Web development on Windows can be a pain due to compatibility with most modern web tools. Here's what to use to run an efficient web stack on Windows with a focus on free & open source tools.
These can be run on WSL or Docker, take your pick
Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more.
You'll want this to run things like SSH, SCP, and rsync. Or you can run your full development stack on it.
Docker is an open-source engine that automates the deployment of any application as a lightweight, portable, self-sufficient container that will run virtually anywhere.
Docker allows for software stacks that are loosely coupled from each other. Ideal for when working on multiple projects that have different technology requirements.
MariaDB is a backward compatible, drop-in replacement of the MySQL® Database Server. It includes all major open source storage engines.
Best relational DB out there. If running it on WSL, you'll want to configure to use TCP/IP instead of sockets.
nginx ("engine x") is an HTTP web server, reverse proxy, content cache, load balancer, TCP/UDP proxy server, and mail proxy server.
Substitute Apache here if that's your flavor. But Nginx has http/2 support out of the box.
The in-memory data store used by millions of developers as a cache, vector database, document database, streaming engine, and message broker.
In memory cache for lighten the load on the database
Choose 1 or 2
Free, extensible code editor with Git integration, AI-driven IntelliCode, and 30,000+ extensions, supporting various languages like Python, Java.
Modern Code editor with an integrated terminal that's lighter than a full IDE
A sibling to VS Code, but from Github, and just as flexible.
Sophisticated text editor for code with sleek interface, multi-select tabs, side-by-side definitions, and swift variable renaming using multiple selections.
Best editor for opening large files because of it's GPU rendering
Free open-source code editor and Notepad replacement supporting multiple languages, featuring high speed, low resource usage, privacy focus, and plugin extensibility.
Always useful to have around
Windows console emulator with tabs, which presents multiple consoles and simple GUI applications as one customizable GUI window with various features.
Cause it has tabs
You can use git with WSL. However, to use git integration with other Windows apps like VS Code or Atom, you'll need the windows version installed.
HTTPie (pronounced aitch-tee-tee-pie) is a command line HTTP client. Its goal is to make CLI interaction with web services as human-friendly as possible. It provides a simple http command that allows for sending arbitrary HTTP requests using a simple and natural syntax, and...
Curl with a syntax you don't have to lookup every time
3 of the big 4.
Open-source browser with Gecko engine, supporting HTML add-ons and providing privacy features like Enhanced Tracking Protection and third-party cookie blocking.
Still the standard for dev tools
Web browser built on an open-source platform featuring multiple account support, integrated password manager, dark mode, real-time translation, and seamless cross-device syncing.
Cause it's what most people use
Chromium-based browser for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, offering extension support, privacy features, smart security, and cloud sync across devices.
Good browser that's getting better
A graphical web browser developed by Microsoft as part of Windows OS since 1995, reaching peak usage with IE5 and IE6 before declining.
Cause you have to
BrowserStack is the world’s largest cloud platform for software testing, with 20,000+ real Android and iOS devices that allow developers to comprehensively test their websites and apps for functionality, performance, and visual appeal.
Browserstack is great for testing iOS, Android, and Safari on Mac. While not free, it's an invaluable resource.
AI-native platform for intelligent, automated testing of web, mobile, and enterprise apps at scale with real device, browser, and environment support.
Similar to Browserstack but you get 60 free minutes per month.
Optional, and highly opinionated.
Multi-platform clipboard tool monitoring and saving text, images, and custom formats, with tabs, search, shortcuts, scripting, and customization for efficiency.
Not sure how I worked without a clipboard manager before. CopyQ gets the nod for having an encryption option.
Securely manage passwords across devices with auto-fill and vulnerability alerts, organizing passwords and notes for quick access and synchronization.
Credentials management is a must. 1Password has great teams integration for sharing credentials amongst teams.
Free and open source password manager storing passwords in a local encrypted database with strong AES or Twofish encryption and master key access.
For people who want a pure and verifiable open source password manager, but no teams integration.
A powerful Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git distributed version control systems.
For the more complex git operations when the command line gets awkward
A versatile client for SFTP, FTP, and other protocols for file transfer. It offers GUI choice, and supports automation and key authentication.
Still the best SFTP/FTP client for Windows.
A powerful REST API Client with cookie management, environment variables, code generation, and authentication for Mac, Window, and Linux.
Great for working with API's
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