Tools for creating a website

Web development tools have come a long way since the advent of the Internet. You no longer need refrigerator-sized computers to create simple web pages.

In fact, cloud computing often doesn't require a powerful computer at all. Using the simplest web browser, you can do everything from editing web pages using Jquery to streaming the latest video games.

But as the digital world evolves, the role of the web developer increases. Modern web developers are jack—of-all-trades who are expected to understand user interface and UX design, prototyping, SEO, and much, much more. 

This means that a lot of work is required. It also means that you need the right tools in your digital arsenal. That is why this article has prepared a list of the 50 best web development tools that will help you create the perfect technology package.

What are web development tools? 

When we talk about web development tools, we usually mean applications and software that allow web developers to test and debug the code and interface of a website or web application.

Technically, this term does not refer to tools that actually help you create web pages or applications. But this distinction is useless. Web developers need a range of tools beyond debugging and testing, whether it's a remote collaboration tool like Slack, a design tool like Figma, or even just an online forum like StackOverflow.

For this reason, it is necessary to go beyond the traditional definition of devtools in order to give a realistic idea of what applications and software developers use in their daily work processes. Here you can find several familiar applications, as well as several useful tools.

What should be considered when choosing web development tools?

Regardless of whether a website is being created from scratch or a simple web application is being developed, there are several things to keep in mind. The main thing is that it applies to any tool: you need to choose the appropriate option for specific needs. 

What works in one project may not work in the next. As a web developer, you need to constantly explore new tools and ways of working. Of course, everyone has their favorites, but, as a rule, mastery should grow and not remain unchanged. 

There is another general principle to keep in mind. Technology should simplify your workflow, not complicate it. Yes, it's easy to get bogged down in complicated details, but if in doubt, you should ask yourself: does this tool really make the job easier? 

Some points worth thinking about:

  • Functionality
  • Ease of use
  • Scalability
  • Portability
  • Customization
  • Safety
  • Cost

A little bit about web development technologies

Web development is an all—encompassing term that refers to several functions. Web development can be divided into two parts: client and server.

The client part

The server part

In most cases, web developers specialize in one of two areas. However, there are several specialists who can do both — they are called full-stack developers.

The term "stack" is used because the tools used by websites and applications "overlap" each other to create the final product.

The 50 Best Web Development Tools

So, stop beating around the bush. Here is a list of the best web development tools.

Software and text editors

Web developers would not be able to do their work quickly and efficiently without text editors. A text editor is a kind of sacred thing: once developers find a text editor they like, they tend to stay with it for a long time.

That's why it's such an important decision. It's like a carpenter choosing his hammer and a Jedi knight choosing his lightsaber.

Atom

Atom's creators describe it as "a hackable text editor of the 21st century." This refers to the insane customization options it offers that allow you to make it unique to yourself.

You can choose from thousands of open source packages that add new functionality, change the look and feel using CSS, or even add your own core features using HTML and JavaScript.

Using Atom is really easy. It works with Mac, Windows or Linux and has all the expected features. In addition, there is an excellent set of real-time collaboration tools that will help you work as a team.

Sublime Text

Sublime Text will take the first place in any list of the best text editors. It doesn't have all the advanced features that other solutions have, but its lack of power is more than compensated for by its beautiful appearance and overall ease of use.

Thanks to convenient keyboard shortcuts, a palette of commands that you can't live without after you start using it, and a user—friendly interface that you can die for, using it is a pleasure.

The context-aware auto-completion feature is particularly useful. It offers a code based on your text, which means you can reduce the number of repetitive inputs. Add to this the updated Python API, syntax definitions, and super-fast loading times, and Sublime Text will be difficult to bypass.

Notepad++

Notepad++ is designed for those who don't care about themes, minimalistic design, and all that sort of stuff. Aesthetically, it won't win any awards, but it's still a powerful, open-source text editor that will satisfy most needs.

It won't be able to replace the advanced code editors that professional programmers use, but it's ideal for working with simple scripts.

Notepad is a text editor that is used by default in the Windows operating system. Notepad++ looks like its relative, but it includes development-specific features.:

  • tab display and multi-window operation;
  • support for about 80 programming languages;
  • auto-completion.

Notepad++ is convenient when you need to quickly make a prototype, work on a business trip, or quickly open and write code in a hurry.

Notepad++ is a convenient text editing solution for Windows users. It synchronizes editing and viewing, and uses the Win32 API to create small programs and increase their execution speed.

It is also a good option for users who care about energy consumption. By optimizing processors as much as possible, Notepad++ aims to use fewer CPU resources and reduce power consumption, making the environment more environmentally friendly.

I came

If you need an easy—to-customize text editor to create the perfect programming environment, then Vim is what you need. Although it works with default settings, for the most part it is a tool that you need to learn how to handle.

The great thing about Vim is that it can be used for any type of text editing, from writing an email to blogging using markup or, of course, editing HTML code. It comes with over 200 syntax files, a comprehensive tax system, and integration with Perl, TCL, and Python, and can even act as an OLE automation server on Windows.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code (or VS Code) is an open source editing program created by Microsoft. It works everywhere and allows you to do anything from debugging code to entering a Git command.



The JetBrains Suite

JetBrains is one of the most popular and sought—after paid code editors. When it comes to a full-fledged IDE for development, a set of JetBrains solutions will be at the top of all options. Despite the fact that the company offers many editors, they are all derivatives of the same IntelliJ IDEA editor.

JetBrains has worked hard to ensure that developers can write code rather than delve into the settings. Many people use these products because of their reliability and flexible project management capabilities.

In addition to the paid version available by subscription, IntelliJ also offers its tools for free to students, teachers, and startup employees.

Version control systems — centralizing code storage, documenting changes, and enabling team development — all of these tasks cover version control systems or VCS.

MAMP

The abbreviation MAMP stands for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. After installing this solution, a workable web server with technologies encrypted in the name will be available.

Like many local development environment tools, MAMP is free. But there is also a professional version of MAMP for Windows and Mac. After payment, the developer will have the opportunity to work with an unlimited number of hosts, and using the cloud function, he will be able to work on projects on different computers and test applications on mobile devices on a local network.

The key feature of MAMP is its simple and intuitive interface. You don't need to be an experienced administrator to start the server. Just read the instructions carefully, after which you can easily launch the local version of your site.

XAMPP

XAMPP is one of the most popular development environments for PHP. This is a set of programs that consists of a web server, a database, a PHP interpreter, a phpMyAdmin panel for managing the MySQL server, and other tools.

The main purpose of this product is to make application development really convenient. XAMPP is easy to install: just download the installer from the official website, launch it, and in a few minutes your computer will be fully ready to develop web applications.

XAMPP is an open source local environment. It has been around for over 10 years, so a huge community has formed around it, which is constantly improving the product.

Web Application Frameworks



Below is a list of the best web frameworks, both front-end and server-side, to cover all aspects. This is an important decision, and it is intended only to review the options, so additional research is definitely needed before making a choice.

DevKinsta



With DevKinsta and Kinsta, you can work on projects locally, switching them to staging mode and then to production mode with one click, without copying files manually. You can also use DevKinsta to create themes, plugins, and custom websites.

Frameworks and libraries

Frameworks and libraries are key elements in choosing the necessary development tools.

Frameworks are large pieces of pre—written code that will help you get started on your projects faster. A framework is similar to a framework for writing web applications: it defines the structure, sets the rules, and provides the necessary set of development tools. Interface frameworks (or “CSS frameworks”) stand apart - these are packages containing pre—written standardized code for ease of use. This is a kind of coding dictionary that will help you perform actions quickly without having to come up with the code yourself. Examples of such frameworks: Bootstrap, Bulma.

In turn, a library is a set of ready—made functions, classes, and objects for solving certain tasks.

Laravel

To develop in PHP, you need a minimum set of knowledge, because it is one of the programming languages with a very low entry threshold. Given the prevalence of PHP, it makes sense to consider the Laravel framework.

Laravel itself is a PHP framework, but don't underestimate it. It's a whole ecosystem for web development. Even if most of the framework itself is not used, you can use Laravel's Homestead, a Vagrant—based local development environment that does not require installing PHP, a web server, or any other server software on your local computer.

For a PHP developer, Laravel may become the main tool in the workflow. The framework has much more features than it is possible to imagine.

Django

Django is a high—level Python framework created by experienced developers and used by giant web applications such as Reddit, Instagram and Uber. It is secure and scalable, which means it is suitable for small projects or enterprise-scale projects.

In short, Django makes it easier to create great web applications. Quickly. The main focus here is on allowing developers to create websites and applications with less code (for simplicity, Django's server-side processing is very fast, and the file structure is very simple).

Django's goal is to help developers move from concept to completion as quickly as possible, and a search on PyPI reveals more than 4,000 free and ready—to-use packages.

Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is popular in the developer community. Although it requires a certain code quality, it is generally easy to read, write, fix, test, maintain, and deploy, making it a dream for any web developer.

Rails, as it is called in business, is used in a variety of server-side web applications, including well-known companies such as Square, Hulu, Twitch and Shopify. This is a popular framework because you can immediately get structures for web services, pages, and databases that require much less refinement than other options.

Rails is a great choice if you need a reliable and easy—to-use tool. It has a clear design language, intuitive workflow, and is easily integrated with third-party applications.

Important: at the beginning of product creation, Ruby on Rails is the ideal solution for launching an MVP. This allows solo web developers to quickly launch projects from scratch and make changes on the fly.

Angular

Angular (or Angularjs) is a popular Javascript framework created and maintained by Google. This is a cross-platform solution with an integrated ecosystem of third-party components, which means you can add many unique functionality improvements of your own.



Important: A JavaScript library is a set or "library" of pre—written code snippets that can be used to replicate common JavaScript functions.

React

React (React.js) is another great Javascript library created by another super—powerful technology company, in this case Meta. Designed specifically for creating user interfaces, it makes it easier to create interactive user interfaces in a visual way.

A component-based system means that individual components manage their own state and can then be combined to create complex user interfaces. React can also render on the server using Node, and with React Native you can also use mobile apps.

React is one of the most popular JavaScript frameworks. It is used by WordPress as a backend and block editor, so it is worth considering for any web developer working with user interfaces.

View

Another JavaScript library that is similar and simpler than React, Vue (or Vue.js), designed to work with user interfaces. By positioning itself as an "affordable, versatile, and productive" alternative, it helps create a code base that is easier to maintain and test.

As with other leading frameworks, Vue allows you to take a web page and split it into components that can be reused. Each component then has its own HTML, CSS, and JS needed to display this portion of the page, which speeds up making detailed changes.

Vue offers a more cost-effective approach to web application development. It is easy to use and comes with detailed documentation and templates.

Meteor.js

Meteor.js is a free and open source isomorphic framework (which means that you can run it on both the client and server side). It may not be as popular as React or Vue, but it is still considered one of the best solutions for developers to quickly create and deploy web, mobile or desktop applications.

One of the main advantages of Meteor is that it integrates seamlessly, allowing you to focus on creating rather than configuring collaboration tools. Meteor APM also provides real-time metrics so that it is possible to track the operation of the application.

ASP.NET



Bootstrap

Bootstrap is a leading open source CSS framework created by the Twitter development team. Released in 2011, it is a full-featured tool designed to quickly create and customize responsive websites for mobile devices.

It has Sass variables and mixins, extensive ready-made components, and comprehensive JavaScript plugins. For the first time for front-end frameworks, it also comes with its own SVG icon library designed to work with Bootstrap sites.

Finding

The main advantage in the Bulma framework is its lightness. It has only CSS, no Javascript code. This helps the web page load faster. And the faster it loads, the more convenient and pleasant it is for the visitor to be on it.

Bulma uses the most modern technologies, for example, column layout using flexboxes. On Bulma, you create fully responsive pages for mobile devices. In general, it is a simple open source framework that can be adapted to almost any project needs.

Express.js



PIP

In the process of developing Python software, it often becomes necessary to use a package that is not currently available on your computer. To get out of this situation, you can use PIP. It is a package manager that allows you to install and manage extensions written in Python. The entire package installation process boils down to executing a single console command. 

If you have worked with other programming languages, the concept of PIP may seem familiar to you. PIP is similar to npm in Javascript, composer in PHP, or gem in Ruby.

PIP comes with Python and is available after its installation. If for some reason PIP is not installed on your system, it is easy to fix it.

Svelte

Svelte is good for two reasons. Firstly, it just sounds amazing, and secondly, it gives people the opportunity to create their own projects using much less code.

Technically, Svelte is not a framework or library, but a "compiler", and it has gained a reputation in the web development community as one of the best front—end frameworks on the market. It is lightweight, optimized for SEO and, unlike tools like React or Vue, does not require intensive browser processing.

The "killer application" of Svelte is that it does not have a virtual Dom. This means that the user interface is significantly less likely to be redrawn, which ensures lightning-fast operation. This may put some developers off, but it makes it an ideal option for beginners or small projects.

Ember.js



Semantic UI

Semantic UI is a component framework for theming websites using what is called "user—friendly HTML".

But the real strength here lies in the variety of semantic user interface components. Whether it's elements, collections, views, or behavior modules, the entire range of interface design is represented here.

Foundation

Foundation is suitable for any device, environment, and availability level.

Foundation has many features that help you create content-oriented websites, and even provides users with HTML, CSS, and Javascript templates to speed up the process. You can use Foundation For Emails to create HTML emails.

Materialize

Materialize is a modern framework based on Google's Material Design language, combining classic design principles with innovation and technology. As a language, it is designed to help unify the user experience on any platform.

From animations to user interface elements and everything else in between, the focus is primarily on user attention. It is fast, reliable and does not require complex training.

Browser Tools

Modern browsers almost always include built-in developer tools that help analyze the internal code of the site, and then adapt and integrate some of its elements in other projects.

You will need these tools if you are developing a frontend project. The Chrome browser has one of the largest sets of useful buns. Other browsers have fewer tools, but they have their advantages.

When using the developer tools in the selected browser, you will most likely often work in the console. The console is a bridge to programming for beginners, because you can run JavaScript in a browser, and this is the easiest way to test code snippets.

Chrome DevTools



Firefox Developer Tools

Firefox is still a popular browser, despite Google's dominance. Previously, developers praised the Firebug tool, and it was the leader in debugging in the browser, but the project was curtailed, and Firefox Developer Tools appeared instead. They have a key set of functions for viewing the source code of the site. It's called Inspector and it has several additional kits: Debugger, Memory, Storage.

Package Managers

Installing many programs on a computer is a tedious process. You need to visit each individual website, download the installer, and then configure each one individually.

That's fine, it's just that all you have to do is download Spotify. Software developers work with hundreds of programs. That's exactly what package managers are for. These tools automate the process of installing, updating, configuring, and deleting programs from your computer's operating system.

Yarn



Node Package Manager



Dpkg

Debian is a stable and secure Linux—based operating system that is extremely popular among web developers. Dpkg is a tool created specifically for Debian package management. While dpkg has a more user-friendly front-end alternative called aptitude, dpkg itself works exclusively through the command line.

Collaboration Tools

Modern development nowadays almost always involves teamwork. To synchronize actions in a group, you need to use special software that will make the processes transparent and the statuses and stages understandable. This will make it easier for the team to achieve the project goals.

Git

In Britain, "Git" is a slang term for someone who is considered a bit stupid. But in the world of web development, Git is the name of software used to track changes to sets of files. In most cases, it is used for developers to collaborate on software development.

The Git client is a software that is used to work with Git repositories, which can be stored both remotely and locally. They allow you to make changes to your Git project (for example, to promote changes and perform intermediate processing). There are many different Git clients available on various operating systems.

Important: Git is a command—line interface, and Git clients are not strictly necessary. It's like using a translator instead of learning a language on your own. Graphical interfaces do not have all the functionality that a command-line client offers, so many web developers follow this path.

Git is a key tool for any modern developer. In simple words, it is a tool for documenting the changes that you make to the project code and saving it in repositories. It is also a convenient collaborative development tool.

Git is not the only version control system available, but it is the most popular. Users love this solution for its rich features and ease of use. The main commands of the version control system are functions consisting of a single word with a git preface. They are often used from the command line.

GitHub

Github Desktop is a web—based service for collaborative development through Git. Translated from English, "hub" means "hub station". GitHub is the largest node for versioned data flows. It is a tool that allows you to interact with GitHub from any desktop. The whole point is to provide a beautiful interface that allows you not to get distracted and focus on the main thing.



GitKraken

GitKraken bills itself as the "easiest, safest, and most powerful" way to use Git. Git can be difficult to learn, so comprehensive documentation is offered, as well as integration with GitHub, GitLab, and Azure DevOps, to simplify adding remote controls.

The user interface is equally gorgeous and intuitive. One particularly useful feature is the ability to bind complex commands to a single button or keyboard click. If you work in a team, a visual timeline of changes will also help you quickly see who made changes to the code and when.

Other notable features include syntax highlighting, a nifty built-in code editor, interactive rebasing, and a light and dark mode for night coding sessions.

GitLab

GitLab is a more "isolated" platform and may not be suitable enough for open source projects. GitHub positions itself as a "development platform", and GitLab specializes more in DevOps.

GitLab now provides the most comprehensive list of DevOps capabilities for organizations. The free GitLab tier will be enough for most developers. And with an annual subscription, you get access to your code and performance analytics, about 10,000 CI/CD minutes, and other nice features.

Sourcetree

Sourcetree is a graphical user interface used to manage Git repository hosts. It allows you to visualize and manage repositories so that you can focus solely on programming.

Sourcetree is available for free download on both macOS and Windows. They have a huge number of guides that will help you get used to it quickly.

Sourcetree is positioned as a free cross-platform visual client of the Git and Mercurial version control systems. In fact, there are many similar solutions: GitKraken, Sublime Merge, SmartGit, GitHub Desktop.

Sourcetree can do simple things, for example, it allows you to highlight changes from the last commit. At the same time, team leaders can view the list of changes, switch between branches, and customize the visual display of the code using graphs and information tabs.

API and cloud-based testing tools

Web APIs are an important part of web development these days. APIs allow developers to access certain functions or data in an application, service, or other system. With API access, developers can now connect other applications to web pages and databases.

When testing and building using the web API, it is extremely important to have reliable tools. Here are some of the best.

Postman

Postman is an API platform for development using APIs (duh), whose functions are aimed at simplifying the process and optimizing teamwork.

REST-assured

REST-assured is a tool preferred by most web developers working with Java. Built to avoid being an HTTP expert, REST-assured allows you to test and validate REST services with the simplicity of more dynamic languages like Ruby.

This saves time and effort by automating some of the standard code needed to set up HTTP connections, send and receive requests, and analyze responses.

HoppScotch

HoppScotch is a lightweight, open—source API development tool that runs smoothly and looks beautiful. Over the past few months, it has gained popularity in the developer community, largely due to the combination of advanced functionality and great design.

LambaTest

It is important that web applications and services work the same way, regardless of which browser is used to access them. But you can't check how HTML, CSS, and JavaScript look in every web browser and operating system on the planet.

LambaTest can do this. This tool performs automated interactive real-time testing on over 2,000 real-world browsers and operating systems to ensure that web applications look flawless wherever they appear.

It also has the ability to automatically generate full-screen screenshots of pages in any browser, operating system, device, or resolution. And thanks to integrated debugging, geolocation testing, and seamless collaboration using Asana, Slack, and Trello, Lambdatest is a must.

Web Design and Prototyping Tools

It's not enough to just know how to program. The job of a web designer is to understand what is part of a good user interface and UX design: from prototyping and wireframes to creating a visual language for an application. These design tools are vital.

Figma

Just a few years ago, when you needed a professional design tool, you had to spend a lot of money and download complex software. Not anymore.

With Figma, you can get everything you need for web design, absolutely free and accessible from any browser. From the user interface, UX, and graphic design to creating wireframes and diagrams, Figma is truly a universal platform for your design needs.

It's like a LEGO set for web developers. Do I need to create a mock-up of a mobile app? Develop a complete user interface? Create a client's dream website from scratch? You just need to use the drag and drop editor and you're done. With the help of version history, you can even collaborate in real time and not worry about something breaking.

There's a reason the whole internet is excited about this: Figma is a rare tool. This is not an exaggeration, but a fact — it really is the only design tool you will need.

Important: if there is a need to develop a design together with other people, you can consider FigJam (an offshoot of Figma). This real-time collaboration tool will help optimize your workflow and allow all members of the design team to work on the same page.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is just the latest tool in Adobe's line of excellent design tools. With XD, you can invent sketches of wireframes and layouts, make interactive prototypes and create a high-precision design for any screen, thanks to the vector system.

Are flat images not enough? 3D transform allows you to transform static objects into dynamic three-dimensional structures with one click. You can move or rotate objects, create the appearance of depth, or even develop immersive augmented or virtual reality effects.

First of all, Adobe XD excels at making prototypes look like real ones — without the need for coding.

Sketch

Sketch and Figma are similar to Apple and Android: both offer very similar tools, and the choice between them depends on preferences and individual workflow.

Sketch is an application preferred by companies like Google, Meta, and Xbox. It's easy to use, offers a variety of useful keyboard shortcuts, and works lightning fast, no matter what you use: from social media designs to working prototypes or trendy new icon sets.

At the same time, most web developers agree that the prototyping capabilities in Figma are superior to those of Sketch. They also reference the built-in version history, collaboration features, and how Figma handles colors and text styling. Automatic layout is also preferable to intelligent layout in Sketch.

But. That's not all. It is believed that Sketch is more stable (Figma can sometimes malfunction), has a clearer organization of layers, and allows you to upload large files faster. There is also a dark mode, which, as we all know, is music to the ears of any web developer.

Important: The issue of Figma versus Sketch will not be resolved here. Fortunately, Figma is free to use, and Sketch offers a free trial. If you are not sure which one is more suitable, you can just try both.

ProtoPie

ProtoPie positions itself as "the easiest way to turn interaction design ideas into realistic 'prototypes'. It is a tool for creating interactive prototypes without using code, used for mobile devices, websites or desktop computers.

Protopic is distinguished by one thing: simplicity.

The learning process is gradual, which makes it convenient for beginners. The prototypes also interact with each other, making it possible to interact on different devices.

Framer

For those who are well versed in code, Framer is a great tool to help create interactive, easily customizable prototypes. Web developers around the world use it to create applications, websites, design systems, and even new interfaces for video games.

The idea of Framer is to be able to work with projects that can be realistically implemented using code. It is a bridge for UX designers and developers, allowing them to collaborate and experiment quickly in a common workspace.

Toolset

Tired of doing everything with code? Toolset is a WordPress page builder that allows you to create custom websites without any code. This is a great option for web developers and designers who want to complete complex projects quickly.

If you use Toolset to create a WordPress design, you can get rich websites that look great on any device and load quickly for SEO specialists. It has everything you need to set up custom record types, fields, templates, search, front-end forms, and more.

Animator by Haiku

Animation is a complicated thing, but Animator by Haiku makes it a little more enjoyable. It allows you to implement animation design into production, from initial design tools such as Figma to the final code base.

Animator uses an interface called Timeline to visually stage animations. You can arrange and animate elements using the built-in curves library, or go deeper into working with a custom editor. If it is more convenient to work with the code, you can use any code editor for animation.

Adobe Illustrator



Affinity offers many of the same tools as Adobe Illustrator, in a beautifully designed (and not too bulky) package. You can work with vectors and rasters to create concept art, print designs, logos, icons, user interfaces, and anything else you can imagine.

Starter Templates

Starter Templates is designed to work seamlessly with the Astra WordPress theme and is a versatile tool for those who want to simplify the web design process. With access to over 240 free and premium templates related to various niches, users can quickly import and personalize their chosen template.

A distinctive feature of Starter templates is their easy integration with popular page builders such as WordPress block editor, Elementor and Beaver Builder. These ready-made templates are not only aesthetically appealing, but also optimized for faster performance. Using clean code and relying on simple JavaScript, Starter Templates ensures the creation of efficient and high-performance web pages.

Ideal for both beginners and experienced designers, Starter Templates offers a simple customization wizard that allows you to create beautiful websites without too much hassle. It may not be the most popular tool on the market, but its focus on simplicity and performance makes it worthy of attention.

Collaboration Tools

Almost all the technical tools that a web developer might need have been reviewed here. But regardless of whether a web developer works independently, in an agency, or as a freelancer, collaboration tools are no less important than a text editor.

Often, the success of a project depends not only on technical excellence, but also on clear and effective communication. The following tools will help you achieve this.

ClickUp

Product management tools should serve two purposes: simplify processes and speed up product delivery. The ClickUp does both. With a wide range of tools, it's truly "one app that will replace them all," covering tasks, documents, chat, goals, and more.

Regardless of whether a web developer works alone or in a team, ClickUp allows you to distribute tasks, better plan your work and see the overall vision of the product. The main advantage of this platform is its amazing versatility. From creating mental maps to planning tasks on the Kanban board, you can create your own product management system.

Asana

Asana is perhaps the most well-known and popular project management and collaboration tool on the market. This tool is designed so that you don't have to switch between emails, spreadsheets, and other applications and keep things organized — from brainstorming to meeting deadlines — with Asana, you can manage everything.

Taskade

Taskade is an excellent task manager for teamwork. If a web developer uses Asana or Basecamp, they will be familiar with the Taskade interface.

The information most in demand by the user is centrally displayed on the main page: upcoming plans, hot questions, tasks for which the deadline is approaching, tasks for today and reminders. You can choose a convenient type of presentation yourself.

At first glance, Taskade may seem meager, but it's not. It is flexibly configurable, displays tasks in a user-friendly format, allows them to be easily and quickly managed, and simplifies the way to interact with the team. Due to its simplicity, it is suitable for any project and for any level of developer.

JIRA

JIRA is a project management platform that allows developers to plan, track, and release their products. From creating user stories and planning sprints to the final stages of delivery and data analysis, JIRA is the way to bring any product to launch and beyond.

One of the big advantages of JIRA over other similar tools is that it is easy to configure. It is possible to create an ideal workflow for your specific product or team — this is also a small disadvantage, as it leads to faster learning at the initial stage.

Slack

Over the past few years, Slack has become synonymous with remote team communication.

At its core, Slack is a platform for exchanging team messages. It reduces the need for email by separating correspondence into separate channels, so you can keep track of topics, ideas, and projects without lengthy email messages. This turns it into the virtual headquarters of your business.

Of course, this is much more than a simple text chat. You can use video calls, integrate your favorite tools, and even communicate with external clients or employees of other companies.

Zoom

Although there's no substitute for the feeling of face—to-face communication, Zoom is the best thing ever. Regardless of whether it's the desire to talk to your family across the country or to chat with web design clients, video calls become incredibly simple.

40-minute calls to Zoom are free, which means that a convenient end timer is provided for x meetings. In addition, you can record any calls (with the permission of your interlocutor), which has become a popular way to record webinars and podcasts.

Various web development tools

Not all tools fit neatly into one category. These web development tools are designed for all processes that may be non-standard.

Docker

Many people prefer to use Docker as a container-based development environment. In Docker, all processes are implemented very simply: click a button and get a virtual isolated development environment.

Docker combines a user-friendly interface, a command-line interface, and a secure API. All this ensures the rapid deployment of any systems by the user.

For many developers, Docker is becoming the main platform when creating new applications. It integrates perfectly with many other useful tools, for example, GitHub and VSCode can connect to Docker and provide seamless collaboration.

LXD

LXD is a container manager for Linux distributions that supports an open source framework. It was created by Ubuntu Canonical developers.

You can create secure environments using unprivileged containers, monitor resource usage, and even manage networks. LXD scales well, which means that it is possible to run thousands of computing nodes or, conversely, simplify the work to a single task.

For cloud applications, LXD integrates with OpenNebula: the latter has official drivers for this. When trying to work with LXD, it is easy to find that it is suitable for projects, sometimes even better than competitors' solutions.

HubSpot

To create a website for your business, create a professional portfolio, or start your own blog, HubSpot provides a free content management system for developing and establishing an online presence.

Connected to their CRM platform, HubSpot offers a drag-and-drop website builder and ready-made templates that allow you to create a website in minutes. With the built-in CDN and a free blogging tool, you can create meaningful, engaging, and SEO-optimized content to build your strategy for attracting potential customers.

With access to CRM, marketing, sales, and service centers, you can analyze customer interactions and data to personalize and optimize customer interactions. The CMS platform is an affordable option and alternative to traditional web development tools.

TypeScript

TypeScript is an incredibly popular open source language that builds additional features on top of JavaScript. In fact, it's Java like Clark Kent, and TypeScript like Superman — bigger, better, faster, and more versatile.

Developers love Typescript because it makes their work easier. It identifies errors in both code and typing, as well as errors that can be easily overlooked. This reduces troubleshooting time and also eliminates the need to track errors manually.

The only real disadvantage is that after trying TypeScript, it will be difficult to return to vanilla Java. The good thing is that you don't have to make binary choices — all valid JavaScript code is also TypeScript code, and TypeScript can also be converted to Java.

Sass

What is Sass? It is a CSS preprocessor that extends the capabilities of regular CSS by adding special features such as variables, nested rules, inheritance (non-monetary type) and mixing.

The advantage is that it speeds up the workflow and modulates the code, making it easier and more efficient to make changes. This allows you to achieve the same end result as regular CSS, with minimal effort.

Important: Sass is compatible with any version of CSS, the only requirement is that Ruby must be installed for it to work. You can't use Sass before mastering CSS — it's important to get the basics straight first.

Stack Overflow

So, technically it's not a tool. However, the Stack Overflow website is not exaggerating when it says, "Every developer has a tab open for Stack Overflow." It is the most popular and comprehensive community of web developers on the internet.

Stack Overflow is a publicly available platform that aims to create a single, most comprehensive collection of programming questions and answers. Developers, system administrators, and data processing specialists of any profile and scale rely on it to obtain accurate information when solving complex technical tasks.

Squoosh and ShortPixel

Assets. Content. Mass media. Even the simplest web design will require basic images and icons. Image optimization applications allow you to compress image file sizes without compromising quality, which means that websites will remain as fast and responsive as possible.

There's no shortage of great image optimization apps right now, like Squoosh. It's a simple app that does exactly what you need. Just drag and drop the image into the editor, and Squoosh will do its job.

Thanks to the simple interface, you can resize, compress or change the image format. Changes happen almost instantly, and the finished product can be downloaded with a single click.

One disadvantage is that you can only work with one image at a time. So, if you are working on a large project that requires a large number of images, ShortPixel can better meet your needs.

Canva

Whether it's developing a website, user interface, or creating a design for Canva, color is a serious business for web developers and designers. Colors are crucial for brand awareness, evoke certain emotions and, most importantly, ensure accessibility.

Color selection tools allow you to identify hexadecimal item codes online to draw inspiration or maintain design consistency. There are thousands of tools in this area, but you won't find any simpler than the ColorPick eyedropper for Chrome.

You just need to click on the extension and hover over any element on any web page. A small field with a hexadecimal code and an RGB model will appear. They are automatically copied to the clipboard for later use.

Google Lighthouse

Google Lighthouse, which is part of Chrome Developer Tools, deserves a special mention. It is an open source automated tool for improving the quality of web pages. You can run it on any existing web page to test overall performance, accessibility, best practices, and SEO.

There are two new features that also extend the functionality somewhat. Stack packages allow Lighthouse to determine which platform a website is built on and display more specific recommendations based on unique tools.

Important: The new Lighthouse plugins also allow you to use the collected data to create new audits and reports. Used in conjunction with PageSpeed Insights, this is a surefire way to ensure that a website is in good condition.

The second monitor

No guide on web development tools is complete without a recommendation to get a second monitor. Having an additional screen makes life much easier and speeds up development.

The IDE and terminal can be open on one screen, and an application running for debugging can be on the other. Or Slack on the first one, the browser and Stack Overflow on the second, and Spotify in the corner, where you can listen to Lo-Fi music.

Using one screen, you need to constantly switch between open applications. In half of the cases, you can lose the tab or forget what is in the search. It takes time, and as we all know, time is money.

Paperform

Despite all our achievements in the world — sending billionaires to the moon, having the power of a supercomputer in our pockets — it is still incredibly difficult to create beautiful online forms.

Paperform is an online form builder whose functionality goes far beyond just conducting surveys. Of course, you can create almost any online form you can imagine, but you can also create single-page websites, edit images, open an online store, or use any application.

Cypress

Most of the end—to-end testing tools are based on Selenium, a suite of test automation tools.

Selenium is based on an environment for testing web applications, implemented in JavaScript and performing checks directly using the browser.

But Cypress is going in a different direction. Its developers strive to simplify the setup, writing and running of tests. To do this, they built the architecture from scratch and focused on end-to-end testing, eliminating other forms.

DEV Community

DEV Community is a website for the developer community. On the one hand, it's a blogging platform, and on the other, it's a way to find answers to developers' questions. The user selects the tags and people they want to subscribe to, and their news feed turns into a stream of publications and analytical information.

Can I use…

The essence of the site is simple: a CSS element is entered into the search field, and the database returns a result with an answer to the question of whether it is possible to use it for a specific browser. The site also supports JavaScript and HTML queries.

Can I use... is a knowledge base specifically for the frontend, so it won't return results for PHP, Python, or other backend languages.

This resource will help you when designing an interface for multiple devices. For example, you can open a specific element and immediately see if the target browser supports it. Additionally, interesting statistics are revealed — the release date of the element and the percentage of use.

Can I use... rarely used regularly. The resource is needed only at certain stages of the project, when it is necessary to find out which elements are supported by the target browsers.

Pixate

Pixate generates 100% native prototypes, so you can immediately "feel" the ideas on the device. Just a few clicks, and the necessary animation and interactive gestures are added (and all this without a single line of code).

The service is very popular among designers who need to quickly create a high-quality animated prototype for presentation to the customer. Pixate completely reverses the idea of prototyping and lean testing methods. We highly recommend it to anyone who is going to create or optimize a mobile application in the near future.

Treeline

Currently, only the beta version of the service is available, but there is confidence that it will become mega-popular over time. Treeline allows you to create enterprise server applications in a matter of hours (although it used to take months). It defines the architecture of the backend in the form of small, reusable, well-debugged modules. Here is an incomplete list of features available in Treeline:

  • sending HTTP requests;
  • password comparison and encoding;
  • working with strings in JavaScript;
  • access to the ElasticSearch API via Node.js;
  • access to the YouTube API for uploading videos;
  • Stripe API access for accepting online payments;
  • integration with Facebook to authenticate users and obtain personal data.

Tilda Publishing

Tilda allows you to create colorful content pages. A page is assembled from ready-made blocks (there are more than 170 of them), which are stored in the system library. All pages made on Tilda are adaptive, so you don't have to worry about how they will look on different devices. A definite plus for non-programmers.

Web pages are bright and effective with good typography and visual effects. The service allows you to use various functional elements for a call to action (reviews, buttons, forms, lists of benefits), connect to Google Analytics, and optimize the page for search engines.

The service is very useful for creating blogs, portfolios, news and corporate websites.

Webflow

The CMS system is designed for websites with dynamic content created in Webflow. The service sets the type of content (blog, portfolio) and then adapts the site structure to it. If you don't have a clear understanding of what a website should look like, you can use existing templates.

The service allows you to easily and quickly create a large number of pages of the same type. For example, you can create your own "blog pages" template, and it will be automatically applied to other pages with the same label. You can make edits and edit the site in real time — the content will be updated automatically. Webflow has a user-friendly interface and easy navigation.

Readymag

Readymag.com — an innovative tool with an elegant design for creating interactive web publications: from the simplest announcements and summaries to project presentations, portfolios, photo stories, microsites and web editions of magazines.

The biggest advantage of Readymag is that it does not require programming knowledge, and the process of creating a publication is similar to the layout of an article in any graphic editor: you only need to arrange the text and pictures on the page. That's it! The rest of the creation process is automatic.

Webflow 3D Transforms

This tool, just like the previous one, was created by the Webflow team, and is considered the best in its class. With it, you can get advanced features for creating 3D and CSS transformations when animating websites. You can move page elements, rotate them, and apply perspective to them.

Here are just some of the features: creating animations with the flip effect (card flip), multi-layered 3D effect, isometric projection.

Cloudpress

With CloudPress, you can create unique, responsive WordPress sites. Ready-made blocks (and there are more than 80 of them) allow you to design page prototypes in a matter of minutes. In ThemeBuilder, you can set the page width or make it adaptive.

You can gain control over every detail of the site. You can change the size of the elements, the typography, the background, and the effects.

Code Editors

Programmers spend a significant part of their working time in code editors. And the debate about which editor is better is one of the favorite and hot topics for most of them. There are many opinions about this, and each product has its own army of ardent fans.

According to research, most developers use Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or IntelliJ IDEA. These three tools scale from a simple code editor to a full-fledged integrated development environment (IDE).

Conclusion

More than 50 really useful web development tools have been reviewed here. From Vue to Ember, from TypeScript to Click Up.

Ultimately, the best web development tools are those that are suitable for a particular web developer.

In addition to programming languages, it is necessary to study and gradually introduce new auxiliary tools. This makes the development process easier, faster, and more efficient. There is no need to be afraid to try and analyze: a deliberate choice of tools will always pay off in time, cost and productivity.