Microsoft has released a new open-source tool called Windows Developer Config, designed to streamline the setup process for developers on Windows 11. This powerful script, available on GitHub, can transform a fresh Windows 11 installation into a fully configured development workstation with just a single PowerShell command.
Automating the Development Environment
The Windows Developer Config script, detailed by Windows Latest, simplifies a complex process that typically involves numerous manual steps. After initiating the script with a simple PowerShell command, it meticulously executes 50 distinct steps across 11 phases. The entire configuration takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, provided the user has at least 15GB of free disk space available.
Each step within the script is designed to be robust, checking the current system state, applying necessary configurations, and then verifying the changes. If the script is run again on an already configured system, it intelligently checks the status of existing installations and looks for available updates for the installed packages.
Software and System Configurations
At the core of the script’s functionality is the silent installation of 15 essential development tools using winget. These include:
- Windows Terminal: A modern terminal application, which is set as the default.
- PowerShell 7: Installed if missing, with the script resuming after its installation.
- Git: The ubiquitous version control system.
- GitHub CLI: For command-line interaction with GitHub.
- GitHub Copilot CLI: Enables access to GitHub Copilot features directly from the command line.
- Visual Studio Code: A popular and versatile code editor.
- .NET SDK 10: The latest .NET SDK.
- Python 3.14: The current Python version.
- uv: A fast Python package and project manager.
- Node.js LTS: The long-term support version of Node.js.
- nvm for Windows: A Node Version Manager for Windows, installed alongside Node.js.
- Coreutils for Windows: GNU-style command-line utilities for Windows.
- Oh My Posh: A customizable prompt theme engine integrated with PowerShell.
- Windows App CLI: A command-line interface for Windows application development.
- PowerToys: Microsoft’s suite of advanced utilities for power users.
Beyond software installations, the script also optimizes system settings crucial for development. It enables Developer Mode, configures Windows Sudo for inline mode, activates Win32 long path support, and allows remote desktop connections. Notably, while remote desktop is enabled, the script does not automatically open the RDP port in the Windows Firewall, ensuring a more secure initial setup.
User Experience Enhancements
The Windows Developer Config script further enhances the user experience by enabling the global “Do Not Disturb” mode, setting the Edge new tab page to a blank state, and suppressing initial setup prompts. The default Windows Terminal is configured with PowerShell 7 and the Cascadia Mono Nerd Font, with Oh My Posh providing an enhanced command prompt experience.
This initiative from Microsoft aims to significantly reduce the time and effort developers spend on setting up their Windows machines, allowing them to focus more on coding and less on configuration.
You can find the Windows Developer Config project on GitHub to explore its capabilities and contribute.
