WinSCP has some settings you can change to improve its usage:

1. All the transferred files will be sent compressed

   Advanced… -> SSH -> [v] SSH Compression ClickMe

   e.g. 1mb of .txt is received/sent as if it were 100kb

   e.g. 60mb of binary is received/sent as if it were 5-6mb

2. Enable the Hidden files (all the files starting with . in the name, such as .git, .gitignore, .ssh)

   Preferences (Ctrl+Alt+P) -> Panels -> [v] Show hidden files (Ctrl+Alt+H) ClickMe

3. How to automatically open archives

   ,, -> Editors -> Add… ClickMe

   (o) Associated application

   *.tgz; *.gz; *.bz2; *.zip; *.rar

   Ok

   Up Up Up

4. How to open everything else with notepad ++

   ,, -> Editors -> Add… ClickMe

   External editor -> Browser… -> "C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" !.!

   Ok

   Up Up

5. To disable auto crlf and timestamp update (they were very annoying) ClickMe

   ,, -> Transfer -> Default -> Edit…

   Transfer mode -> (o) Binary (archives, doc, …)

   Common options -> [_] Preserve timestamp

6. Hide the queue list when empty (annoying) ClickMe

   ,, -> Transfer -> Background

   Display completed transfer in queue for: Never

   Queue list -> (o) Hide when empty

7. Open putty (autologged in) by pressing Ctrl+P on WinSCP ClickMe

   ,, -> Integration -> Applications

   PuTTy/Terminal client path: %PROGRAMFILES%\PuTTY\putty.exe (this is the default path when installing putty)

   [v] Remember session password and pass it to PuTTY (SSH)