Below a list of tools I use today. If you’re like me, you check them out and add the ones you like to your own toolbox.

Image courtesy of vectorolie / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Environment

Chocolatey, installation automation. I’ve written about it before on my blog. (See posts)
F.lux, it makes the color of your computer’s display adapt to the time of day
7-zip, the new standard in compressing files
DropBox, file share/sync between computers and the internet
Chrome, best browser today
AdBlock for Chrome, blocks adds in chrome

Productivity

TimeManage.me, my pomodoro app
Powershell, the automation solution from microsoft
RescueTime, background logging of where you spend your time
Wunderlist, task list on every platform
IFTTT, automate the internet
Trello, collaboration tool that uses boards and cards. I’ve written some small automation scripts for my uses. (Post)
Pocket, my preferred read later list, available on all platforms
Evernote, remember everything. I use it for my GTD technique called The secret weapon.
1Password, my password is CTRL + \
Autohotkey, run macro’s on keyboard shortcuts like CTRL+ALT+5 types €

Development

Visual Studio 2013, the best IDE out there
NuGet, source of all the good in the world
Visual Studio Gallery, extend visual studio
Ghostdoc, CTRL+SHIFT+D to comment your code, that simple
Specflow, cucumber for .net for behavior driven development (BDD)
Just Decompile, see the code of .net assemblies
Fiddler, log http calls via this proxy
Wireshark, deep logging of network traffice
SourceTree, my preferred git tool with advanced branching support
Notepad++, notepad on steroids
BrowserStack, test webpages on any platform, live or automated
Selenium, webbrowser automation, also runs on browserstack
smtp4dev, development smtp server

Misc

ZoomIt, I use this in all my demos to zoom
Bit.ly, url shortener service
windirstat, see what is hogging your hard disk space
prey, install and forget, until you need it

Mac

Cyberduck, connect to anything
DaisyDisk, see what is hogging your hard disk space
SafeCopyBackup, automated cloud backup
Type2phone, make my mac a Bluetooth keyboard for iPad or AppleTV
Handbrake, convert movies
1Password, my password is ⌘ + \

iPhone/iPad

Tweetbot, easy twitter client with pocket integration
Workflow, automate tasks, like send ETA and navigate home
CloudMagic, handles my e-mail and offers tasks like send to evernote or pocket
Pocket, I do my reading mostly on iPhone or iPad

Some of the tools cost money, some are free, some offer paid options. If it saves you time or improves your work, why not support the developer that made it possible?