(Update: here you can find the list for the Linux platform)
File manager
TotalCommander
As to me the TotalCommander is the most essential application for any Windows. I've been using it for years, although it is a shareware, I think it worth the price.
TotalCommander
Text editor
Notepad++
The Notepad++ is The Text Editor. Yes, like that, with capital letters. Its just unbeatable: having tons of plugins, syntax highlight, extremely easy to use and it's free.
Notepad++
Front-end development
Firefox + Web Developer toolbar + Firebug
I think since the Firefox versioning was changed I was really disappointed in the way the Firefox is heading to - seems like the Mozilla guys having serious problems with QA - with each new version the browser is getting worse and worse, in the meaning of the speed, stability and also remarkable HUGE amount of memory it uses sometimes.
But:
The Firefox + Web Developer Toolbar + Firebug triumvirate is still the essential tool set for managing, creating and debugging any front-end component on the webpage.
Web Developer toolbar
Firebug
For simple browsing I use only and only the Google's Chrome. It also has a Firebug extension (which is still bugged) and some "Web developer" -like extensions too, but yet not really user friendly. As soon there is any reliable version of Firebug for it and a good WDT replacement, I say the final "goodbye" to the Firefox.
Integrated Development Environment
NetBeans
For the last one and a half year I am using the NetBeans for the PHP development. This IDE is surprisingly easy to use, having lot of useful features, such as intelligent code completion, built-in various version control system support, etc. - however sometimes it consumes really much of memory and the unkillable "Background scanning" process makes me mad.
I have tried all the Eclipse based IDE-s, such as Aptana, PDT, PHPEclipse and Zend Studio, none of which actually made my life easier.
The only real competitor of NetBeans in my point of view is the Jet Brain's PHPStorm, which for some reason didn't fit for me and unlike the NetBeans it's not for free, unless you want to use it for an open source project or you are a student.
NetBeans
Web Server
XAMPP
For a small sized projects on Windows having an all-in-one Apache+MySQL+PHP combo is really essential, and this is when the XAMPP beats the bomb! You just download it, install and in five minutes you have a completely running PHP web server with MySQL database support. Additionally it comes with some extra stuff like an FTP server, Tomcat and phpMyAdmin.
XAMPP
Virtual Machine + Linux
For some serious project and just because the majority of web servers are running under the Linux OS, I suggest to use a Virtual Machine ( imho the Oracle VM VirtualBox is the best one for Windows systems) with an installation of some distribution of Linux ( like the Ubuntu server 12.10 ) and enjoy the power of Linux environment!
The description of setup of such environment requires a dedicated post, I'll write it later.
Oracle VM VirtualBox
Secure access
PuTTY + WinSCP
PuTTY is The SSH Client Application for Windows, you cannot skip it if you are working with remote Linux systems.
PuTTY
The WinSCP is a free SCP and SFTP client for windows, it has a TotalCommander -like design and functionality, but yet not that powerful. Although there are some third party SCP and SFTP plugins for the TotalCMD, as to me using the WinSCP is better then facing the glitches of them. The WinSCP was meant to work with PuTTY, so it is the best app if you have to deal with some security access.
WinSCP
Version control
Tortoise SVN
Since the version control system is essential nowadays there are two "mainstream" VCS which the developers should be prepared for: the SVN and Git. So far I have not really unleashed the power of Git for myself, I have used it only via some third party software, never had a whole project under it.
The best tool for managing the SVN covered source code is obviously the Tortoise SVN. It makes you happy by offering a simple clickable interface by embedding itself into the Windows's shell and there are option for (almost) every command the man would like to use the SVN for so as the various additional tools for the source management (e.g. merging )
TortoiseSVN
Currently the Tortoise SVN version is 1.7.11, and unlike the < =1.6.x versions it creates no more .svn folder in the every sub folder of the project.
Database administration
There are plenty of really good GUI applications for Windows that offer various type of database management possibilities.
MySQL-Front
My personal favorite is the MySQL-Front. It's extremely simply and lightweight application, but really powerful.
MySQL-Front
phpMyAdmin
The phpMyAdmin is an open source MySQL management tool written in PHP - it can be used only via browser window. It's really simple: you download it, configure it, love it.
The most amazing of it is the huge amount of different functionality it is capable of.
phpMyAdmin
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