Must have developer tools

If you're a programmer or thinking about becoming one, having the right software tools can make your job a whole lot easier.

📢 Here are must-have developer tools you need to know

1. 🪛 Code Editor

A code editor is a digital notepad where you write your code. Three POPULAR options are Visual Studio Code, Atom & Sublime Text. They make writing code easier with features like auto-completion and error highlighting.

2. 🏗️ Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

An IDE is a FANCY code editor with extra tools. If you're into web development, consider using Visual Studio (NOT Visual Studio Code) for web development.

For Python, PyCharm is an EXCELLENT choice. For Java, IntelliJ IDEA is the most popular choice. IDEs help you manage your code projects, debug issues, and test your programs more efficiently.

3. 🎛️ Version Control System

the Version Control System helps you collaborate with others, roll back to previous versions if something goes wrong, and manage your code history.

GitHub is a POPULAR platform for hosting your Git repositories on the cloud.

4. 🗼 Terminal (Command Line Interface)

If you're working on a Mac or Linux, you'll need to use the terminal.

Using a terminal on Windows isn't always necessary, but it can be very helpful, especially for programming and development tasks.

Here are some popular terminal applications you can use:

🪟 Windows: Windows Terminal is modern, fast, and supports tabs. It combines PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) all in one place.

🍎 macOS: The default Terminal.app is widely used, but iTerm2 is often preferred for its rich feature set and customization options.

🕸️ Linux: The most common terminals are GNOME Terminal and Konsole.

Learning some basic terminal commands is essential for a programmer.

5. 🗃️ Database Management Tool

If you work with databases, you'll NEED a tool like MySQL Workbench, SQL Server Management Studio, or DBeaver. These tools help you create, modify, and query databases.

6. 📝 Plain Text Editor

Sometimes you need to work with text files that aren't code. Notepad (for Windows), TextEdit (for Mac), or Notepad++ (for Windows) can be HANDY for editing configuration files and taking notes.

7. ⚖️ Virtualization Software

Software like VirtualBox or VMware allows you to create virtual machines.

This is useful for testing software on different operating systems without needing multiple physical computers.

8. 📦 Package Manager

Depending on your programming language, you might need a package manager like npm (for Node.js), pip (for Python), or gem (for Ruby). These tools help you install and manage libraries and frameworks for your projects.

9. 🗨️ Communication Tools

You'll likely need to communicate with your team or clients. Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or even SIMPLE email can be essential for sharing progress, discussing ideas, and getting feedback.

10. ⛅ Code Hosting and Collaboration:

Platforms like Netlify, GitHub and Bitbucket are great for hosting your code online and collaborating with others for FREE. They also offer features for issue tracking and project management.

👏 Conclusion

Overall, the best software for you might depend on the type of programming you do. But having these tools in your arsenal will set you up for success and make your programming journey smoother.

If you like this article, make sure to give it a thumbs up and let me know in the comment section what other important tools or software we might consider. Thank you for your time, and happy coding!

Read more: skills to become a backend developer in 6 months (roadmap) 🔥

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