Free programs I think are interesting or handy. Also doubles as a reference for me. Please let me know of anything else I could add in the comments at the bottom.
A MegaCollection
Based on Windows OS
Find more at tinytools.directory.
File Types and Protocols
- Images: IrfanView
- TXT: Notepad++
- Zip: 7-Zip
- PDF: Sumatra PDF
- FTP: FileZilla
- RSS: Feedbro (Browser Extension)
- SSH/Telnet: PuTTY
- BBS: SyncTERM
- MUDs: Mudlet
- XMPP: Gajim
- Usenet (downloading): SABnzbd
- Gemini (and Gopher): Lagrange
- Gopher (Alternative): Gopher Client Browser
Programs
- Quick Launcher: Flow Launcher
- File Browser: OneCommander
- Copying: TeraCopy
- Email (also viewing Usenet): Thunderbird
- File Searching: Everything
- Screenshots: ShareX
- Screen recording: Open Broadcaster Software
- Autocompletion: Espanso
- Ebooks: calibre
- Night color balance: f.lux
- Game library: Playnite
- Music: foobar2000, mute.fm, Mp3tag
- Customization: Rainmeter, TaskbarX, Open-Shell
- Package manager: Chocolatey (primary), Scoop, winget
- Remote Desktop: RustDesk (nowadays use AnyDesk, but that's technically paid)
- Device linking: KDE Connect
- Adware removal: Malwarebytes AdwCleaner
- Archive.org downloading: Free Download Manager (formerly JDownloader 2 (Adware-free))
- Torrent: qBittorrent
- Notes: Obsidian
- File Converting: File Converter, Pandoc
- SD/USB Flasher: balenaEtcher, Rufus
- Windows Tweaking: Winaero Tweaker, O&O ShutUp10++
Terminal
- Console: Cmder
- Shell: Powershell Core
- Prompt: Oh My Posh
- Alternate Shell: fish within WSL Ubuntu
Other Utilities |
|
|---|---|
| System Tray | |
| MiniBin | Recycle Bin management in the system tray |
| SuperF4 | Shortcut to kill programs. |
| Sidebar Diagnostics | Quick system information access. |
| CapsLock Indicator | Self-explanatory. |
| Background | |
| Unchecky | Skips extra programs in installers. |
| MacType (Github) | Renders system fonts like how Mac does. |
| Ludusavi | Backup game saves. I use it as a Playnite extension. |
| Microsoft PowerToys | Some handy utilities, such as the text extractor. |
| Link Shell Extension | Create Linux-style symbolic links from the shell. |
| Syncthing SyncTrayzor (Github) | Decentralized file synchronization. |
| ROM Properties | Adds ROm files support to file browsers, from viewing properties to image previews. |
| Programs | |
| Display Driver Uninstaller | Useful when updating the graphics card. |
| Steam Cleaner | Deletes leftover data from games. |
| BetterDiscord | Adds themes and plugins, including tabs. |
| Remove Empty Directories (RED) | Clean up empty folders. |
| SpeedyFox | Database optimizer for browsers and email clients. |
| ANSIWAVE | Modern BBS. |
Firefox Extensions
- Improve websites: Better Tweetdeck, New XKit (Tumblr), Reddit Enhancement Suite, Enhancer for YouTube, Return YouTube Dislike, Sponsorblock, Annotations Restored, Augmented Steam, Modern Design for Wikipedia, Dark Reader
- Privacy and Security: uBlock Origin, HTTPS Everywhere, Decentraleyes, I still don't care about cookies
- New Tab: Tabliss
- Userscripts: Tampermonkey: emulator.games download, EmuParadise Download Workaround, MoreCAPTCHA
- Extra: bananacamp, Imagus, Ruffle, Unpaywall, Wayback Machine, Simple Search, Indie Wiki Buddy
- Fun: Animalese Typing
Visual Studio Code Extensions
Code Spell Checker, HTML / XML / RSS link checker, HTML CSS Support, Live Preview, open in browser, Path Intellisense, PDF Preview, Prettier - Code formatter, VS Code Pets
Paid Programs
- Borderless Gaming (Steam): Turns windowed programs into borderless fullscreen ones.
- Wallpaper Engine (Steam): Animated destop wallpapers. Also on Android.
InterestingI do not use these, but I think they're neat, so I'm shouting them out here. |
|
|---|---|
| WinCompose | A compose key to write special characters. |
| AltSnap | Fork of AltDrag that adds snapping to edges along with using Alt to move windows. |
| AutoHotkey | Programmable keybinds. |
| WACUP (WinAmp Community Update Project) | Patch Winamp. |
| PortableApps | Portable app manager. |
| Decker (Itch.io) | Basically a spiritual sequel to Mac's HyperCard. |
| Browsers | |
| Browsh | Modern text-based browser that can run in SSH. |
| Beaker Browser (Archived) | Peer-to-peer Web browser. |
| Text Editors | |
| Vim | Advanced text editor. |
| Doom Emacs | GNU Emacs framework. |
| For Videogames | |
| ReShade | Post-processing injector for games and video software. |
| Moonlight | Open-source client for NVIDIA GameStream. |
| Sunshine | Open-source self-hosted game stream host for Moonlight. |
| Universal Hint System | Handy hints for adventure games and more. |
| File Sharing | |
| Retroshare | Peer-to-Peer network for file sharing and messaging. |
| Soulseek | File sharing network. |
| Nicotine+ | Alternative client for Soulseek. |
Suggest more in the comments!