This page is very much influenced by Scott Hanselman’s 2007 Ultimate Developer and Power Users Tool List for Windows.
These are tools that I use, some frequently some less frequent. But they are all tools that I wan’t when I start power-up new machines.
In this first version, the list will be incomplete and unsorted.
- Notepad++ (free)- this is a lightweight, fast and syntax-highlighted Notapad replacement. Superb to just open C#, XML, SQL, .. files from Explorer and take a quick peek at files.
- Araxis Merge (commercial) – Very good file and folder comparison tools. Saved me a lot of times when in doubt what files were changed. I bought this program in 2000, I have changed to newer faster machines a lot of times but Araxis Merge follows me along.
- Sysinternals (free) – The sysinterals tools are a must-have. File and disk utils, process explorer, system information, …. download and try them out.
- YATT (free)- Trace traffic to/from your machine. Very useful for debugging proxies, web services etc. See what comes on the wire.
- WAPT (commercial) – Easy to use load testing tool. Easy to use, can record clicks, good summary test-results.
- WINK (free) – Good screen capture/record program. Perfect for demonstrations, tutorials etc.
- Firebug (free) – Marvelous web development tool. Integrates with firefox. Tons of useful stuff, from CSS to HTTP requests.
- Fiddler (free) – HTTP Debugging proxy. Use this one on the client and YATT on the server.
- IE Developer Toolbar (free) – Like firebug – but for IE.
- Query Express is a simple Query Analyzer look-alike
