Modern development is not only the ability to write code, but also the ability to effectively use tools that automate routine and speed up work. In this article, I have collected proven tools that really save time and make the developer's life easier.
Code editors and IDEs.
Visual Studio Code remains the undisputed leader among code editors. Its main strength is a huge ecosystem of extensions. For beginner developers, I recommend installing a few key plugins:
Prettier — automatic code formatting. Forget about the arguments about indents and brackets, set it up once and the code will always look neat.
ESLint or Pylint — checking the quality of the code on the fly. The tool will tell you potential errors even before the program is launched.
GitLens — shows the history of changes directly in the editor. You can see who wrote each line of code and when.
An alternative for those who work with JetBrains: WebStorm for JavaScript/TypeScript or PyCharm for Python. These IDEs are heavier, but offer more advanced code analysis out of the box.
Terminal and command line.
The terminal is the developer's second home. Modern shells make working in it much more pleasant:
Oh My Zsh (for macOS/Linux) or Oh My Posh (for Windows) turn a boring terminal into a handy tool with hints, auto-complete and beautiful themes. You will see the current git branch, the status of changes and other useful information right in the command line.
Tmux allows you to split the terminal into multiple windows and tabs. You can run the server in one panel, look at the logs in the second, and work with git in the third — all in one window.
Version control systems.
Git - this is the industry standard, you can't do without it. But you can work with it in different ways:
For beginners, I recommend graphical clients like GitHub Desktop or GitKraken. They clearly show changes, branches, and the history of commits. When you get used to it, you can switch to working through the terminal — it's faster.
Conventional Commits — not a tool, but an important practice. Stick to a single style of commit messages (for example, feat: добавил авторизацию or fix: исправил баг с формой). In six months, you will thank yourself when you are looking for where exactly you added this or that function.
API tools.
Postman or Insomnia — a must-have for working with the API. Instead of writing fetch or axios in the code every time, just save the requests in the collection. You can organize them by projects, add environment variables, and write tests.
Bonus: These tools automatically generate code for different programming languages. You set up a request in Postman and get the finished code in JavaScript, Python, PHP, and other languages.
Containerization and virtualization.
Docker changed the approach to development. You no longer need to spend hours setting up the environment — we described the configuration in docker-compose.yml and launched it. Database, Redis, application server — everything is isolated and works the same on any computer.
For beginners, this may seem difficult, but it is worth learning the basics of Docker as early as possible. This will save you dozens of hours on setting up projects and solving problems like "it works for me, but it doesn't work for you".
Automation and CI/CD.
GitHub Actions — an easy way to automate the routine. You can configure the automatic launch of tests at each commit, deploy to the server when pushing to the main branch, and check the quality of the code.
For personal projects, it's free and can be set up in just 10 minutes. Create a .github/workflows/test.yml file, describe the steps, and you're done.
Monitoring and debugging.
Chrome DevTools — an indispensable tool for frontend development. In addition to the usual viewing of elements, there are:
Performance profiler
Network Query Analyzer
Mobile device emulator
JavaScript debugger with breakpoints
Sentry or similar error monitoring services help to catch bugs in production. Instead of waiting for the user to write "something is broken", you will receive a detailed error report with context.
Task management and documentation.
Notion or Obsidian — for taking notes and documenting the project. Write down solutions to problems, architectural solutions, and useful commands. In a month you will not remember why you chose this approach, and the notes will save you.
Linear or Jira — to manage tasks in a team. Even if you work alone, it is useful to keep a list of tasks, prioritize and mark progress.
Databases.
TablePlus or DBeaver - convenient clients for working with databases. Visual table editor, query designer, data export — all in one place.
For local development, try SQLite - does not require server configuration, works like a regular file. Ideal for prototypes and training.
Working with design.
Figma became the standard for UI/UX design. Even if you are not a designer, it is useful to be able to open a layout, look at the dimensions, indents, colors and export icons.
IconScout or Feather Icons - free icon libraries. Do not waste time drawing simple icons, use ready-made ones.
Training and documentation.
DevDocs - an aggregator of documentation for hundreds of technologies in one place. You can download the necessary documents and work offline.
Stack Overflow is an obvious choice, but it is important to learn how to formulate questions correctly and look for answers. Often the solution already exists, you just need to formulate the request correctly.
Testing.
Jest (for JavaScript) or pytest (for Python) — frameworks for writing tests. Tests seem like extra work until you break the old functionality with a new change. Having tests saves hours of debugging.
Cypress or Playwright — for end-to-end testing. Automate the verification of user scenarios: authorization, order placement, filling out forms.
Useful online services.
regex101.com — a constructor and tester of regular expressions with explanations. Instead of an hour of torment with regular expressions, write and test them in 5 minutes.
caniuse.com — Checking the support of web technologies in different browsers. Before using a new CSS feature, check if it works in the browsers you need.
JSONPlaceholder — fake API for testing and prototyping. No need to configure the backend to test the frontend.
Artificial intelligence to the rescue.
GitHub Copilot and similar AI assistants are becoming indispensable helpers. They won't replace the developer, but they greatly speed up the writing of template code, tests, and documentation.
ChatGPT or Claude — for quick consultations, explaining complex concepts, generating code examples. It's like having an experienced colleague who is always in touch.
How to implement tools?
Don't try to master everything at once. Choose 2-3 tools that solve your current pain points and start with them. After a month, when they become familiar, add the following.
An important principle: the tool should save time, not create additional complexity. If a tool seems too cumbersome for your task, you may not need it right now.
Do you want to start your programming journey on the right foot?
You can learn programming from scratch and master many of the tools in practice Codice — our educational platform for beginner developers.
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