Some of the web developers I follow post a "default apps" list every year. I saw a few posts this year, all of which reminded me to compile my own. These are interesting because they highlight the tools that help us get the job done every day. I look them over carefully. I'm always eager to upgrade either for capability, efficiency, or just enjoyment. Each item is important. We can't be as creative or effective as we need to be without them.
I've only included apps that I use heavily in my home office. I consider them critical for study, communication, writing, image processing, web development, and publishing. Some are paid subscriptions, others are free, and most are open source. Services and hardware I use to build this site can be found on my colophon.
This has been a fun exercise. It's something I will try to do again in the future. I feel like my list is shorter that many of the others, that's because I chose not to add software I only use periodically. These are my "every day" apps. In fact, I struggle to see how I would complete many of my personal projects without them.
Thank you to the developers and designers who work diligently to provide them.