📋 Senka Wolf's Recommended Software List

A collection of my recommended and favorite software across different platforms, including macOS, Windows, web browser extensions, and development tools. Each time I perform a fresh installation of a new operating system, I refer to this list and select the programs to install.

The applications listed below are organized alphabetically.

• Items marked with are open-source software and link to the source code.
• Items marked with are free.
• Items marked with are paid for.
• Items marked with are for Apple Operating Systems.
• Items marked with are for Linux Operating Systems.
• Items marked with are for Windows Operating Systems.
• Items marked with is a service and not software.
• Items marked with are Browser Extensions. I will try to link to Chromium and Firefox versions.
• Items marked with are Development Tools.
• Items marked with are my daily used software/services.

Note

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Applications
  • Audio
  • Backup
  • Communication
  • Compression
  • Data Recovery
  • Developer Tools
  • Email
  • Fonts
  • Games
  • Graphics
  • Online Storage
  • Productivity
  • Security
  • Terminal
  • Text Editors
  • Theming
  • Utilities
  • Video
  • Web Browser
• Browser Extensions
• Guides
• Miscellaneous

Applications

Audio

• CAVA → Cross-platform Audio Visualizer.
• Cider → Cross-platform Apple Music experience.
• Sleeve 2 → Music desktop widget.
• Voicemeeter → Audio Mixer Application endowed with Virtual Audio Device used as Virtual I/O to mix and manage any audio sources from or to any audio devices or applications.
• Voicemod → Real time AI voice changer & soundboard.
• Audacity → Recording and editing sounds.

Backup

• FreeFileSync → Folder comparison and synchronization software that creates and manages backup copies of all your important files.
• Rclone → A command-line program to manage files on cloud storage.
• Rclone browser → A simple cross platform GUI for Rclone.

Communication

• Discord → A instant messaging and VoIP social platform.
• Fluxer → Instant messaging app and VoIP social media platform.
• TeamSpeak 3 → A VoIP social platform.
• Vesktop → Customizable and privacy friendly Discord desktop client.

Compression

• 7-Zip → Utility for manipulating archives. Formats 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR are supported fully, other formats can be unpacked.
• WinRAR → A powerful archive manager. It can backup your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP and other files.

Data Recovery

• TestDisk → A utility that helps recover lost partitions or repair corrupted filesystems making non-booting disks bootable again..

Developer Tools

• FileZilla → FTP, FTPS and SFTP client.
• Github Desktop → A GUI for using GitHub.
• HeidiSQL → Powerful and easy client for MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL.
• MySQL Workbench → SQL IDE for mySQL.
• WinSCP → FTP, FTPS and SFTP client.
• XAMMP → Apache distribution containing MariaDB, PHP, and Perl for creating a development environment.

Email

• Proton Mail Client → End-to-end encrypted email for Proton Mail users.
• SimpleLogin → Create and manage email aliases to protect your privacy and inbox from spams and phishing.

Fonts

• Hemi Head → Blocky, aggressive lettering of classic American muscle cars.
• Iosevka → Versatile typeface for code.
• Raleway → Elegant sans-serif typeface.

Games

• Battle.net → A digital distribution service and storefront for Blizzard Entertainment.
• Bolt → Third-party Jagex Launcher
• Epic Games → A digital distribution service and storefront for video games.
• OpenIV → Modification tool for Rockstar games.
• Origin → A digital distribution service and storefront for EA.
• Prism Launcher → Minecraft launcher with the ability to manage multiple instances, accounts and mods.
• RetroArch → A frontend for emulators, game engines and media players. ¹
• Ryujinx → Open-source emulator for the Nintendo Switch 1.
• Steam → A digital distribution service and storefront for video games.
• Uplay → A digital distribution service and storefront for Ubisoft.
• Virtual Desktop Streamer → Use your VR headset tp connect wirelessly to your computer(s) to watch movies, browse the web, play 2D games or stream PCVR games.
• WeMod → World's best application for modding thousands of single-player PC games.

Graphics

• Adobe Photoshop → A photo editing and raster graphic design software which allows users to create, edit, and manipulate various graphics as well as digital art.
• GIMP → A Photoshop-like program that's free.
• krita → Raster graphics editor.
• Paint.NET → General-purpose raster graphics editor program.

Online Storage

• Hetzner - Storage Box → Self-managed online storage which supports FTP, SAMBA/SCP, SSH/rsync/BorgBackup and WebDAV.

Productivity

• Adobe Acrobat Reader → PDF reader and editor.
• Chocolatey → A package manager for Windows.
• Dropover → Drag and drop utility.
• f.lux → Automatically adjust your computer screen to match lighting.
• KeyCastr → Keystroke visualiser.
• LibreOffice → Office productivity software suite.
• Logitech G HUB → Customize and optimize your Logitech G gaming gear, such as mice, keyboards, headsets, and webcams. ²
• Maccy → Clipboard manager.
• Magnet → Windows manager like Aero Snap.
• Notion → Productivity and note-taking web application.
• OpenDeck → Desktop application for using Elgato Stream Deck.
• Optimizer → A advanced configuration utility designed to enhance your privacy and security on Windows.
• Piper → GTK application to configure gaming devices.
• QuickShade → Quickly change brightness on your Mac and non-apple displays.
• Solaar → Linux device manager for Logitech devices.
• Stream Deck → Client software to work with the Elgato Stream Deck devices. ³
• UniGetUI → Intuitive GUI for the most common CLI package managers.
• Vicinae → Native launcher for your desktop.
• WinBoat → Electron app which allows you to run Windows apps on Linux using a containerized approach.
• Winutil (Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility) → Windows Utility to Install Programs, Tweaks, Fixes, and Updates.

Security

• Malwarebytes → Advanced anti-malware software.
• NordVPN → Lithuanian VPN service.

Terminal

• Ghostty → Terminal emulator.
• MobaXterm → Xserver and tabbed SSH client.
• Peaclock → Customizable clock, timer, and stopwatch for the terminal.
• Putty → SSH and telnet client.
• Starship → Customizable prompt for any shell.
• Termius → Secure and easy-to-use SSH client
• WTF → Acronym dictionary within the terminal.
• WTF (wtfutil) → Personal information dashboard.

Text Editors

• Atom → A hackable text editor for the 21st Century. ⁴
• Notepad++ → A source code editor which supports several programming languages.
• Sublime Text 4 → Powerful text editor for code, markup and prose.
• Visual Studio Code → Build and debug modern web and cloud applications.

Theming

• Kvantum → SVG-based theme engine for Qt.
• Millennium → Modding framework to use themes/plugins for the desktop Steam Client.

Utilities

• AlDente → Get better control on MacBook’s charging behavior.
• Amphetamine → Keep-awake app.
• AnyBurn → Disc burning, imaging, and bootable USB drive creation.
• AnyDesk → Remote Desktop.
• balenaEtcher → Flash OS images to SD cards and USB drives, safely and easily.
• btop → Resources monitor.
• CleanMyMac X → Optimisation tools for Mac.
• CPU-X → Gathers information on main computer components.
• CPU-Z → Gathers information on main computer components.
• CrystalDiskInfo → A utility that monitors and displays the health of your hard drive, including basic information, S.M.A.R.T. values, and disk temperature.
• File Juggler → Automatically renamed, moved and deleted files based on rules.
• GParted → Partition editor, graphical front-end for GNU Parted.
• Hidden bar → Utility that helps hide menu bar icons.
• HWInfo → A comprehensive system information and diagnostic tool that offers an extensive range of features.
• K3b → CD/DVD/Blu-ray burning and ripping application.
• LocalSend → Cross-platform alternative to AirDrop
• MKV Tag Editor → A tool designed to edit metadata for MKV, MKA, MK3D, and WEBM files.
• NordPass → Password manager.
• OnyX → Multifunction utility.
• OpenRGB → RGB Sync with multiple brand support.
• qBittorrent → BitTorrent client.
• QDirStat → Graphical disk usage analyzer.
• QDiskInfo → A utility that monitors and displays the health of your hard drive, including basic information, S.M.A.R.T. values, and disk temperature.
• Rufus → A utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives.
• RustDesk → Remote Desktop.
• ShareX → Screenshot and screencast software. ⁵
• Shottr → Screenshot tool.
• SignalRGB → RGB Sync with multiple brand support.
• Stow → Symlink farm manager.
• strace → diagnostic, debugging and instructional userspace utility for Linux.
• System Color Picker → Color picker tool.
• The Unarchiver → Unarchive tool.
• TopNotch → Hides MacBook top notch.
• Ventoy → Used for creating bootable USB media storage devices
• VMWare Workstation Pro → Desktop hypervisor for local virtualization of virtual machines. ⁶
• Windhawk → Customization for Windows programs. ⁷
• WinDirStat → Graphical disk usage analyzer.
• YaTQA → Tool for managing TeamSpeak 3 servers and instances.

Video

• Cap → A three in one recorder, editor, screenshot tool.
• FFmpeg → Suite of libraries and programs for handling video, audio, and other multimedia files and streams.
• Kooha → Simple screen recorder.
• Medal.tv → Record, edit, and share gaming clips platform.
• NVIDIA ShadowPlay → Hardware-accelerated screen recording utility available as part of Nvidia's GeForce Experience and Nvidia App softwares for GeForce GPUs.
• Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) → Video recording and live streaming software.
• Sony Vegas Pro → Video editor.
• VLC → Multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.

Web Browser

• Brave → Fast, secure, and privacy-focused Chromium browser that blocks ads and trackers, and offers a built-in VPN, AI assistant, and search engine.
• Orion → WebKit engine powered browser focused on speed, privacy, and customisation.
• Ungoogled Chromium → Chromium browser with a lightweight approach to removing Google web service dependency.
• Zen Browser → Open-source fork of Mozilla Firefox, with its main focus being privacy and customizability.

Browser Extensions

• 2FAS - Chromium/Firefox → One click and your 2FA token is automatically entered. ⁸
• AdGuard Adblocker - Chromium/Firefox → Blocks against advertising on Facebook, Youtube and more plus pop-ups.
• Augmented Steam - Chromium/Firefox → By IsThereAnyDeal provids helpful information on prices and sales on Steams website.
• Chrome Mask - Firefox → A one-click toggle to spoof as Chrome in Firefox.
• ClearURLs - Chromium/Firefox → Automatically remove tracking elements from URLs.
• NordPass - Chromium/Firefox → Use NordPass within your web browser.
• NordVPN - Chromium/Firefox → VPN proxy extension for your web browser.
• Privacy Badger - Chromium/Firefox → Stops advertisers and other third-party trackers.
• SimpleLogin - Chromium/Firefox → Create and manage email aliases.
• SponsorBlock for YouTube - Chromium/Firefox → Used for skipping sponsor segments in YouTube videos.
• SteamDB - Chromium/Firefox → Adds SteamDB links and new features on the Steam store.
• Stylus - Chromium/Firefox → Redesign your favorite websites by changing the colour scheme.

Guides

• Beginner Exploring Linux
• How To Setup Windows 11 PC Without Microsoft Account
• How to make a automated Windows install ISO
• Show Hidden Files
• XBackBone Config & Setup
• Windhawk Setup

Miscellaneous

• netboot.xyz → Web-based tool that lets you boot into different operating systems using PXE.
• privacytools.io → Recommended reading for online privacy.
• ProtonDB → Check games compatibility on Linux.
• Recorded Future Triage → Analyse malware samples free using a state-of-the–art malware analysis sandbox.
• schneegans.de Unattend Generator → A service which helps generate a unattend.xml or autounattend.xml file to perform unattended installations of both Windows 10 and Windows 11. ⁹
• VirusTotal.com → Analyse suspicious files, domains, IPs and URLs to detect malware and other breaches.

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Footnotes

1. You can see my RetroArch setup here. ↩

2. Logitech G HUB only works with Logitech gaming products, you will need Logi Options+ for there non-gaming lineup. ↩

3. Either Stream Deck IOS or Android mobile app or Stream Deck device is needed. ↩

4. Atom is End of Life as of 2022 and has been archived. Older versions are still available to use. ↩

5. You'll need a service to upload you're images too. I've always self-hosted ShareX-Custom-Upload for the past 5 years but this repo isn't being supported anymore. I'd recommended XBackBone as a alternative, I will be migrating over. ↩

6. See my VMWare install guide here. ↩

7. See my list of mods and config here. ↩

8. 2FAS requires the mobile app to pair with extension. ↩

9. Here is my guide on how to setup a unattended install of Windows. ↩