Windows ricing (customization) and workflow optimization guide 
[justify] Windows out of the box can feel generic, sluggish, and uninspiring (I myself can’t even use it without comparing it to hypercustomized linux desktops) 
. However, I came up with a set of solutions that can rival the flexibility of linux theming! 
Customizing its appearance and fine-tuning performance not only makes it look better but also streamlines your daily tasks. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or power user, these tweaks will turn your desktop into a high-performance, personalized workspace! [/justify]
You can install these in the order that you prefer, with the programs that you want, to achieve the aesthetic that you desire.
Customization tools 
Windhawk
Windhawk is a modular patch injector for Windows and third-party apps, enabling real-time tweaks like dark mode fixes, enhanced window snapping, and UI cleanups without manual registry edits; simply install from GitHub, browse its built-in module gallery, and toggle patches on or off as needed.
This program will allow you to change the appearance, size and location of the start menu, task bar, and notification center, with multiple themes to choose from. Moreover, you’ll have plenty of other tweaks to further enhance your windows experience.
SeelenUI
If you are looking for a MacOS style, then SeelenUI is for you. It’s a Rainmeter skin suite that provides a cohesive, minimalist desktop layout featuring system stats, app launchers, clocks, and media controls; install Rainmeter, import the SeelenUI package, then arrange and customize widgets via the Rainmeter manager or by editing INI files for color and layout tweaks.
This option is perfect for those who carved for something more exotic/different. It requires rainmeter (widget app).
Rainmeter
Rainmeter is a versatile desktop customization platform that displays customizable, scriptable skins—such as CPU/RAM monitors, weather widgets, and notes—by installing the core app, browsing online skin repositories, installing .rmskin packages, and managing or tweaking skins through its context menu.
Besides applying the SeelenUI, you’ll be able to ry other themes!
Nilesoft’s SHELL
SHELL is a context menu customizer that lets you handpick the items to integrate into Windows File Explorer context menu, create custom commands to access all your favorite web pages, files, and folders, and launch any application directly from the context menu.
It also provides you a convenient solution to modify or remove any context menu item added by the system or third party software.
OneCommander (File Manager)
OneCommander is a modern file manager for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Features include tabs, dual-pane browsers, columns navigation, built-in preview, editable themes, color tags, and much more.
Free for home use and no ads.
This piece of software will change you use file managers (like the explorer). This file manager has a good variety of themes such as nord, mica, transparent, blurred, and more. It is more efficient than your typical explorer too, so you might want to give it a shot.
Files (Another File Manager)
Files is a modern file manager that helps users organize their files and folders. Our mission with Files is to build the best file manager for Windows, and we’re proud to be building it out in the open so everyone can participate. User feedback helps shape the features we work on, & the bug reports on GitHub help to make Files more reliable. Built and maintained by the open-source community, Files features robust multitasking experiences, file tags, deep integrations, and an intuitive design.
I found Files to be very stable, and overall aesthetically pleasing. You can even add custom wallpapers for the explorer.
ShaderGlass
ShaderGlass is a tool for Windows that applies shader effects on top of your desktop in real-time, allowing you to enhance visuals for gaming, pixel art, and video playback. It includes over 1,200 shaders from the RetroArch library, offering effects like CRT simulation and image upscaling.
As a nerd, I must say this is the best software if you want your desktop and games to look like an 80’s monitor. Absolute must have (or try it at least)
CuteBorders
Makes focused and unfocused window borders have a different border color, configurable per program. You can add rainbow borders to the windows. Windows 11 only.
Optimization Tools 
Microsoft PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys is a free suite of utilities for power users—including FancyZones for custom window layouts, PowerRename for batch file renaming, and various File Explorer add-ons—accessible via its Settings app where you enable modules, configure options, and assign shortcuts to streamline your workflow.
This a very powerful set of tools you can use to better access your software, and change the functionality of your system in various ways. You can set up a shortcut with alt+space to open up a search bar and access your programs and websites without even touching your mouse.
AltDrag
AltDrag gives you the ability to move and resize windows in a new way. After starting AltDrag, you can simply hold down the Alt key and then click and drag any window. This behavior already exists in Linux and other operating systems, and AltDrag was made with the mission to copy that behavior to the Windows platform, and then to further expand it with new intuitive functionality.
Have you ever had a stubborn window stuck to a corner or in an awkward angle and couldn’t get it out of there? Alt drag has you back covered. This piece of software will allow you to grab these windows no matter their location.
Greenshot
Greenshot lets you capture, edit and export screenshots of any region, window or web page on Windows. You can also share your screenshots via e-mail, Office programs or photo sites with Greenshot.
In my opinion, this piece of software is way better that the built-in windows screen capture, give it a try.
SuperF4
Have you ever been stuck behind a freezed/black screen? Then this program will take away your frustrations. SuperF4 kills the foreground program when you press Ctrl+Alt+F4. This is different from when you press Alt+F4. When you press Alt+F4, the program can refuse to quit. Windows only asks the program to quit, and lets it decide for itself what to do.
You can also kill a program by pressing Win+F4 and then clicking the window with your mouse cursor. You can press escape or the right mouse button to exit this mode without killing a program.
Some games have anti-keylogger protection, which may prevent SuperF4 from working (it can’t detect when you press Ctrl+Alt+F4). You can enable TimerCheck to use an alternate detection method.
Everything
Everything is a lightning-fast file and folder search engine that indexes your drives in seconds and delivers real-time search results as you type, dramatically outperforming Windows Explorer searches and helping you locate files by name fragments with minimal system impact. Give it a try.
FxSound
This new software boosts sound quality, volume, clarity and bass on your PC. FxSound will make your audio jump out of your speakers.
Definitly worth a try. I will enhance your sound quality in ways you wouldn’t have expected. It includes multiple presets you can use to watch movies, listen to music, or even to better understand the voice in an academic video.
These programs are the foundation of my customizations. you are going to need wallpapers, color schemes, and even custom cursors in order to get that sweet spot for the theme that you are looking for. Personally I always went for the MacOS style, but maybe you guys can come up with your own styles. Happy ricing!
!