Common Tools

Essential Development Tools

Code Editors & IDEs

Visual Studio Code

  • What: Free, cross-platform code editor by Microsoft
  • Why: Extensions, debugging, Git integration, terminal
  • Setup: Download from code.visualstudio.com
  • Key Extensions: Live Server, Prettier, GitLens, Python, JavaScript
  • Commands: code . (open current directory)

Cursor IDE

  • What: AI-powered code editor based on VS Code
  • Why: Built-in AI assistance, code completion, chat interface
  • Setup: Download from cursor.sh
  • Features: AI code generation, explanation, debugging help
  • Cost: Free tier available, paid plans for advanced features

Sublime Text

  • What: Lightweight, fast text editor
  • Why: Speed, multiple cursors, powerful search/replace
  • Setup: Download from sublimetext.com
  • Key Features: Command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P), multi-select

Terminal & Command Line

Windows Terminal

  • What: Modern terminal application for Windows
  • Why: Multiple tabs, themes, better performance
  • Setup: Install from Microsoft Store or github.com/microsoft/terminal
  • Features: PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, Azure Cloud Shell

PowerShell

  • What: Microsoft’s command-line shell and scripting language
  • Why: Object-oriented, powerful automation, cross-platform
  • Basic Commands: 
    Get-ChildItem    # List files (ls)
Set-Location     # Change directory (cd)
Get-Content      # Read file (cat)
New-Item         # Create file/folder

Git Bash

  • What: Bash shell for Windows with Git integration
  • Why: Unix-like commands, Git tools, familiar environment
  • Setup: Included with Git for Windows
  • Features: Bash commands, Git integration, Unix tools

Version Control

Git

  • What: Distributed version control system
  • Why: Track changes, collaborate, backup code
  • Setup: Download from git-scm.com
  • Basic Commands: 
    git init          # Initialize repository
git add .         # Stage changes
git commit -m ""  # Save changes
git push          # Upload to remote
git pull          # Download changes

GitHub Desktop

  • What: GUI for Git operations
  • Why: Visual interface, easier for beginners
  • Setup: Download from desktop.github.com
  • Features: Visual diff, branch management, commit history

Package Managers

npm (Node Package Manager)

  • What: Package manager for JavaScript/Node.js
  • Why: Install libraries, manage dependencies
  • Setup: Comes with Node.js
  • Commands: 
    npm init          # Create package.json
npm install       # Install dependencies
npm run script    # Run scripts
npm publish       # Publish package

pip (Python Package Installer)

  • What: Package manager for Python
  • Why: Install Python libraries, manage environments
  • Setup: Comes with Python
  • Commands: 
    pip install package    # Install package
pip list              # List installed packages
pip freeze            # Show requirements
pip install -r req.txt # Install from file

Chocolatey (Windows)

  • What: Package manager for Windows
  • Why: Install software from command line
  • Setup: Run PowerShell as admin, then: 
    Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072
iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))
  • Commands: 
    choco install git     # Install software
choco upgrade all     # Update all packages
choco list            # List installed packages

Development Environments

Docker

  • What: Containerization platform
  • Why: Consistent environments, easy deployment
  • Setup: Download from docker.com
  • Basic Commands: 
    docker run image     # Run container
docker build .       # Build image
docker ps           # List containers
docker-compose up   # Run multi-container apps

VirtualBox

  • What: Virtualization software
  • Why: Run multiple operating systems, testing
  • Setup: Download from virtualbox.org
  • Use Cases: Linux testing, isolated environments, learning

Database Tools

MySQL Workbench

  • What: Visual database design tool
  • Why: Database management, SQL development
  • Setup: Download from mysql.com
  • Features: Visual query builder, database modeling

DBeaver

  • What: Universal database tool
  • Why: Support for multiple databases, free
  • Setup: Download from dbeaver.io
  • Features: SQL editor, data visualization, ER diagrams

API Testing

Postman

  • What: API development and testing platform
  • Why: Test APIs, document endpoints, collaborate
  • Setup: Download from postman.com
  • Features: Request builder, collections, environment variables

Insomnia

  • What: API client and testing tool
  • Why: Lightweight alternative to Postman
  • Setup: Download from insomnia.rest
  • Features: GraphQL support, environment management

Design & Documentation

Figma

  • What: Collaborative design tool
  • Why: UI/UX design, prototyping, team collaboration
  • Setup: Sign up at figma.com
  • Features: Real-time collaboration, component libraries

Draw.io (diagrams.net)

  • What: Free diagramming tool
  • Why: Flowcharts, system diagrams, documentation
  • Setup: Use at app.diagrams.net
  • Features: Flowcharts, ER diagrams, network diagrams

Productivity Tools

Notion

  • What: All-in-one workspace
  • Why: Notes, databases, project management
  • Setup: Sign up at notion.so
  • Features: Templates, databases, collaboration

Obsidian

  • What: Knowledge management tool
  • Why: Note-taking, knowledge graphs, local storage
  • Setup: Download from obsidian.md
  • Features: Markdown support, plugins, graph view

System Monitoring

Process Monitor (ProcMon)

  • What: Windows system monitoring tool
  • Why: Debug applications, monitor system activity
  • Setup: Download from Microsoft Sysinternals
  • Features: Real-time file, registry, network monitoring

Wireshark

  • What: Network protocol analyzer
  • Why: Network troubleshooting, security analysis
  • Setup: Download from wireshark.org
  • Features: Packet capture, protocol analysis

Tool Selection Guidelines

For Beginners

  1. VS Code - Best all-around editor
  2. Git - Essential version control
  3. Terminal - Command line basics
  4. Postman - API testing
  5. Docker - Containerization

For Web Development

  1. VS Code with extensions
  2. Node.js and npm
  3. Git and GitHub
  4. Docker for environments
  5. Postman for API testing

For Cybersecurity

  1. Wireshark - Network analysis
  2. VirtualBox - Lab environments
  3. Kali Linux - Security tools
  4. Burp Suite - Web application testing
  5. Metasploit - Penetration testing

For Data Analysis

  1. Jupyter Notebook - Interactive analysis
  2. Python with pandas, numpy
  3. R and RStudio
  4. Tableau - Data visualization
  5. SQL tools (DBeaver, MySQL Workbench)

Installation Best Practices

Windows

  1. Use Chocolatey for package management
  2. Install Git first - many tools depend on it
  3. Use Windows Terminal for better command line experience
  4. Enable WSL for Linux compatibility

Cross-Platform Tools

  1. Docker - Consistent environments
  2. VS Code - Universal editor
  3. Git - Version control everywhere
  4. Node.js - JavaScript runtime

Security Considerations

  1. Download from official sources only
  2. Keep tools updated regularly
  3. Use antivirus scanning for downloads
  4. Verify checksums for critical tools

Remember: Start with the basics and add tools as needed. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many tools at once. Master the fundamentals first, then expand your toolkit based on your specific needs and projects.