Microsoft is delivering tools to quickly configure Windows PCs as workstations for Windows and Linux development.

If reinstalling software feels repetitive, these tools have some ideas.

If Windows is your preferred operating system, consider these open-source apps. There are numerous open-source apps available for almost any task. These are all free to install and use on Windows.

There’s no need to stick with Windows’ preloaded applications. These time-tested apps are all free — and open source, too. Windows comes loaded with a lot of applications, but to be honest, they ...