Reach out to devs of software that enhances / fixes Windows 10/11 issues to join the PowerToys project

[SleepyCatten]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

For many users, certain software is essential when installing Windows 10 in order to restore missing / lacking functionality. The software includes:

• 7+ Taskbar Tweaker - fixes multiple lack of features within the taskbar; requires additional mods to work with Windows 11 (see this blog post by the dev
• PersistentWindows - fixes a long-standing issue with Windows 10/11 where program windows don't remember their location when using multiple monitors
• StartIsBack - gives users full control over their start bar, allowing them to have it however they want; dev may not want to contribute without compensation though, as it's not freeware
• Search Everything - is SO much faster and better than any search functionality built into Windows 10/11
• TagSpaces Lite - allows much easier tagging of files in Windows and searching for them far better than Windows can
• OldNewExplorer - restores missing functionality that should never have been taken away after Windows 7

This is my personal OldNewExplorer setup, and is absolutely essential for me, along with having the "Preview pane" off.

Scenario when this would be used?

Pretty much all the time. All of this software is because Microsoft changed user interfaces, removed functionality, or newer incorporated it into Windows in the first place. Many pro users are neurodivergent, especially autistic, ADHD, or both (AuDHD), so this kind of stuff really, really, irritates us to the core. Literally to the point where users will look for any workarounds to add in missing functionality. These are all Quality Of Life (QOL) issues that should at least be incorporated into PowerToys where possible, even if Microsoft won't allow them to be incorporated fully into Windows 10, 11, or whatever version comes next. (I was about to make a joke about it being Windows 365, but just found out that's an actual thing that exists!!!)

Supporting information

I can't think of anything else to add here, other than linking you to Embrace Autism, which explains a lot about neurodivergence in general. You should probably also be aware that a lot of programmers (even ones coding for Microsoft environments) fall somewhere under the trans umbrella (which is how the meme about "programmer socks" got started), so maybe link some of your colleagues to the GDB, just in case you've got a few programmers whose eggs haven't cracked yet. (If it's not obvious from my profile, yes, I'm a trans woman.)

[ethanfangg]

What is the major benefit to having those projects inside of PowerToys (where maintenance may be more difficult, and resourcing less stable) vs. them as still accessible/installable stand-alone applications?

I wonder if you could write a DSC config file to help you quickly get set up with those tools any time you setup a new device (worth looking into!).

Generally speaking, it's going to be likely that given that Windows 10 will be unsupported soon, that if it comes down to it, we will focus on prioritizing features and scenarios for Windows 11 and on.

[SleepyCatten]

What is the major benefit to having those projects inside of PowerToys (where maintenance may be more difficult, and resourcing less stable) vs. them as still accessible/installable stand-alone applications?

I wonder if you could write a DSC config file to help you quickly get set up with those tools any time you setup a new device (worth looking into!).

Generally speaking, it's going to be likely that given that Windows 10 will be unsupported soon, that if it comes down to it, we will focus on prioritizing features and scenarios for Windows 11 and on.

Hi! Thanks for the quick reply!

To answer your questions, it's not an issue for me to install these programs, in the same way that it wasn't an issue for people to separately download Image Resizer. However, that was still integrated into PowerToys, and has brought the functionality to many more people.

That's the benefit of doing this: bringing these essential, QOL tools to Windows, where Windows is either lacking or just doesn't have the functionality / options built in.

e.g.,

• If Windows had options to fully customise the start bar, StarIsBack wouldn't need to exist.
• If Windows had more options on the taskbar and in file explore, 7+ Taskbar Tweaker and OldNewExplorer wouldn't be needed.
• If Windows properly kept windows in the same place (and not resize them) when using more than one monitor, PersistentWindows wouldn't be needed.
• If Windows had a decent search function, Search Everything wouldn't be required.

This isn't about me: I have already found these tools and use them. But many others may find them if you reach out to the devs to see if they'd like to be a part of PowerToys, as it will bring their software to a wider audience. Isn't that ultimately the goal of PowerToys: to give more functionality to users by bringing multiple disparate tools together in one place?