I have recently needed to rebuild my Continuous Integration server, and once more found out that I never documented my configuration the last time I set it up. The same has happened every 18 months or so, when I rebuild my development machine. Having wasted hours re-discovering the list of tools I need to have installed, and the options I always consider and discard, I have decided to be inspired by Scott Hanselsman’s Ultimate Developer and Power Users Tool List For Windows and make my own list. I started making my list in HTML, and realized that this really belongs on my blog. Then it will exist beyond the life of my machine, and I can always get to it. Enough fluff, time for the list.
.NET Development Tools#
- Windows SDK – the core development environment, when I am not using Visual Studio.
- Visual Studio Developer Center – the starting point for Visual Studio development
- Microsoft WebMatrix – when you just need to do some Web Work
- Resharper - get it, use it, love it
Java Development Tools#
- Java Downloads – the JRE’s. needed mostly for Jenkins
- IntelliJ IDEA - I don’t often have to work in Java, but when I do, this is what I use.
Core Tools#
Let’s face it. With the best development IDE’s, you still feel the need to crank up an editor sometimes. This list is for my editor, and all the other core tools I have come to depend on.
- Ultra Edit Studio (UEStudio) – I have been a long time user of UltraEdit and UltraStudio and have never found myself looking for another editor. It works. It does everything I need. It handles massively large files with easy. What else do you need?
- Ultra Compare – My compare tool of choice. Others have suggested Beyond Compare , but I have never found something I could not do with Ultra Compare.
- LINQPad – The easiest way to learn LINQ or just test out the latest query
- GrinGod’s Monaco TTF Font – I am a font snob and need my Monaco font
- MindMesiter – I use it to plan out my software projects and designs
- Paint.NET – There is no substitute for this amazing paint tool.
- Fiddler – I rarely need to sniff the wire these days, but this is my tool of choice when I do
- 7-Zip – Opens everything and is fast. Is there more needed?
- Windows Live Writer – it is the tool of choice for the Windows based blogger. Accept no substitute
- Hedgehogs JumpList Launcher – convert a Windows 7 task bar jump list into a menu of useful tools
Source Code Control#
- github – my source control home of choice
- msysgit - Git tools for Windows
- Setup Git for Windows from the folks at github
- ProGit - the book
Dependency Management#
- NuGet – manage those pesky .NET dependencies in the coolest way
Build Tools#
- MSBuild Reference – always find myself looking here to relearn the basics
- MSBuildTasks – need these to make MSBuild really useful
Testing#
- NUnit – my testing tool of choice
Documentation#
- SandCastle – the open source documentation generation tool from Microsoft
- SandCastle Help File Builder – the tool to make SandCastle actually usable
- DocProject for SandCastle – another tool to help make SandCastle usable
- NDoc3 – jump start of the old NDoc project
Static Analysis#
- StyleCop – stop in the name of code style!
Continuous Integration Platforms#
- Jenkins – my preferred continuous integration platform
- JetBrains TeamCity – a great tool, but the 20 limit prevents me from using it. I have too many small projects
- CruiseControl.NET – the old standby
Tools That Look Interesting#
- Simiam - Similarity Analyser – find duplicate code in a variety language
- ANTLR - ANother Tool for Language Recognition – the only parser tool I use these days. rare I need it anymore, but still the only tool of choice for me
References I Can’t Function Without#
- StackOverflow – every day I use it. greatest resource for developers
- MSDN – online docs, examples, downloads, and more Any suggestions for tools I am not using that I should be?