01225 571 707

If there was such a thing as a standard build for my computers these are the applications I have decided I absolutely can't live without. Some are free, some expensive; some for development, some for general use. In taking delivery of a new laptop this afternoon I though it was about time I wrote the list somewhere for reference.

The vast majority of the software I use is free. Not because I am against spending money on tools that help me do my job but simply because there is so much great software available. I try to Downloads giving back to the open source community. The only significant expense on my list would be Microsoft Office and Visual Studio but as a BizSpark member, even these are available without paying the full licence cost.

My all-time must have's are:

• Google Chrome - first through the gates! The I install my 'almost' top 10 Google Chrome extensions.
• Microsoft Office 2010 - I use OpenOffice at home because it's an excellent package, it's just that I develop software in, and linked to Microsoft Office.
• Foxit PDF Reader (and the Foxit PDF Preview Handler by Tim Heuer)
• Notepad++
• Search Everything
• Affixa - which saves me from having to have a 'real' email client. See my blog post: Ditch your desktop email client

I received an email last night completely out of the blue. I have no idea where the guy picked up my email address so dropped a quick reply to let him down and ask how he came to email me. Since he replied quick to me I knew he was real and wanted to help him if I could.

I am supportive of people who try hard to find work so gave him some tips to make sure his email is not deleted and his CV hits the top of the pile... hope they are useful to someone else as well!