Show HN: From Personal Script to Public Tool – How I Built a Windows Setup Gen https://ift.tt/IeTkK1l

Show HN: From Personal Script to Public Tool—How I Built a Windows Setup Generator

Reinstalling Windows has always been a time-consuming task—reinstalling apps, adjusting settings, removing bloat, and rebuilding your workflow. My solution started as a small PowerShell script that automated my own setup. Eventually, that script grew into a public tool: a Windows Setup Generator that lets anyone create a personalized installation script with a few clicks.

What the Windows Setup Generator Does

• Installs browsers, editors, dev tools, and utilities
• Debloats Windows by removing preinstalled clutter
• Applies performance and privacy tweaks
• Generates a fully custom PowerShell script
• Reproduces consistent setups across multiple PCs

Why I Built It

Every developer has a preferred “fresh install routine.” Mine grew from a Notepad list into a PowerShell script. Over the years, I kept improving it until I realized others could benefit too—especially Windows users who aren’t comfortable writing scripts themselves.

Turning a Private Script Into a Public Tool

Transforming the script required:

• A simple UI with toggles and checkboxes
• Script transparency so users see exactly what runs
• Safe defaults using trusted sources like Winget
• A modular backend to keep app lists maintainable

Using the Generator

Users simply select their preferred apps and tweaks, download the script, and run it once on a fresh install. It saves hours of manual configuration and ensures consistent results.

What I Learned

• Small personal tools often solve big public problems
• Transparency builds trust
• Automation should feel empowering
• Windows onboarding still needs improvement

Final Thoughts

What began as a personal convenience turned into a tool others found valuable. The Windows Setup Generator now helps beginners, developers, IT pros, and anyone who wants a clean Windows environment with minimal effort.