This is the Windows toolset I actually keep installed. It is based on a scan of my current machine, trimmed down to the tools I intentionally use for development, debugging, media work, and day-to-day productivity.
Quick setup
If I am setting up a new machine, I start with this WinGet configuration file:
Invoke-WebRequest https://blog.keboo.dev/downloads/install-favorite-tools.winget -OutFile .\install-favorite-tools.winget
winget configure -f .\install-favorite-tools.winget --accept-configuration-agreements
Development
| Tool |
Why I keep it installed |
Install reference |
| Git |
Baseline source control for everything. |
Git.Git |
| GitHub CLI |
Fast repo, PR, and workflow operations from the terminal. |
GitHub.cli |
| Copilot CLI |
Great for agentic coding workflows without leaving the terminal. |
GitHub.Copilot |
| GitKraken |
My visual Git client when I want history and branch structure at a glance. |
Axosoft.GitKraken |
| GitKraken CLI |
Useful when I want GitKraken-adjacent workflows in the shell. |
GitKraken.cli |
| Visual Studio Enterprise 2026 Insiders |
My full IDE for larger .NET and desktop work. |
Microsoft.VisualStudio.Enterprise.Insiders |
| Visual Studio Code |
Lightweight editor for quick changes, docs, and cross-stack work. |
Microsoft.VisualStudioCode |
| .NET SDK |
My default SDK for modern .NET work. |
Included in the WinGet config |
| Node.js |
Required for JavaScript tooling, CLIs, and front-end workflows. |
OpenJS.NodeJS |
Terminal and shell
| Tool |
Why I keep it installed |
Install reference |
| Windows Terminal |
The best way to keep shells, profiles, and tabs organized. |
Microsoft.WindowsTerminal |
| Windows Subsystem for Linux |
Handy when I want Linux-native tooling on a Windows machine. |
Microsoft.WSL |
Cloud and infrastructure
| Tool |
Why I keep it installed |
Install reference |
| Docker Desktop |
The easiest way to spin up local containers and dev services. |
Docker.DockerDesktop |
| Azure CLI |
My main Azure automation and scripting entry point. |
Microsoft.AzureCLI |
| Terraform |
Infrastructure as code for repeatable environments. |
Hashicorp.Terraform |
| Azure Storage Explorer |
Fast inspection and troubleshooting for storage accounts and blobs. |
Microsoft.Azure.StorageExplorer |
Utilities and diagnostics
| Tool |
Why I keep it installed |
Install reference |
| Everything |
Instantly finds files when Windows Search is not fast enough. |
voidtools.Everything |
| PowerToys |
A bundle of Windows quality-of-life utilities that earns its keep. |
Microsoft.PowerToys |
| Fiddler Classic |
Still a great HTTP inspection and debugging tool. |
Telerik.Fiddler.Classic |
| ScreenToGif |
Quick capture-and-share tool for demos and bug reports. |
NickeManarin.ScreenToGif |
| Snoop |
Extremely useful for inspecting live WPF applications. |
SnoopWpf.Snoop |
If you like ScreenToGif, it is also worth checking out N-Studio, a newer app from the same author.
Media and content creation
| Tool |
Why I keep it installed |
Install reference |
| FFmpeg |
The Swiss army knife for audio and video conversion. |
Gyan.FFmpeg |
| Paint.NET |
Fast image editing without the weight of a full design suite. |
dotPDN.PaintDotNet |
| Audacity |
My go-to for quick audio cleanup and editing. |
Audacity.Audacity |
Connectivity
| Tool |
Why I keep it installed |
Install reference |
| OpenVPN Connect |
Easy access when I need to hop onto a private network. |
OpenVPNTechnologies.OpenVPNConnect |
If you need a quick setup walkthrough, this Build5Nines post on using OpenVPN in Azure is a solid reference.
