Essential tools used on a daily basis
Here is a list of tools that allows me to work quickly. These are programs that I am constantly using at work.
- Notepad++
Simply the best text editor for Windows. If only they had one for OSX!
- Launchy
Since I tend not to have many programs open, I find myself always constantly opening and closing programs for small tasks and such. I don’t think anything can beat QuickSilver for OSX but Launchy is good enough to get the job done.
- Paint.net
Though I have PhotoShop, it takes quite a long time to load up on my computer. So, for small tasks such as re-sizing, cropping, etc.., I use paint.net for quick edits.
- SQLyog
When I first tried out this powerful MySQL GUI, I immediately switched over. With so much functionality and an easy to use interface, I find myself using this tool quite a lot. It also comes in handy for making quick database backups, queries and other database related tasks.
- q10
On my main work computer, I have a dual monitor setup. On the secondary screen, I have q10 running. Basically, q10 is a completely full-screen editor which allows you to hide any distracting stuff on screen and in theory let’s you focus on work. I use it as a pseudo notepad and text clipboard and when I really need to concentrate, I’ll turn off my primary screen and use only q10.
- Effective File Search
The native search capability of Windows have long been slow, ineffective and clunky. While I’ve tried many 3rd party solutions out there, I found that EFS does the job quickly and as advertised, effectively.
As a web developer, I spent a LOT of time with my browser open. For development purposes, my main browser is Firefox. In particular, there are a few extensions that are essential to my day-to-day work:
- Firebug
Figuring out a CSS style sheet was a pain in the past but with a tool like Firebug, it’s easy. Quick CSS tweaks with instant preview makes this tool a must.
- Colorzilla
Something like “Stan, can you change the color of the title so that it matches the background color of the image in the sidebar?” crops up quite a lot at work. In the past, I would have to dig into the CSS or image file to find the color. Then write down the hexadecimal color code and make the change. Colorzilla saves time by allowing me to hover over the element and instantly displaying the color.
- MeasureIt
Working with designers, it’s crucial to meet design specifications down to the correct pixels width and height. Essentially a digital ruler, I find myself using MeasureIt whenever I’m given a mockup and needing to implement it.
