Software
This is the list of software that I use. I would say that the Arduino IDE is the only one that doesn’t really have an alternative and I could be wrong about that. The rest you can find alternatives to if you don’t care for how any of the ones I have listed work. That’s how I decided on these for myself, by trying a few until I found those that worked the way I like.
For programming microcontrollers –
Mu – Python, CircuitPython
Thonny – Python, CircuitPython
Arduino IDE – Lots of different boards
Visual Studio Code – Various stuff, very versatile
Circuit and board design –
Eagle
Dip Trace
Fritzing
3D design and printing –
Freecad
MatterControl
Cura
Miscellaneous –
Raspberry Pi Imager – For making bootable Linux SD cards
The programs that I use most often are Arduino IDE, Dip Trace, Freecad and Cura. Like I said above though, you may use these more or less often or completely different programs altogether. I probably tried 15 CAD programs before I settled on the two I use the most so don’t just use what I do, play around with a few options. While I will use these programs from time to time here and on the Youtube channel most alternatives will be similar enough that you should be able to follow along with what you have selected.