What free and preferably open source development tools for windows would you recomend?

Question

Currently, I use MinGW for C/C++, Sun's SDK for java, and the Crimson Editor or Notepad++ for editing and Eclipse for my IDE.

Microsoft limits what you can do with the code you create with the Express versions of Visual Studio so as far as I am concerned it doesn't count as free development tool. I see them more as a training tool for the paid version of Visual Studios.

Answer 1

• Emacs
• Python(x,y)
• Visual Studio 2008 Express versions
• TextPad
• Windows PowerShell
• Tortoise SVN

Answer 2

The Express versions of Visual Studio.

You get a great C++ compiler and all the tools you need to build modern Windows apps. Not so hot for cross-platform development of course.

Answer 3

Subversion for version control, and TortoiseSVN as a front end if you are on Windows.

Answer 4

MySQL or Firebird for databases and Open Office for a MS Office replacement. maybe GIMP for images if you need that.

Answer 5

• Netbeans for Java and web development (great JS IDE, and great form builder)
• SharpDevelop for C#/.Net
• Subersion/TortoiseSVN
• Postgres for databases
• Aptana for some Javascript projects
• Komodo Edit for Python (hopefully to be replaced by the Python plugin for Netbeans by the end of the year)

Answer 6

Check out Wascana Desktop Developer. It's based on MinGW and Eclipse. It gives you the Eclipse graphical IDE on top of the GCC toolchain in Windows.

Answer 7

FLASH DEVELOPMENT

Not all are open source, but at least free to use.

• Eclipse
• Vim
• Flex SDK
• FlashDevelop
• Subversion / TortoiseSVN
• FreeCommander
• Firefox (Firebug)
• Powerflasher SOS Max
• WinSCP
• Star-Tools SQL-Front

Answer 8

I am a Windows user and my development tools include:

• Firebug for debugging JavaScript in Firefox
• FileZilla for FTP access
• Netbeans for Java and JRuby development.
• PostgreSQL, SQLite and MySQL as databases

As already mentioned:

• Notepad++ for editing and script programming(PHP, Ruby)
• OpenOffice as a MS Office Replacement
• SVN for version control and TortoiseSVN for SVN Explorer integration

Answer 9

You need Paint.Net if you do any kind of graphics editing.

Answer 10

• Text editor: jEdit
• IDE: SharpDevelop
• Graphics: The GIMP or Paint.net

Answer 11

Microsoft limits what you can do with the code you create with the Express versions of Visual Studio

How exactly? There are no restrictions on the output at all. From the Express FAQ

Can I use Express Editions for commercial use?

Yes, there are no licensing restrictions for applications built using Visual Studio Express Editions.

Of course there's always SharpDevelop if you still have objections to Express and want to develop in .NET