The buzz from 2023’s Microsoft Build is dying down, but the developments and the interesting new widgets and gadgets keep rolling out.
During the Build conference, Microsoft announced that it was going to be introducing an open-source tool for Windows 11, which has been named Dev Home. This incredibly helpful tool is being aimed at developers, as well as those who are a little more tech minded and want to keep an eye on the performance of their PC.
With Dev Home, developers will be able to customise their setup by using a variety of extensions which will help them to monitor whatever projects they currently have in the works. At the moment, the app is in its early preview stage of development, but it can already be downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
The app is only available for those who are already using Windows 11, and what has everyone in the development world talking is that the app has a range of interesting widgets which have been designed to make data access easier.
About Dev Home
The widgets that are available when using Dev Home are sure to replace most third party apps that are currently being used to monitor PC performance and resource utilisation. Some of the more popular widgets include those used to monitor the use and performance of the computer’s CPU, GPU and RAM. There is also a widget that has been exclusively created to monitor the computer’s network.
With the widgets installed, you will instantly be able to terminate those programmes hampering the performance of your computer and you can also quickly switch between your graphic cards to enhance performance when necessary.
There are at the moment 6 widgets that you might find extremely beneficial to use, if you are in the development field or if you simply want to be more in control of your computer.
- CPU: This can be used to monitor the performance of your CPU.
- GitHub: With this widget you can connect your GitHub profile to receive customisable widgets as well as notifications.
- Network: With this widget you will be able to keep an eye on the performance of your network.
- Memory: This widget will give you access to information about your computer’s memory usage.
- SSH Keychain: This widget will provide you with a list of SSH connections available to you.
- GPU: This widget will let you monitor the overall performance of your GPU.
Downloading the Widgets
If you are using Windows 11 and you are keen on giving some of these widgets a test drive, they are really easy to download from the Microsoft Store or from GitHub.
When in the Microsoft Store or GitHub, look for the Dev Home Preview App. Once you have downloaded it, press Win+W keys to open your widgets, and from there you will be able to select the ones you want. If you want to add the widgets manually, you can do so by pressing the + on the widgets board.
Because the app is still in its preview stages, don’t expect the widgets to be completely flawless. By using the app and alerting the widget development team to the bugs you encounter, you are actually helping them improve the widgets so that they perfectly function when they are eventually fully released.
In time the app will become a game changer, and if you are interested in playing a role in its final look and user experience feel, download the widgets and play around with them.
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