Code Editors & IDEs
Your code editor is where you'll spend most of your time. Choose wisely.
1. Visual Studio Code
Why it's essential: The most popular editor for good reason.
Key features:
- IntelliSense: Smart code completion
- Extensions: 30,000+ extensions for every need
- Git integration: Built-in version control
- Debugging: Powerful integrated debugger
- Lightweight: Fast startup and performance
Must-have extensions: ESLint, Prettier, GitLens, Live Server, REST Client
Cost: Free | Website: code.visualstudio.com
2. WebStorm / PHPStorm
Best for: Large projects requiring advanced IDE features
Why consider it: More powerful than VS Code for complex codebases, superior refactoring tools, built-in tools without extensions.
Cost: $149/year (free for students) | Website: jetbrains.com
Version Control & Collaboration
3. Git & GitHub/GitLab
Non-negotiable: Version control is fundamental to modern development.
GitHub features:
- Code hosting and collaboration
- Pull requests and code review
- Actions for CI/CD
- Project management tools
- Largest developer community
GitLab alternative: Better for self-hosted needs, built-in CI/CD
Cost: Free tier available for both
4. GitHub Desktop / GitKraken
For: Developers who prefer visual Git interfaces
GitHub Desktop: Simple, free, great for beginners
GitKraken: More powerful, beautiful UI, supports multiple platforms
Terminal & Command Line Tools
5. Warp / iTerm2 / Windows Terminal
Warp (Mac): Modern terminal with AI features, blocks-based output, collaborative features
iTerm2 (Mac): Highly customizable, split panes, search, autocomplete
Windows Terminal: Modern terminal for Windows with tabs and customization
6. Oh My Zsh / Powerlevel10k
Purpose: Supercharge your shell with plugins and themes
Features:
- Git status in your prompt
- Auto-suggestions
- Syntax highlighting
- Hundreds of plugins
- Beautiful themes
API Development & Testing
7. Postman / Insomnia
Essential for: Testing APIs and debugging HTTP requests
Postman features:
- Request collections
- Environment variables
- Automated testing
- API documentation
- Team collaboration
Insomnia alternative: Cleaner UI, faster, better for GraphQL
Cost: Free tier available
8. Bruno / Hoppscotch
Open-source alternatives: For developers who want local-first tools
Bruno: Git-friendly, stores collections as files
Hoppscotch: Fast, web-based, beautiful interface
Database Tools
9. TablePlus / DBeaver
TablePlus: Beautiful, native database client for Mac/Windows
- Supports 10+ databases
- Lightning fast
- Intuitive interface
- Code review before execution
DBeaver: Free, open-source alternative supporting 80+ databases
Cost: TablePlus $89 one-time | DBeaver free
10. Redis Insight / MongoDB Compass
Specialized tools: For NoSQL databases
Redis Insight: Visualize and optimize Redis data
MongoDB Compass: GUI for MongoDB with aggregation builder
Cost: Both free
Design & Prototyping
11. Figma
Industry standard: Design and prototyping tool
Why developers need it:
- Inspect designs and export assets
- Get exact CSS values
- Prototype interactive flows
- Collaborate with designers
- Handoff tool integration
Cost: Free for individuals
Deployment & Hosting
12. Vercel
Best for: Next.js and frontend deployments
Features:
- Zero-config deployments
- Automatic HTTPS
- Preview deployments for PRs
- Edge functions
- Analytics built-in
Cost: Free hobby tier, Pro from $20/month
13. Netlify
Alternative to Vercel: Great for static sites and Jamstack
Unique features: Form handling, split testing, edge functions
Cost: Free tier available
14. Railway / Render
Best for: Full-stack applications with databases
Railway: Deploy from GitHub, includes databases, simple pricing
Render: Heroku alternative, free tier for small projects
15. Docker
Essential for: Consistent development environments
Why use it:
- "Works on my machine" problems solved
- Isolate dependencies
- Easy local development setup
- Production parity
Cost: Free
Performance & Monitoring
16. Lighthouse / PageSpeed Insights
Purpose: Audit performance, accessibility, SEO
Use cases:
- Measure Core Web Vitals
- Get optimization suggestions
- Track improvements over time
- Ensure accessibility compliance
Cost: Free
17. Sentry
Error tracking: Know about bugs before your users complain
Features:
- Real-time error tracking
- Source map support
- Release tracking
- Performance monitoring
- User context and breadcrumbs
Cost: Free for small projects
Package Management & Build Tools
18. pnpm / Bun
Modern alternatives to npm: Faster, more efficient
pnpm: 3x faster than npm, saves disk space with symlinks
Bun: All-in-one toolkit (runtime + bundler + package manager), incredibly fast
19. Vite
Next-gen build tool: Lightning-fast dev server and builds
Why it's better:
- Instant server start
- Lightning-fast HMR
- Optimized production builds
- Framework agnostic
Code Quality & Formatting
20. ESLint
Linting: Catch errors and enforce code style
Benefits:
- Identify bugs before runtime
- Enforce best practices
- Maintain consistent style
- Hundreds of rules and plugins
21. Prettier
Code formatter: Opinionated code formatting
Why use it: End formatting debates, automatic formatting on save, integrates with ESLint
22. Husky + lint-staged
Git hooks: Enforce quality before commits
Setup: Run linting and tests on pre-commit, format code automatically, prevent bad commits
Testing Tools
23. Vitest
Unit testing: Blazing-fast test runner
Why choose it: Vite-powered, Jest compatible, incredibly fast, TypeScript support
24. Playwright / Cypress
E2E testing: Automated browser testing
Playwright: Multi-browser support, fast, API testing, mobile emulation
Cypress: Developer-friendly, time-travel debugging, real-time reloads
Documentation & Notes
25. Notion
All-in-one workspace: Notes, docs, wikis, project management
Developer use cases:
- Project documentation
- Meeting notes
- Knowledge base
- Personal wiki
26. Obsidian
Alternative: Local-first, markdown-based knowledge base
Perfect for: Personal knowledge management, linking ideas, offline-first workflow
AI & Productivity Tools
27. GitHub Copilot
AI pair programmer: Suggests code as you type
What it's good for:
- Boilerplate code
- Writing tests
- Documentation
- Learning new APIs
Cost: $10/month (free for students)
28. Raycast / Alfred
Productivity launcher: Command everything from keyboard
Raycast features: Extensions for GitHub, Jira, clipboard history, snippets, AI commands
Cost: Raycast free, Alfred £34 one-time
Design Resources & Assets
29. Unsplash / Pexels
Free stock photos: High-quality images for projects
Both offer: Thousands of free images, easy licensing, API access
30. Heroicons / Lucide Icons
Icon libraries: Beautiful, consistent icons
Heroicons: By Tailwind creators, SVG, React/Vue components
Lucide: 1000+ icons, customizable, framework components
Cost: Both free and open-source
Browser DevTools & Extensions
31. Chrome DevTools
Built-in power: Essential debugging and profiling
Key features:
- Elements inspector
- Performance profiler
- Network analysis
- JavaScript debugger
- Lighthouse audits
32. React/Vue DevTools
Framework tools: Debug component hierarchies
Features: Inspect props and state, time-travel debugging, performance profiling
33. Wappalyzer
Technology detector: See what stack websites use
Useful for: Competitive research, learning from others, identifying frameworks
Communication & Collaboration
34. Slack / Discord
Team communication: Real-time collaboration
Slack: Professional teams, integrations, searchable history
Discord: Developer communities, voice channels, better for open source
35. Loom
Screen recording: Explain bugs and features visually
Developer use: Bug reports, code reviews, async standups, documentation
Cost: Free for up to 25 videos
Learning & Reference
36. MDN Web Docs
The web standard: Comprehensive web technology documentation
Covers: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Web APIs, browser compatibility
37. Stack Overflow
Q&A platform: 50 million+ developer questions answered
Pro tip: Search before asking, give back by answering questions
Recommended Toolkit by Role
Frontend Developer
- VS Code + Extensions
- Figma
- Chrome DevTools + React DevTools
- Vite
- Vercel/Netlify
- Lighthouse
Backend Developer
- VS Code or WebStorm
- Postman/Insomnia
- TablePlus/DBeaver
- Docker
- Railway/Render
- Sentry
Full-Stack Developer
- All of the above, plus:
- GitHub Copilot
- Playwright
- Raycast/Alfred
- Notion
Tool Selection Strategy
Don't overwhelm yourself:
- Start with essentials (editor, Git, browser devtools)
- Add tools as you encounter specific needs
- Give new tools a 2-week trial
- Remove tools you don't use regularly
- Prioritize tools that integrate well
Essential Developer Toolkit Checklist
- ✓ Code editor (VS Code recommended)
- ✓ Git & GitHub/GitLab
- ✓ Modern terminal (Warp/iTerm2/Windows Terminal)
- ✓ API testing tool (Postman/Insomnia)
- ✓ Database client (TablePlus/DBeaver)
- ✓ Deployment platform (Vercel/Netlify/Railway)
- ✓ Performance monitoring (Lighthouse)
- ✓ Package manager (pnpm/Bun)
- ✓ Linting & formatting (ESLint + Prettier)
- ✓ Testing framework (Vitest + Playwright)
Staying Current
The developer tool landscape evolves quickly:
- Follow tool releases: Subscribe to changelogs
- Join communities: Reddit, Discord, Twitter
- Read newsletters: JavaScript Weekly, Frontend Focus
- Try new tools: Dedicate time to experimentation
- Share what works: Help others discover great tools
The Bottom Line
Great tools amplify your skills, but they're not a substitute for fundamentals. Master the basics first, then use tools to work faster and smarter.
The best toolkit is the one you'll actually use consistently.
Need Help Choosing the Right Tools?
Every project has unique tool requirements. If you need guidance selecting and setting up the right development stack for your next project, let's discuss. We stay current with the latest tools and can help you build with the best technology for your specific needs.