Thursday 24 December 2009

Useful Utility programs

A good place to start would be Scott Hanselman's 2009 Ultimate Developer and Power Users Tool List for Windows.

This is my list from 18 months ago - Utility Programs, Tools, Add-Ins plus other stuff.

Updated list.

  • Ninite - Pick from a big list of utility programs ninite will go get them all for you, install them and make sure the crapware toolbars and ebay links are not installed. Reviewed on HowToGeek.com.
  • Unlocker Assistant - When you try and delete something and you get the file locked message, the Unlocker Assistant will pop up, giving you the option to unlock the files and perform your delete. Download from here
  • DiffMerge -is an application to visually compare and merge files for Windows, Mac OS X and Unix. Download from here
    • If using DiffMerge with Subversion, the following settings can be used to 'Diff' and 'Merge'

      Diff Viewer
      C:\Program Files\SourceGear\DiffMerge\DiffMerge.exe /t1=%bname /t2=%yname %base %mine

      Merge
      C:\Program Files\SourceGear\DiffMerge\DiffMerge.exe /m /r=%merged /t1=%yname /t2=%bname /t3=%tname /c=%mname %mine %base %theirs
  • SqlScripter - simple, low-cost tool for quickly exporting data

  • Foxit - a pdf reader

  • Paint.Net - a free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows
  • CCleaner - removes unused files from your system.
  • Driver Max - find updates for your drivers, also backup and restore them.
  • LinqPad - A great way to learn LINQ.
  • MWSnap - free screen capture software
  • Reflector - If you dont know about reflector, you probably dont need it.
  • DBAN - Boot and Nuke - DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.

Some random HowToGeek Links

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Certified Scrum Master

Last month I attended a certified Scrum Master course facilitated by Kane Mar

It was a two day course well run and enoyable, at the end of which after taking the Scrum Master exam I can now call myself a Certified Scrum Master. A bit of a grandiose title maybe but I feel the knowledge learnt was definetly worthwhile.