# Windows

I can get by working on Windows in a pinch. Using Power Toys to remap my keyboard to be more "Mac Like" with Alt Swapped for Control and Caps Lock mapped to Esc really helps.&#x20;

### App favorites

* [1Password](https://1password.com/) - Password vault
* [Affinity Photo](https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH35LXN) - Lighter weight and cheaper alternative to Photoshop
* [Appy Text](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/appy-text/9nblggh51knm) - Text editor
* [Calca](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/calca/9nhxz5159n41) - Better calculator
* [Cyberduck](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/cyberduck/9nblggh43htb/0010) - SFTP client
* [Docker for Windows](https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-windows/wsl/) - Run apps in containers
* [Dropbox](https://www.dropbox.com/) - Sync files
* [Encrypt.me](https://encrypt.me/) - VPN
* [Foo IRC](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/foo-irc/9wzdncrdct50/0010) - Chat client
* [Power Toys](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys) - Add Spotlight'esque search and swap ctrl and alt keys with Keyboard Manager
* [Stopwatch + Timer](https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGGZKFMV) - What I use for pomodoros&#x20;
* [Todoist](https://todoist.com/)  - Cross platform to do list service
* [Ubuntu](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/ubuntu/9nblggh4msv6) - What a time to be alive
* [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) - Light code text editor
* [Windows Terminal](https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9N0DX20HK701) - A store app for some reason
* [Winstall.app](https://winstall.app/) - Web GUI for the WinGet package manager

### Apps under consideration

* 7-Zip
* HexChat
* HWMonitor
* Notepad++
* [Notepads](https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/notepads-app/9NHL4NSC67WM?hl=en-us\&gl=us\&ranMID=24542\&ranEAID=TnL5HPStwNw\&ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-VH.o7fBFG1HY1Vre.ILzTA\&epi=TnL5HPStwNw-VH.o7fBFG1HY1Vre.ILzTA\&irgwc=1\&OCID=AID2200057_aff_7593_1243925\&tduid=%28ir__6vcch0rig0kfb3hpyf93prpvyf2xct33v11wn6p100%29%287593%29%281243925%29%28TnL5HPStwNw-VH.o7fBFG1HY1Vre.ILzTA%29%28%29\&irclickid=_6vcch0rig0kfb3hpyf93prpvyf2xct33v11wn6p100)
* Paint.NET
* Prime95
* RealTemp
* Sumatra PDF
* [Fluent Search](https://fluentsearch.net/) - search everything, including things on screen
* [Breaktimer.app](https://github.com/tom-james-watson/breaktimer-app) - Break timer
* [GWSL](https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/gwsl/9NL6KD1H33V3?hl=en-us\&gl=us\&rtc=1) - Run X Windows Linux apps on Windows
* [OpenInWSL](https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/openinwsl/9NGMQPWCG7SF) - Set WSL apps as the default file handler
* [ShareX](https://getsharex.com/) - screenshot tool
* [Feedlab](https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/feedlab/9WZDNCRDKRQ3?hl=en-us\&gl=us) - RSS reader
* [simplewall](https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall) - blocks all network traffic

I use the built in Win key search as an app launcher. I use the built in Snip & Sketch tool for screenshots. Check my ChromeOS list for some of the web apps I also use for productivity.&#x20;

**Power Toys Settings:**

Keyboard Manager:

* Caps Lock -> Esc
* Esc -> Caps Lock

(Optional) To make alt and ctrl more Mac like:

* Alt (Left) -> Ctrl (Left)
* Ctrl (Left) -> Alt (Left)
* Alt (Right) -> Ctrl (Right)
* Ctrl (Right) -> Alt (Right)

Shortcuts:

* Ctrl + Q -> Alt F4

PowerToys Run set to Ctrl + Space

**Misc. Settings:**

Go to clipboard settings and enable clipboard history.

Go to mouse pointer and set the cursor to a custom color of black. The default black cursor option is smaller and harder to see.

**Open VS Code within WSL 2:**

* In Windows Terminal, go to project folder
* `wsl code .`

**Links:**

* [Use Bitlocker on Windows 10 without a TPM module](https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-bitlocker-encryption-windows-10)
* [Windows Dev with WSL 2](https://char.gd/blog/2019/windows-web-dev-with-wsl2)
* [Mac App Alternatives on Windows](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zHNhWfis0iJULrYAHOYPeMRGhNUVWVxInIn8YKswlIA/htmlview)
* [Ruby on Rails dev on Windows](https://www.hanselman.com/blog/RubyOnRailsOnWindowsIsNotJustPossibleItsFabulousUsingWSL2AndVSCode.aspx)
* [Windows 10 app list from Joseph Rooks](https://josephrooks.com/windows-10/)
* [Install WSL 2 in Windows 10](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10)
* [WSL 2 with Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/blogs/2019/09/03/wsl2)
* [Hanselman's 2021 Ultimate Developer and Power Users Tool List for Windows](https://www.hanselman.com/blog/scott-hanselmans-2021-ultimate-developer-and-power-users-tool-list-for-windows)
* [Switching to Windows](http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2021/02/02/switching_to_windows/)
* [Nitpicky Differences Between Windows and OS X](https://hellojason.net/blog/nitpicky-differences-between-windows-and-os-x/)
* [Awesome list of Windows apps](https://github.com/Awesome-Windows/Awesome)


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