AutoHotkey is a powerful scripting language for Windows that allows you to automate repetitive tasks, create custom keyboard shortcuts, and build simple to complex automation workflows. It's incredibly flexible and can dramatically boost productivity.
Key Features:
Create custom keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys for any application
Automate mouse clicks, keystrokes, and window management
Build text expansion macros to save time on repetitive typing
Remap keys and create custom keyboard layouts
Script complex workflows and business processes
Lightweight and runs in the background with minimal resources
Use Case for Finance Professionals:
Automate Excel workflows, create shortcuts for frequently used formulas, automatically format financial reports, or build macros to standardize data entry across multiple systems.
Everything is an incredibly fast file search utility that instantly locates files and folders on your computer. Unlike Windows Search, it indexes file names in real-time and provides search results as you type, making file navigation effortless.
Key Features:
Instant search results as you type - no waiting for indexing
Minimal resource usage - uses very little memory and CPU
Real-time updating as files are created, modified, or deleted
Advanced search operators and filters
Search by file type, size, date, attributes, and more
Keyboard shortcuts for quick access (default: Win+S or customizable)
Can search network drives and shared folders
Use Case for Finance Professionals:
Quickly find financial reports, Excel models, or client files across multiple folders and drives. Locate specific versions of documents by date or find all files related to a particular project instantly.
GlazeWM is a tiling window manager for Windows inspired by i3wm. It automatically organizes your windows in non-overlapping layouts, allowing you to efficiently manage multiple applications and documents using keyboard shortcuts.
Key Features:
Automatic window tiling - no manual resizing or positioning
Keyboard-driven window management for maximum efficiency
Multiple workspace support for organizing different tasks
Status bar showing workspaces and system information
Low resource footprint
Use Case for Finance Professionals:
Perfect for analysts who work with multiple Excel windows, financial software, and reference materials simultaneously. Create dedicated workspaces for different projects or clients and switch between them instantly with keyboard shortcuts.
GitHub is the world's leading platform for version control and collaboration. While primarily used for software development, it's invaluable for tracking changes to financial models, scripts, documentation, and any text-based files.
Key Features:
Version control with Git - track every change to your files
Collaborate with team members on projects
Cloud backup of all your work with complete history
Branch and merge workflows for testing changes
Issue tracking and project management tools
Free private repositories for unlimited users
GitHub Desktop app for easy file management
GitHub Pages for hosting documentation or simple websites
Use Case for Finance Professionals:
Version control for financial models and templates, track changes to budget files, maintain documentation for processes and procedures, share analysis scripts with team members, and back up critical work with complete revision history.
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, powerful, and extensible code editor from Microsoft. While designed for developers, it's an excellent tool for anyone working with data, scripts, or structured text files. It supports Python, SQL, Markdown, JSON, CSV, and hundreds of other file formats.
Key Features:
Intelligent code completion and syntax highlighting
Integrated Git version control
Built-in terminal for running scripts and commands
Thousands of extensions for additional functionality
Multi-cursor editing and powerful find/replace
Works with Python, SQL, PowerShell, and more
Jupyter Notebook support for data analysis
CSV viewer and editor extensions
Markdown preview for documentation
Use Case for Finance Professionals:
Write Python scripts for financial analysis, edit SQL queries for database reporting, manage CSV data files, create documentation in Markdown, automate tasks with PowerShell, and maintain all your scripts in one organized environment with version control.
Microsoft PowerToys is a set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline their Windows experience for greater productivity. It includes tools for advanced window management, quick file renaming, color picking, and more.
Key Features:
FancyZones - Create custom window layouts and snap zones
PowerRename - Bulk rename files with regex support
PowerToys Run - Quick launcher for apps and files (Alt+Space)
Color Picker - Grab colors from anywhere on screen
Image Resizer - Batch resize images from context menu
Keyboard Manager - Remap keys and create custom shortcuts
File Explorer add-ons - Preview pane for code files
Text Extractor - OCR text from images
Use Case for Finance Professionals:
Use FancyZones to organize Excel windows in custom layouts, PowerRename to standardize file naming conventions across hundreds of reports, and PowerToys Run to quickly launch applications and find files without touching the mouse.