Web development tools have long become much simpler and more efficient. Today, such solutions don’t require specialists to have a powerful computer – all because many of them are cloud-based. However, for professionals to perform their tasks easily and efficiently, the right technology should be chosen.
In this article, we’ll tell you about popular web development tools and how/when developers should use them.
How to Choose the Right Web Development Tool?
Experienced programmers say that the technology stack should not stay the same, although this does not exclude the fact that you will have your favorites. Why is this so? Not all web development tools are universal – what works for one project may not work for another. Therefore, you should approach this issue on a case-by-case basis, as every developer job is different.
However, when it comes to choosing web development tools, there are certain rules to remember as follows:
- Your chosen tool should simplify the process;
- The functionality of the tool should cover the needs;
- The tool should have scalability properties;
- The tool should be secure.
Top 18 Web Development Tools to Consider
1. DevKinsta
DevKinsta is a free tool that will be useful to those who work with client-side WordPress sites. The solution allows you to properly design, develop, and launch a website.
Classification: local development environment.
Main features: one-click website creation; PHP support; local email management; database management; integration with Kinsta; cross-platform support; optimized local development stack; multilingualism; error log; local HTTPS support; automatic updates.
2. XAMPP
XAMPP is another popular technology that specialists can use for free. The product is designed to make the development process convenient and simple for every expert.
Classification: local development environment.
Main features: installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux OS; consists of a web server, database, PHP interpreter; app installer available; phpMyAdmin panel for managing the MySQL server and other tools. In addition, the tool can be used to install your own Wikipedia on your PC.
3. Atom
A well-known but relatively young HTML editor that can be used for free.
Classification: text editor.
Main features: flexibility and customization; has an extensive library of settings and modifications. In addition to code checking, the tool also supports all kinds of popular languages. Atom has a built-in package manager, various themes, and works on Mac, Windows, and Linux OS. The only disadvantage is that it’s slow to launch.
4. Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is a product known for its simplicity and cross-platform support. In addition, it’s also completely free.
Classification: source code editor.
Main features: suitable for the development of console applications and graphical user interfaces (GUI); has built-in integrations that allow quick app testing and deployment; supports popular programming languages; has an extensive library of templates and code snippets. A big advantage of Visual Studio Code is the ability to manage several projects at once.
5. Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a minimalistic but effective code editing tool that is a pillar in the area. You can try it for free, however, if you want to enable full functionality, you will still have to get a license.
Classification: text editor.
Main features: a variety of plugins; cross-platform support; comfortable switching between files (the Go to Anything function); can be used by programmers of any level. In terms of disadvantages, the editor does not always work correctly with all the plugins.
6. Notepad++
Notepad++ is another powerful and free code editor that contains a number of useful features.
Classification: source code editor.
Main features: supports 50+ languages and scripts; auto-complete words; automatic indentation and parentheses highlighting; can work from a USB flash drive. In addition, the product has more than 20 themes. Use several cursors to change code in several places simultaneously and work with macros. The functionality of Notepad++ is also extended with plugins. As for the disadvantages, it’s outdated design and a complicated plugin management system.
7. Figma
Figma is a professional graphic editor for web design, which allows you to create interactive prototypes of websites, mobile apps, interface elements (icons, buttons, menus, etc.), and vector illustrations. The tool is free for individual use.
Classification: web design and prototyping.
Main features: cloud storage for documents; create separate teams within a project; save authorship; design together in a team; regulate access to documents; download fonts; export functions in SVG and CSS; use a collection of templates; integrate with popular services (Dropbox, Zeplin, etc.).
8. Sketch
A popular graphics editor designed exclusively for macOS. Developers can test the program at no charge for 30 days or buy a license to get full access right away.
Classification: web design and prototyping.
Main features: create professional vector images, icons, retouch photos; create a web design for a website; use simple tools (pencil/pen); export files in multiple formats; set the same style for a group of objects; mirror display elements; store projects on a cloud server.
9. InVision Studio
InVision Studio is a prototyping tool that allows you to work on a project with a whole team. You can use a free trial version to create a prototype, and paid packages will let you expand the features and capabilities of the tool.
Classification: web design and prototyping.
Main features: in the “Preview” mode, view history of all the changes made to the layout; use a Build Mode; view edit history; comment; change configuration; use vector tools; browse template catalog; integrate with Jira, Slack, and Confluence.
10. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is intended for vector drawing and editing. To fully use the product, you will need to buy a license. However, you can first try the trial version for a start.
Classification: web design and prototyping.
Main characteristics: work with geometric shapes; create illustrations; test graphics; edit outlines’ apply fills; work with artboards; convert text to curves; create brushes. The disadvantage of the tool is that it’s quite complicated and can’t boast rich functionality for creating simple images.
11. Django
Django is a toolkit that is available to developers for free. It helps framework professionals move quickly from the concept stage to completion.
Classification: web frameworks.
Main features: ORM, API access to the database with transaction support; built-in administrator interface; URL manager (based on regular expressions); an extensible system of templates with tags and inheritance; a caching system; internationalization of the pluggable application architecture; templates for controller functions; filter system; library for working with forms; built-in automatic documentation of template tags and data models.
12. Ruby On Rails
Ruby On Rails is a platform designed to greatly simplify the website and web app development process.
Classification: web frameworks.
Main characteristics: fast development process; high scalability and security; test environment; agreement of configurations; consistency and clean code; an extensive ecosystem; ideal for running MVPs. The disadvantages of the framework include difficulties with finding documentation and slow download speed. Plus, not all website hosts support Ruby On Rails.
13. Angular
A popular JS framework that allows you to create mobile and desktop apps. The technology simplifies the work of programmers and offers a high level of abstraction.
Classification: web frameworks.
Main characteristics: has not only tools but also design templates; built on TypeScript; suitable for creating single-page apps; supports unit tests and end-to-end testing; works for multiple platforms; has a large community and ecosystem. Despite all the advantages of Angular, it’s best used for complex projects.
14. React
React is a free and open-source front-end JavaScript library designed for working with user interfaces. It’s among the most popular technologies used by developers to create web applications that respond quickly to user actions.
Classification: web frameworks.
Main features: React’s library can be used on the server-side and on mobile platforms; lets you describe your UI as a function of your state. Since React is component-based, programmers can create complete web app interfaces.
15. Yarn
Yarn is a software packaging system known for its speed and stability. It enables sharing, scaling, and reliability of distributed applications.
Classification: package manager.
Main features: Plug’n’Play (fix an unwell structured node_modules architecture and get a faster NodeJs app start-up time); modular API extensibility; offline cache and improved workspace support; good performance; has many useful commands; decent level of protection. In addition, if you want to extend the functionality of the tool, you can use plugins from Yarn’s library.
16. Postman
Postman is a tool designed to validate client-side requests to the server and get a response from the backend. The platform also helps simplify the process and optimize the team’s work. The tool is free.
Classification: APIs and cloud-based testing tools.
Main features: supports different types of APIs; easy to configure; can be expanded if needed; there are integrations and a large community; functional and nice UI; can be used for manual and automated testing; runs on Windows, Linux, macOS; enables API autotests; you can export query collections, test suites, and share this data.
17. ClickUp
ClickUp is an excellent service that includes all the features you need for task management. The service is intuitive and accommodates dozens of different features.
Classification: collaboration tools.
Main features: tasks can be customized to your needs; use live chat; create documents; set time for tasks and keep records; there are project templates and a custom variety of elements; supports integrations with third-party services.
18. Slack
This platform is great for corporate communication, as well as for streamlining team communication and facilitating interaction between departments.
Classification: collaboration tool.
Main features: create business conversations; use interactive search and archiving; utilize thousands of possible connections to online tools; attach and store images, video, audio, and video calls; organize meetings; instantly synchronize on all devices; get desktop, mobile, and email notifications.
Tip: you can find more conference management tools for online meetings here. The article will be especially useful for organizers of academic conferences.
19. Flatlogic
Flatlogic is a tool for creating web applications without coding. With Flatlogic, you create a prototype of your app, in other words, you make a CMS for your number of entities. Flatlogic has a highly intuitive interface and an absolutely transparent principle of work, that lets you generate, develop, and deploy any modern web app in a few steps.
Classification: web application development tool
Main features: build apps; create custom CMS, create databases, deploy apps, host apps, source code review, GitHub sync.
Conclusion
In this article, we reviewed a variety of tools that are suitable for programmers of all skill levels. We hope that you found exactly what you were looking for.
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