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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
• Skype
• Picasa
• TweetDeck

My developer-self likes to add:

• Balsamiq - wire frame mock-up tool that really rocks!
• FileZilla - the best FTP client I know of.
• Visual Studio (now 2010) and Sql Server Express 2008 (the express versions of both are free)
• AnkhSVN - great SVN add-on for Visual Studio.
• TortoiseSVN - great SVN client for Windows.
• Codesmith Professional - growing to love this tool! There is an older freeware version available.
• ExamDiff Pro - file and folder comparison.

For general website development / management:

• FireFox
• Firebug extension for Firefox (thanks for the reminder @plowerdotnet). The Chrome extension is available but nowhere near as good.
• Artisteer
• JustResizeIt - fantastic drag and drop image resizing.
• PixelWindow - useful for on-screen measurement.
• Pixus - similar to PixelWindow but can overlay a mask to show how your page would look in a browser sized the same.
• Clockmaker Icon Generator

For presentations, reports and making the most of Office:

• ASAP Utilities - really great bunch of tools that make Excel that bit easier to use (such as converting text that looks like a date into a date)
• MindGenius - mind mapping software that helps get ideas out of my head and into reports / presentations.
• Xara Xtreme - Xara is a vector graphics app I have used for 15 years. Very good for creating web graphics and simple flash banners.

General tools I feel I need to keep close to hand:

• Microsoft Live Mesh - keeps files in sync between computers at home and in the office.
• Allway Sync - keeps files in sync between local devices.
• Carbonite Backup - online backup. I would use Mozy because it is similarly priced and much better but I have a huge refer-a-friend credit to use up with Carbonite.
• Revo Uninstaller - clears up mess left behind after an incomplete un-install.
• jZip
• Virtual Clone Drive - mount ISO's as a CD/DVD.
• TrueCrypt - I create very secure volumes on my laptop to hold client data.
• KeePass - very useful password management tool.
• LogMeIn
• TreeSize Free - the professional version is useful if you are managing networked drives too.
• YouSendIt Express - a right-click, send to someone add-on for Windows. Makes the YouSendIt service more usable.
• CCleaner - keeps my system in shape. Useful for examining / removing applications that start with Windows.
• Defraggler - very good, free defrag tool.