Throughout a normal workday, I have tons of different programs running at any given time. Here is a snapshot of the programs I typically run, and why:
- Dev
- Visual Studio 2005/2008
My primary development environment. I’m normally working in Asp.net 2.0+ w/C#. Of all the different development platforms I have worked in, this is by far my favorite.
- SQL Server Management Studio 2005/2008
C# wouldn’t be much fun without a back-end, now would it?
- Notepad++
Windows Notepad is great. Notepad++ is greater. There are several other Notepad replacements developers use, but I find this one does everything I need. It comes with tons of preinstalled macros that allow you to check differences between two files, insert rulers, auto-format html, highlight syntax, convert between character formats, and on and on. You can even quickly and easily record a macro of your own. Macros in Notepad++ are crazy easy….new post?
- Excel
When I have a ton of SQL queries to write that require some sort of auto-numbering, I find it can be easiest to use a spreadsheet to generate the scripts.
- TortoiseSVN and AnkSVN
If you aren’t using version control, you’re doing it wrong. If you’re using Visual Source Safe, you’re better off than using nothing. I have been using Subversion for a bit now, and it has proven to be exactly what I need. Throw in the fact that Dreamhost offers Subversion hosting, and I’m SOLD!
- Visual Studio 2005/2008