This blog post will provide an overview of several great technologies that web developers may use to make their work easier and more productive.
There are various ways that you can become a more productive web developer:
Stay organized: Keep your project files and codebase organized, and use project management tools to keep track of tasks and deadlines.
Learn keyboard shortcuts: Most development tools have several shortcuts that can save you time and make you more efficient. Take the time to learn the most useful ones for the tools that you use.
Take breaks: It’s vital to take breaks and rest your mind regularly to avoid burnout. In addition, taking breaks can increase your productivity in the long run.
Stay up to date: Make an effort to keep up with the latest developments in your field and learn new tools and technologies when they become available.
Collaborate with other developers: Working with other developers can be a great way to learn new things and improve your skills.
Automate repetitive tasks: Look for ways to automate repetitive tasks using tools such as scripts and task runners. This can save you a lot of time in the long run.
Focus on quality: It’s essential to take the time to write clean, efficient code, as this will save you time and effort in the long run regarding debugging and maintenance.
Use web development tools: The lists below will help you streamline your workflow and increase your developer productivity.
Best Tools for Increasing Web Developer Productivity
1 Code Editor or IDE
A code editor is a tool developers use to write and edit code. Code editors are typically designed for specific programming languages and include features such as syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging. An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a more robust code editor. IDEs frequently have tools for managing the build process, debugging, and version control, in addition to the features found in a code editor. IDEs are more resource-intensive than code editors and are typically used for larger development projects. Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and Eclipse are popular code editors. In addition, eclipse, Visual Studio, and IntelliJ IDEA are some popular IDEs.
2 Visual Studio Code (I Usually Use)
Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a popular code editor. It is a free, open-source tool that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. VS Code is well-known for its feature-rich interface, lightning-fast performance, and support for many programming languages. In addition, it is a powerful tool for developers because it includes syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging, and Git integration. VS Code also has a large and active user and developer community, contributing to creating a diverse set of extensions that extend the code editor’s functionality.
VS Code is also customizable, allowing users to change the editor’s theme, keyboard shortcuts, and preferences. As a result, it is a popular choice among developers and is well-suited for various development tasks.
Developers can use version control systems (VCS) to track changes to their code and collaborate with other developers. They are an essential component of the software development process. They make it simple to track changes to your codebase, roll back to previous versions as needed, and collaborate with other developers. Git, Subversion (SVN), and Mercurial are three popular version control systems.
I typically use GIT and GitHub in my code or web development projects.
4 Task Runners
Task runners are software applications that automate everyday development tasks. They are typically used to automate time-consuming, repetitive tasks that require precision. Compiling code written in a pre-processor language or a CSS-Preprocessors such as SASS or Less into regular CSS is one example of a task that task runners can automate. JavaScript and CSS files are bundled and minified. Building and deploying software, as well as running tests and linters.
Grunt and Gulp are some popular free task runner tools I’ve used.
5 JavaScript libraries
JavaScript libraries are pre-written collections of JavaScript code that can be used to add functionality to your web pages or applications. They provide a set of functions you can call from your code, reducing the amount of code you have to write from scratch and making developing complex features easier.
Some popular JavaScript libraries include jQuery, React JS, and Angular.
jQuery is a library that makes it easy to manipulate the DOM (Document Object Model), handle events, and execute AJAX requests.
React is a library for building user interfaces developed by Facebook.
Angular is a full-featured JavaScript framework for building web applications developed by Google.
You can use JavaScript libraries by including them in your web page or application using a <script> tag and then calling the functions they provide from your code. Many libraries are also available as packages you can install using a package manager like npm (Node Package Manager) or Yarn.
6 CSS Framework
A CSS framework is a pre-designed collection of styles that can be used to build a website or application. CSS frameworks typically include a grid system and basic typography, form, button, and other common interface elements.
A CSS framework can help accelerate development by providing a consistent, tested foundation to build. It can also make it easier to maintain and update your styles over time, as the framework will frequently include guidelines for how styles should be structured and organized.
Bootstrap, Tailwind, Foundation, Materialize, and Bulma are among my most popular CSS frameworks. When choosing a CSS framework, consider the most important features and whether the framework’s design philosophy aligns with yours.
7 CSS preprocessor
CSS preprocessors are programming languages that add additional features to regular CSS, such as variables, mixins, and functions. These features can make it easier to write and maintain large, complex stylesheets, as they allow you to abstract away repeating patterns and use variables to store values that you might want to reuse or update frequently.
CSS preprocessors are typically compiled into regular CSS that can be used on the web. Some popular CSS preprocessors are SASS CSS preprocessor which adds features like variables, mixins, and nesting, and LESS, another CSS preprocessor which adds features like variables, mixins, and operations.
8 Browser Developer Tools
Browser developer tools are a set of built-in tools that allow you to inspect, debug, and modify web pages and application behavior. Most modern web browsers include developer tools, which are indispensable for web developers because they allow you to:
- Examine a page’s HTML and CSS to see how it is structured and styled.
- Set breakpoints, step through code, and examine variables to debug JavaScript.
- Change the appearance and behavior of a page on the fly by modifying the HTML and CSS.
- Identify potential bottlenecks by profiling a page’s performance.
- Examine a page on various devices and screen sizes.
In most browsers, you can access the developer tools by right-clicking on an element on a page and selecting “Inspect” or “Inspect Element.” The developer tools can also be accessed by pressing F12 on your keyboard or by selecting them from the browser’s menu. The developer tools’ specific features and layouts may differ between browsers, but they all provide similar functionality.
9 Project Collaboration/Management tools
Project management tools are software programs that assist teams in planning, organizing, and tracking their work. They frequently manage projects where multiple people collaborate to achieve a common goal.
Project management software often offers the following features:
Management of tasks and to-do lists: Allows team members to create and track tasks that must be completed.
Team communication and collaboration: Provides communication and collaboration tools for team members, such as discussion forums, chat rooms (Slack, MS Teams), and document sharing.
Time and resource tracking: This allows team members to track how much time they spend on tasks and will enable managers to allocate resources more efficiently.
There are numerous project management tools available, ranging from simple and free tools that focus on a single aspect of project management (such as task tracking) to more comprehensive tools with a wide range of features. Asana and Trello are two popular project management tools.
10 Hosting Server Environments
There are several options to consider if you’re looking for an easy-to-use website hosting server:
Shared hosting is a low-cost hosting solution in which your website shares a server with other websites. It is generally simply because the hosting provider handles most of the technical details for you. In addition, many shared hosting providers provide a simple control panel through which you can manage your site and perform basic tasks such as file uploading and email account setup.
Website builders are hosting platforms that offer an easy-to-use interface for creating and hosting a website. They usually come with various pre-designed templates to get you started and a drag-and-drop interface for adding and arranging content. Website builders are generally straightforward but may lack the flexibility and customization that other hosting solutions do.
Cloud hosting is a hosting solution that uses a network of cloud servers to host websites and applications. It is generally simply because you can scale up or down your resources as needed and pay only for what you use. In addition, many cloud hosting providers provide a simple control panel or API for managing your site, and some even offer managed services to handle more technical tasks.
Finally, the best hosting solution for you will be determined by your specific requirements as well as your level of technical expertise. To find the best fit for your needs, research and compare the features and pricing of various hosting providers.
Phew! I’d like to share a few of my previously used hosting servers. Namecheap, SiteGround, and Hostinger provide shared hosting, while Cloudways offers dedicated hosting. These are the few I have personally used and found to be simple to set up, secure, reasonably priced, and dependable.
Final Thoughts on the Productivity Tips/Lists for Web Developers
Oops! Please don’t be bothered by my web developer productivity tips and lists. This is up for debate. Some web developers may prefer other tools to the ones I’ve mentioned, but this isn’t a deal breaker. The goal is to assist you in developing a set of tools that will keep you productive, focused, and motivated. Your web development skills are natural, but you need help to maximize them.
