you need to track what program is using which dlls, you need it, trust me.
  
  
• WhoLockedMe
  
  You ever wanted to delete a file while developing your application and it just wont' let you delete the file you need to get rid of? Kept getting "another process is using this file" error? Use this and kill that sucker! No more reboot your PC. MUST have.
  
  
• Filezilla
  
  Okay, in my opinion, it's probably the most widely used open source / free FTP client. Enough said. Now, it does have some problems. If I upload loads of files at the same time, sometimes it screws up. My only pet peeve.
  
  
• RssBandit
  
  As a developer, you need to keep up with your reading! To keep yourself from going crazy and stressed out, use a tool like RssBandit or even Google Rss Feed to keep yourself organized.
  
  
• Notepad++
      (GVim, Programmer's Notepad, Notepad2)
  
  Guys, hear me out. This one is probably the BEST replacement for windows notepad. It's crazy!! I've used many many free notepad-like replacements (GVim, Programmer's notepad, notepad2, ultraedit), but none is as easy and yet just as powerful as Notepad++.  You HAVE to try this one out.
  
  
• Httrack
  
  Okay, I know you developers wanted to rip a site at some point in your life. Either a open source site for its documentation to view offline or get some files off a site in one go. Httrack is what you need.
  
  
• Firefox
      (addons)
      FireBug
      Fission
      LocationBar
      Stealther
  
  Enough said.
  
  
• BKReplaceEm
  
  Okay, you know you've wanted to replace certain text in projects BAD. What to do, what to do. BkReplaceEm will go through all your folders, find the files with the text you want to replace and replace them! It even saves a backup copy for you just in case. FAST and FURIOUS. love it.
  
  
• BareTail
  
  Dude! You know you have log files in your project. If you don't, then you are not developing your application correctly. But how do you view your log files like you do in Unix "tail -f"? Bare Tail is excellent excellent. Highly recommended.
  
  
• WinMerge
  
  Okay, I don't know about you, but I find myself compare multiple files all the time and trying to find out what the differences are. WinMerge does that AND it'll help you merge the differences. SWEET SWEET tool.
  
  
• CrypTool
  
  Okay, I know it's obvious, but all developers should learn about cryptography. This tool really helps you understand all aspects of this dark area of programming.  
  
  
• Tortoise / SubVersion
  
  Well, if you have subversion for your project, you know you need it.
  
  
• WinCVS / CVSNT
  
  Same thing. if you have CVS,then you gotta have it.

• Trillian Basic
  
  Who doesn't have an IM huh? Trillian helps you connected to AIM, Yahoo Messenger, MSN, ICQ. So let's keep everything in one place.
  

The following are the tools I use for .NET and Java respectively, so I won't go into too much details. When I get the time, I'll link them up properly in another time.

Software for .NET Developers (22 Items)

• Reflector
• IISAdmin 1.1
• Visual Studio 2005
      Guidance Automation Extension
      WebServices Factory
      MS Ajax
      MS Control ToolKit
      Web Deployment Project
      CopySourceASHtml
      Project Line Count
      GhostDoc
      TestDriven.NET
      Refractor for ASP.NET 2.2
      SmartParser
• NDOC
• CLR Profiler
• Fiddler
• MyGeneration   
• Management Studio
• CruiseControl.NET
• ConvertCSharp2VB Offline
• SQL Prompt

Software for Java Developers (6 Items)

• Tomcat
• Ant
• CruiseControl
• MySQL Server 5
• MySQL GUI Tools
• Eclipse

My Other Items (9 Items)

• Windows Live Writer
• ObjectDock
• Maxvista
• Winamp
• Nero
• Wink
• Cropper
• Paint.NET
• PDFViewer
  

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