Two years ago, I made a list of my indispensable tools. Here is a quick updated version:
Lists are always subjective, but it is helpful, I think, to exchange favorites now and again. Feel free to add yours to the comments. Here’s my list in no particular order
- Visual Studio 2022 – goes without saying that this is the world’s best IDE for .NET developers. I use it 8-12 hours a day, it just keeps getting better, especially with CoPilot.
- Copilot – AI done right. Integrated with Visual Studio, this add-on is the most powerful and useful tool I have. It can get in the way a little, but when it does its stuff, watch out. Point it at a class and ask for documentation and/or unit tests and watch it go! But kids, don’t try this at home — it needs adult supervision.
- ExamDiffPro – there are lots of comparison/merge utilities. Get a good one.
- Tweaks by Mads Kristensen — small but very valuable addition to VS
- Viasfora – I can not believe how useful this is. Matches braces by color and in any “real” application, this can save a lot of time.
- Evernote: I use it to log everything I do, including every fix for recurring issues. It is quick, powerful, and easy to use. Although it has limitations, overall, I’ve found it helpful and reliable.
- LastPass – my password manager. I’d be lost without it. (1Password may be better, our mileage may vary)
- Git Diff Margin – if you use Git you’ll want to Git this. See what changed in the margin
- DB Browser for SQLite – If you are using SQLite, this is a must-have.
- BlueSky – the single best social media site for .NET programmers
Note that nearly all of these are free. I do remember the days when a program like Lotus 123 cost something in the hundreds of dollars. It makes me laugh when I see people look at an app and say, “$4, naah, too expensive.”
I am not affiliated with any of these.
As I say, grab these, and if there are others that you use, please note them in the comments.
Thanks