Software I use

Status: Resolved
Publication date: 2024-09-26
Last edited by: Garyf
Last updated: 2024 - 09 - 26

Announcement:

This is a list of software that I use and what I use it for. This is not a comprehensive list and there may be better stuff out there, it is my opionion and what I have found.

Code

Xcode

This is a default program that comes with Apple products. I use it coding websites and the occassional App.

Visual Studio Code

For certain tasks, I need to use Visual Studio Code, especially when compiling C++ programmes. The Copilot tool is rather handy as well.

NetBeans

NetBeans is from Apache, it is my preferred choice for developing Java Applications. I did try Eclipse but I find NetBeans much more user friendly and easier to find things that I have done wrong

Android Studio

For development of Android base applications, I use Android Studio.

Testing

Most of my testing I do using various standard Operating Systems such as MacOS and Windows, plus emulators for popular mobile devices. To let me test on Operating Systems I don’t generally use I go for Gnome Boxes. I little clunky and slow, but it does the job. When developing websites and applications I test on all of the popular Browsers.

Image Manipulation

GIMP

GNU Image Manipulation Program, or unfortunately GIMP is my preferred choice for doing graphics work. It is as with most of the other software I use Open Source and free to use.

Photoshop

I have had to relent and start using Photoshop again, some of the stuff I was doing I just couldn't do in GIMP, the tools in Photoshop these days are exceptional. I have been restoring all my families photos, going back over 100 years, Photoshop have tools that can do most of the work for you at the click of a button.

Inkscape

I have on occassions used Inkscape, but I have to admit it isn’t overly user friendly in my opinion. I only really tend to use it for SVG work or if I have been sent an image file that I can’t open in GIMP. It is also pretty useful for breaking down comonents to change a non-transparent image into a transparent image.

Operating Systems

I use MacOS, Fedora and Windows Server 2012 (the latter not my doing, it’s what they use at work). I do have Windows 10 in a Box that I occassionally use for testing purposes. With the Windows I have on my personal machines I use the trial, delete then rebuild the Virtual Box when I need it.