Programs I Typically Run While Working

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!

• Communication
  • Google Talk

    I have used Google Talk for years now. It has been my favorite IM client to date. The interface is clean and it runs quickly and smoothly. Luckily, many of my coworkers use Gtalk as well.

  • Pidgin

    Many of my coworkers, previous coworkers, friends, and family, etc still use AIM / MSN / Yahoo.  Pidgin lets me keep all those contacts in one place.

  • Tweetdeck

    At first, I did not see the point in Twitter.  In the first year of my account, I think I made 5 posts.  After using it a bit more at the advice of @davecowart, I have found it to be a great way to keep in touch with likeminded people, as well as keep an eye on what is buzzing around the net.

    I’ve tried Digsby, Twhirl, and Seesmic Desktop.  I still prefer Tweetdeck.  It seems to have a good handle on memory and speed, is updated frequently, and is feature rich.

  • Outlook

    Unfortunately, Outlook is a requirement for me.  It is a great communication tool, but I find it a bit bloated for my needs.  Also, the crashes are getting old.  I guess it doesn’t help that my version is 6+ years old, but I would still rather move to a lightweight alternative.

  • Gmail

    This is my preferred email account.  I typically use Firefox or Google Chrome as my client.

• Browsers
  • Firefox

    Firefox has been my go-to browser for years.  They have had some trouble with memory leaks in the past, but the newer versions seem to have addressed them.  I still see Firefox eating tons of memory, but that is to be expected with all the plugins I run. 

    Firefox is extremely extensible.  There are numerous add-ons that I use consistently.  Each is deserving of its own post(s).  I’ll add those to my list.

  • Google Chrome

    Lightweight, quick, great interface.  Chrome is an all-around great browser. Until Chrome is at least as extensible as Firefox, Firefox will remain my primary development browser.

  • Internet Explorer

    Tons of people still use IE and MS doesn’t like to play by open rules, so I’m stuck using Internet Exploder. Also, from a users perspective, many sites will only work properly in IE.  I hate these sites, but I sadly understand how it happens. I have worked on a number of sites that ONLY work in IE. I’m not proud of that, but in my defense, I have done everything I can to use cross-browser techniques in everything I have touched.

  • Others

    I have Opera installed, but rarely use it.  I had Netscape installed, just to make sure all my bases were covered, but they have officially killed the browser.  So long Netscape, you were my first favorite browser – but hey, I also liked MC Hammer at the time.

• Media Players / Editors
  • iTunes

    I resisted iTunes for so long.  I wanted to hate it.  Then I tried it, and have been hooked ever since.

  • Picasa

    Excluding Gmail, this is probably my favorite Google product.  It makes organizing and light editing for all the pics from my point and shoot a snap.  When I’m done editing, it takes 1 click to get my pics uploaded to PicasaWeb.

  • The Gimp

    I don’t do a lot of extensive image editing, but when I need to do a little more than a quick color touch up or crop, I bring out the gimp.

I think that is a pretty complete overview of the programs I run the most throughout a standard day.  In the future, I will explain why I prefer a few of these over their alternatives.  What did I miss?