# software I use - old list for windows _I switched to a Macbook laptop instead of a Windows machine. Most of this information is old now. Keeping it as a legacy post. Check out the new updated [[software i use - new|Mac list]]._ This is a collection of the software I use on a regular basis. I've been wanting to compile a list so I can easily remember what I have installed. There are links to the respective websites so I can easily look up extra information. The hope is that I update this list as I discover and install new programs. ### software updaters and installers - [PatchMyPC](https://patchmypc.com/) is a good way to quickly install or update lots of programs at one time. [Ninite](https://ninite.com/) is another good alternative. - [Chocolatey](https://chocolatey.org/) for terminal-based installations that bypass GUI steps. I use this for the more technical stuff like Python, Node, etc. [Winget](https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli) is a similar system from Microsoft that I've started using. - [Winstall](https://winstall.app/) adds a visual version on to Winget. I like that you can build your own list of programs to install all at once. I use [alternativeto.net](https://alternativeto.net/) to find new programs to meet my needs, with a priority on open-source software. ### notes organization - [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md) for organizing thoughts, saving clipped content from the web, building notes for the classes that I teach, building my website. Everything is saved in open [markdown](https://www.markdownguide.org/) format so my notes are not locked into a particular system. I have made a couple of custom themes for it. This has become the default program to do most of my work (including building this website). - [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) is a good backup for writing in markdown, especially since I have some great extensions to make the workflow similar to Obsidian. The interface just isn't as clean or efficient. I do use it to convert my markdown to html when building websites. - [Notion](https://www.notion.so/) can do some amazing things, but it runs slow and the notes are locked in a proprietary format. Still, I do have some content there because it is fun to fiddle around with and it may eventually be more functional for me. I've tried just about every app and system out there over the years including [Evernote](https://evernote.com/), [OneNote](https://www.onenote.com/), [Trello](https://trello.com/), [WorkFlowy](https://workflowy.com/), [Checkvist](https://checkvist.com/), [Dynalist](https://dynalist.io/), [Joplin](https://joplinapp.org/), [Zettlr](https://www.zettlr.com/), [Standard Notes](https://standardnotes.org/), [Simplenote](https://simplenote.com/), [TagSpaces](https://www.tagspaces.org/), etc. but none have been able to fully meet my needs. ### schedule and tasks - [TickTick](http://www.ticktick.com/) is my current favorite because it integrates both calendar and to-do list in one app. It is amazing how few tools there are that actually integrate tasks with the calendar. I've looked, believe me. I have also used many other programs for organizing my schedule, including: [Google Calendar](https://calendar.google.com/), [Microsoft Calendar](https://office.live.com/start/Calendar.aspx), [Outlook](https://outlook.live.com/), [Todoist](https://todoist.com/), [ZenKit](https://zenkit.com/), etc. I have to use Office365 for work, but have the content ported into TickTick. ### visual design programs - [Affinity Designer](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/designer/) and [Affinity Photo](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/) are amazing affordable alternatives to the Adobe suite. I absolutely love Designer for integrating both vector drawing and pixel painting in the same interface. The iPad version of Designer is pretty solid too. - [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html) and [Adobe Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html) because they are the classics and because I teach with them. I've been using both programs since the mid-90s so they are good in a pinch when I need to make something quickly. - [Krita](https://krita.org/) is an amazing digital painting program for the desktop. My students keep telling me to check out [PaintTool SAI](https://www.systemax.jp/en/sai/), but haven't gotten there yet. - [Procreate](https://procreate.art/) is my favorite drawing/painting app on the iPad, although [Affinity Designer](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/designer/) works pretty well too. - [Blender](https://www.blender.org/) is the best program out there for working in 3D. I've been teaching myself how to use it since summer 2020 and have a long way to go. With my architecture experience I've used [3DS Max](https://www.autodesk.com/products/3ds-max/overview), [Maya](https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview), and [SketchUp](https://www.sketchup.com/) so the fundamental understandings are there, I just have to learn the how Blender handles everything. ### web design programs - [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) is my default coding app. I prefer the non-telemetry open-source version called [VSCodium](https://vscodium.com/), but there are several extensions that cause issues. Also have [Adobe DreamWeaver](https://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver.html) installed because I need to teach with it. I'm old school and prefer straight coding though. I've have also used [Atom](https://atom.io/) (RIP) and [Brackets](http://brackets.io/) in the past. - Experimenting with [Adobe XD](https://www.adobe.com/products/xd.html) for front-end design and prototyping. I've also fiddled with [Figma](https://www.figma.com/). There are others that I want to try out too. - [Publii](https://getpublii.com/) (like local WordPress) and [Mobirise](https://mobirise.com/) (like local Weebly) to build quick websites with no code. - Classics like [WordPress](https://wordpress.com), [Weebly](https://www.weebly.com/), and [Google Sites](https://www.sites.google.com/) for web-based site building. - [Hugo](https://gohugo.io/) to build complex static websites using markdown and [MKDocs](https://www.mkdocs.org/) to build documentation websites using markdown. [retype](https://retype.com/) is also really amazing. - [GitHub Desktop](https://desktop.github.com/) for syncing everything to the web and for easy free website publishing. ### media tools - [MusicBee](https://getmusicbee.com/) for listening to audio files. Also checking out [Nora](https://noramusic.netlify.app/) music player. - [VLC](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/) for watching videos because it plays everything I've ever needed to be played. - [White Noise](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/white-noise/9wzdncrdfs44?activetab=pivot:overviewtab) for playing ambient nature sounds to block distractions. [Ambie](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/ambie-white-noise/9p07xnm5chp0?activetab=pivot:overviewtab) is also quite good. Check out my list of other apps for [[ambient sounds]]. - [OBS Studio](https://obsproject.com/) and [Animotica](https://www.animotica.com/) for recording screencasts and demos. - [Animotica](https://www.animotica.com/) and [Adobe Premiere](https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html) for assembling videos. Started trying to learn [DaVinci Resolve](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/) but it is more complicated than I need. - [HandBrake](https://handbrake.fr/) for processing videos to adjust sizes and formats. ### random windows utilities - [PowerToys](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys) from Microsoft for system color picker, file explorer preview of markdown and svg files, and mostly for using as a quick-launcher. Checking out [Flow Launcher](https://www.flowlauncher.com/) as an alternative launcher. - [QuickLook](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/quicklook/9nv4bs3l1h4s?activetab=pivot:overviewtab) for quickly viewing image files in greater detail than with the explorer preview pane. Of course, can always fall back to [Adobe Bridge](https://www.adobe.com/products/bridge.html), but that is so damned heavy and slow. - [One Commander](https://onecommander.com/) as an alternative file manager. - [NileSoft Shell](https://nilesoft.org/) for better right-click menu in file manager. - [EarTrumpet](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/eartrumpet/9nblggh516xp?activetab=pivot:overviewtab) for more granular control of audio output. [FX Sound](https://www.fxsound.com/) also rocks. - [7Zip](https://www.7-zip.org/) for dealing with zip files. - [ModernFlyouts](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/modernflyouts-preview/9mt60qv066rp) for better visual notifications of things like volume, caps lock, num lock, etc. - [Keyviz](https://mularahul.github.io/keyviz/) for showing when quick-keys are pressed. Good for demos. - [MacType](https://github.com/snowie2000/mactype) for better font rendering.