The Ultimate List of Web Developer Tools

The world is in a time of extreme virtual growth, with new companies, apps, and websites popping up every day. In the ever-evolving realm of digital creation and expansion, companies need web developers familiar with the top web development tools on the market.

As a web developer, it is crucial to have access to, and experience with, the proper web development tools to perform well in your position. With so many dev tools out there, it can be hard to discern which are worth using while keeping track of their cost and availability. To make it easier for you, here is a list of the top web developer tools you should be using in 2022.

The 10 Best Web Developer Tools

1. Chrome Developer Tools
2. Sublime Text
3. Bootstrap
4. Github Desktop
5. Visual Studio Code
6. Angular.js
7. GitKraken
8. Django
9. HoppScotch
10. Postman

What Are Web Developer Tools?

Web developer tools are software and applications used by developers to aid in the creation and maintenance of websites. Developer tools are designed to help with every aspect of web development.

Dev tools can help with the design process, code editing, and application development, or even help you manage the programs you’ll be using to perform those tasks. Experienced developers and web development newbies alike can use tools to make the development process easier. Whatever you need to make your life easier, a tool for it is out there.

What Are the Main Types of Web Developer Tools?

Web developer tools fall into various categories. Below we will discuss the five main ones you should be aware of, including code and text editors, front end frameworks, Git Clients, web application frameworks, and API and testing cloud tools.

Code and Text Editors

Code and text editing tools are used for editing source code. Whether you are new to web development and haven’t yet found a tool you love, or are a veteran developer looking for a new tool, your code and text editor of choice is essential because it sets the stage for your performance.

Examples of Code and Text Editor Tools

• Sublime Text
• Visual Studio Code

Front End Frameworks

Front end frameworks are also known as CSS frameworks. These tools contain pre-written code that you can easily apply to what you’re doing. These helpful tools save you time and energy by offering you standardized code, so you don’t have to do it all yourself.

Examples of Front End Framework Tools

• Bootstrap
• Chrome Developer Tools

Git Clients

If you have any knowledge of web development, you have probably heard of Git. For those who don’t know what Git is, it is software used to access the Git repository, where any changes to the Git code are accessible to anyone with Git. Git clients are used for working with the repository. Huge tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM consistently contribute to GitHub.

Examples of Git Clients Tools

• Github Desktop
• GitKraken

Web Application Frameworks

Web application frameworks are software libraries. They are used to help you build application programming interfaces (APIs) and resources. These tools are suitable for building websites and applications while using less code to make the process as quick and painless as it can be.

Examples of Web Application Framework Tools

• Angular.js
• Django

API and Testing Clouds

API and testing clouds are essential tools that allow web developers to access explicit data within design systems. It allows for direct API testing and aids in determining the software’s performance, security, and functionality.

Examples of API and Testing Cloud Tools

• HoppScotch
• Postman

Web Development Cheat Sheet: A Tabular List of Web Developer Tools

The Best Web Developer Tools, Explained

Researching and comparing developer tools can be time-consuming. You are not only determining what will work best for you in the long-run, but also what programs will meet your current needs. In this next section, we will dive deeper into the tools listed above, giving you insight into their benefits and why you should consider using them.

Angular.js

• Type: Web Application Framework
• Companies That Use Angular.js: Microsoft, Gmail, Samsung, PayPal, Forbes
• Angular.js Cost and Availability: Free, open-source

Angular.js is a cross-platform solution and JavaScript framework tool created and run by Google. It lets you input your own functionality improvements as you see fit and Command-line Interface (CLI). CLI allows you to develop and manage Angular apps directly from the command shell. Angular.js is the 11th most used framework for web developers worldwide.

Bootstrap

• Type: Front End Framework
• Companies That Use Bootstrap: Udemy, LinkedIn, Postman, Twitter
• Bootstrap Cost and Availability: Free, open-source

Bootstrap is a front end CSS framework designed to create and customize mobile-first websites quickly. Its collaboration features include its open-source SVG icon library, JavaScript plugins, and Sass variables and mixins. If time management is of high value to you and you frequently work with front end frameworks, Bootstrap might be the CSS framework for you.

Chrome Developer Tools

• Type: Front End Framework
• Companies That Use Chrome Developer Tools: Breeze, MediaSolution, CICD
• Chrome Developer Tools Cost and Availability: Free, open-source

Chrome Developer Tools is one of the most popular choices for a tool library because of its seamless unification with other Google applications. It offers many browser developer tools like CSS Viewer, React Developer Tools, and Web Developer, making it easily accessible and readily available.

Django

• Type: Web Application Framework
• Companies That Use Django: Eventbrite, Pinterest, National Geographic, Mozilla
• Django Cost and Availability: Free, open-source

Django is another tool that handles the brunt of the work to allow you to focus on creating your application as quickly as possible. It comes with and takes care of site maps, user authentication, RSS feeds, and content administration while being extremely secure, scalable, and versatile.

Github Desktop

• Type: Git Clients
• Companies That Use Github Desktop: Google, Amazon, Lorven Technologies, Apple
• Github Desktop Cost and Availability: Free, open-source

Github Desktop is designed to simplify your development workflow. It allows you to use Github from your desktop, providing you with a sleek user interface to help you focus on what you are doing.

Github Desktop also allows you to view and track changes made to your current project, add co-authors to your commit, view all open pull requests, and check if the pull requests pass commit daily stand-ups (status checks) and syntax highlights.

GitKraken

• Type: Git Client
• Companies That Use GitKraken: Department of the Navy Naval Reserve
• GitKraken Cost and Availability: Free, $4.95-$8.95 per month, open-source

GitKraken is the second Git Client on the list. It prides itself in the fact that over 100,000 organizations utilize it. It has a great intuitive user interface and collaborative features to view who made changes at what time with the visual commit-graph. GitKraken allows you to switch between a GUI or terminal. It also performs seamlessly across different operating systems.

HoppScotch

• Type: API and Testing Cloud
• Companies That Use HoppScotch: Stack Analyze Mobile, Grid
• HoppScotch Cost and Availability: Free, open-source

HoppScotch is another tool with a superb user interface, helping you perform your tasks effortlessly. This API tool is open-source and free. It allows you to build and test APIs, add your own language translation, and connect with other technologies like WebSocket.

Postman

• Type: API and Testing Cloud
• Companies That Use Postman: Coursera, Imgur, Microsoft, Shopify, Twitter
• Postman Cost and Availability: Free, $15-$99 per month, open-source

Postman is the other API development platform on the list. It hosts an API repository where you can store and manage your APIs. It includes a toolbox to help the API lifecycle and integrates with other tools you might be using. There are also Postman workspaces where you can collaborate with your teams globally or even simply organize your work.

Sublime Text

• Type: Code and Text Editor
• Companies That Use Sublime Text: Fiverr, Trivago, Lyft, Hubspot, Stack
• Sublime Text Cost and Availability: Free to download, $99 per license

This tool is an easy-to-use source code editing software. The user interface is simple and visually appealing and it supports other web development tools like TypeScript. Some additional features include the Tab Multi-Select function for splitting the interface to view multiple tabs simultaneously, Multiple Selections to replace variable names faster, and Side-by-Side Mode for definitions.

Visual Studio Code

• Type: Code and Text Editor
• Companies That Use Visual Studio Code: The American Red Cross
• Visual Studio Code Cost and Availability: Free, open-source

Visual Studio Code is an integrated development environment (IDE) built by Microsoft. It offers many extra features, like IntelliSense, a tool providing intelligent completions based on function definitions, variable types, and imported modules. This IntelliSense feature goes above and beyond other code editing tools that simply perform syntax highlighting.

Other traits of Visual Studio Code include debugging code directly from the editor, built-in Git commands to review diffs, stage files, and make commits. It also allows you to cooperate with other browser developer tools and extensions. Visual Studio Code is the code editor of choice for many large companies.

Why Web Developer Tools Are Important

Having a multitude of web developer tools under your belt can make you a better, more efficient web developer. Taking time to select the right tools according to your needs and goals can help you create apps and websites much faster and at a lower cost. Learning to use these tools can also lead to a career in web development, which pays an average salary of $77,200.

If you want your user interfaces to be more visually appealing, your code to be more successful, and your testing and debugging processes to flow smoothly, make sure to check out the tools listed above. Also, try signing up for some of the best web development courses online to get a deeper understanding of each tool.

Web Developer Tools FAQ

What are web developer tools used for?

Web developer tools are used for web authoring and debugging. They can simplify the web development process, especially when using open-source tools.

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What are some skills needed to be a web developer?

It is important to be literate with computers, pay attention to detail, have problem-solving skills, be able to understand and explain technical topics, and have good numeracy and creative abilities. You should also have UI/UX knowledge, know coding languages, and understand web server functions and search engine optimization (SEO) concepts.

What are the two main software types?

The two main types of software you should know are system software and application software. System software deals with the internal functioning of a computer, while application software deals with user-given commands for the computer to execute.

What are front end and backend tools?

Front end tools are used in building user interfaces for applications and websites. It refers to the design, animation, and structure of the app or website you are using. Backend tools are programming languages, frameworks, servers, testing, and deployment tools. It is what happens behind the scenes.