In this fast-paced digital world, software development gains momentum and popularity throughout the market. For software developers, this means one thing: staying on track with the ever-changing industry is more crucial than ever. That’s why they left no stone unturned when it comes to finding ways to manage their daily tasks at work and build working software efficiently, without burning themselves out.
That is where software development tools come in handy. A software developer can already have a lot on their plate, from writing code to testing and evaluating new programs. By utilizing tools, they can save a lot of time and increase productivity.
That said, with tons of tools available out there, it can be quite challenging to pick up ones that can give real benefits. Tool fatigue exists, too.
In this post, we’ve listed only some popular and high-performing software development tools that we believe will make programming life much easier and more efficient.
Tool #1. GitHub
You can say that GitHub is just like a Google Drive for any software project– which also means that this is an ideal place to visit when you’re looking for codes. This tool is a website-based Git repository hosting service, where you can upload your project and even create a collaborative development environment.
GitHub has a large community of developers that can help you gain more insights into the latest trends, discover, share, and create the most up-to-date and feature-rich applications.
Tool #2. Jira
When you work in a team, the key is always to keep the team’s projects on track, pay attention to deadlines, and understand who’s doing what. That’s what Jira is all about. This tool helps agile development teams to plan, track, and manage software projects.
This tool makes it much easier for you and your team to create a buttery-smooth workflow for unique use-cases like bug resolution and patching, collaborate in real-time, manage team backlog, and even visualize the work in progress.
Jira might also be the solution you need when you need to streamline your onboarding process and help new programmers on the team to catch up with the projects. You can share employee onboarding videos, previous projects, training materials, and more.
Tool #3. IntelliJ IDEA
You’ll need an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) to integrate all the tools that you need to build software. That’s why you need a platform for your code editor, a compiler, a debugger, etc. In this case, IntelliJ IDEA has all the solutions you need.
With this tool, you can organize your source code, tests, libraries that you use, build instructions, and even your personal settings in a single unit. Not to mention that IntelliJ IDEA also offers components like smart code completion, code analysis, framework-specific support, as well as comprehensive perspectives into your code. All of these components can help you write code quicker and easier.
Tool #4. Chrome DevTools
As the name suggests, Chrome Devtools is a set of free tools that are built directly on the Google Chrome browser. Just simply pressing Ctrl+Shift+C, you have access to all the essential features. This tool allows you to debug Javascript in your browser, view and manipulate the DOM (Document Object Model), and experiment with CSS on your website pages in a preview environment.
This toolkit boosts the developers’ productivity and makes the diagnosis of a website hassle-free. So, if you mostly deal with web domains, Chrome Devtools can be your go-to.
Tool #5. HTML5 Builder
HTML5 Builder is a complete development environment for web and mobile applications. Whether you want to run your app on a web server, on a mobile device, or if you want to publish your apps on any app store, HTML5 Builder is the tool you need.
Many developers use this tool to create apps that require geolocation due to built-in tools. HTML5 Builder helps developers to create cross-platform programs that is why the tool is quite effective when it comes to collaborating.
Tool #6. Bootstrap
In a nutshell, Bootstrap is an open-source toolkit and free framework for developing responsive websites and mobile-first projects using CSS, HTML, and JS. You can also customize the tool according to your project’s requirements.
So, if you want to assemble responsive web pages faster with no hassle, Bootstrap might be the tool you’re looking for. With an easy drag and drop interface and many in-built components, this tool offers a fantastic way to design faster and simpler websites.
Tool #7. Axure
Axure is pretty much popular among IT consultants, product managers, and business analytics experts. But, since this tool helps developers to produce documentation, prototypes, and wireframes, that’s why Axure is listed as one of the most powerful software development tools.
You can also utilize Axure to create and manage widget libraries– that contain the building blocks and core framework for any website design project. This, in turn, will help you prototype faster.
Axure always focuses on providing simple features and tools to help and assist even complete new software developers to build interactive prototypes with documentation.
Start Simplifying Your Work
There’s no such thing as the best programming tools. The best has always been the ones that can fulfill your needs and meet your preferences. With a quick list mentioned above, you might find your choices narrowed down, so you can easily pick the ones that you really need.
