5 Browser-Based Tools I Use Almost Every Day as a Developer

Sahil Bedi — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:23:18 +0000

As developers, we spend a lot of time solving complex problems.

But surprisingly, many small frustrations come from repetitive tasks:

Reading unformatted JSON
Debugging JWT tokens
Testing regular expressions
Reviewing long SQL queries
Sharing links and credentials

Over time, I've found that browser-based utilities are often faster than installing dedicated software for these tasks.

Here are five tools I frequently use.

1. JSON Formatter & Validator

Working with APIs often means dealing with large JSON responses.

Trying to understand a single-line JSON payload is painful.

A formatter makes it much easier to:

Beautify JSON
Validate syntax
Navigate nested structures
Spot missing fields

Tool:

https://toolnudge.com/json-formatter-validator

2. JWT Decoder & Validator

Authentication issues are difficult enough without having to manually inspect JWT tokens.

A decoder helps quickly:

Inspect claims
Verify expiration times
Understand token payloads
Debug authentication problems

Tool:

https://toolnudge.com/jwt-decoder-validator

3. Regex Tester & Validator

Regular expressions are powerful, but getting them right usually takes several iterations.

Instead of repeatedly changing code and running the application, a regex tester provides immediate feedback.

Useful for:

Email validation
Pattern matching
Text extraction
Log analysis

Tool:

https://toolnudge.com/regex-tester-validator

4. SQL Formatter & Beautifier

Readable SQL saves time.

Complex queries become much easier to review when they're properly formatted.

Benefits include:

Improved readability
Easier debugging
Better collaboration
Reduced mistakes

Tool:

https://toolnudge.com/sql-formatter-beautifier

5. QR Code Generator

This may not sound like a developer tool, but I find it surprisingly useful.

Common use cases include:

Sharing URLs
WiFi credentials
Contact information
Event registrations

Tool:

https://toolnudge.com/developer-tools/qr-code-generator

Other Utilities I Frequently Use

Besides these, I regularly use:

Markdown Editor & Preview
Base64 Encoder & Decoder
Unix Timestamp Converter
Cron Expression Generator
API Key Generator
Hash Generator
XML Formatter & Validator
YAML Formatter & Validator

Why I Prefer Browser-Based Tools

Most utility tasks don't require installations, accounts, or server-side processing.

I prefer tools that are:

Fast
Privacy-focused
Accessible from anywhere
Available when I need them

Small tools don't solve complex engineering problems.

But they remove friction from everyday workflows.

And sometimes that's enough to save a surprising amount of time.

What browser-based utility do you find yourself using most often?

Why I Built ToolNudge: A Privacy-First Collection of Browser-Based Utilities

Sahil Bedi — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 07:22:05 +0000

Over the years, I've found myself repeatedly searching for small utility tools.

JSON formatters.

JWT decoders.

Regex testers.

QR code generators.

Text cleaners.

Most of these tools solve simple problems, but they often come with a few frustrations:

Excessive advertisements
Slow loading times
Account requirements
Unclear privacy practices
Unnecessary server-side processing

For many utility tools, there is no reason user data should leave the browser at all.

That observation eventually led me to start building ToolNudge.

The Idea

ToolNudge is a collection of browser-based utilities designed around a few simple principles:

Fast
Privacy-first
Free to use
No unnecessary data collection
Mobile-friendly
SEO-friendly

Whenever possible, tools run entirely in the browser.

This means users can format JSON, decode JWTs, clean text, generate QR codes, and perform many other tasks without sending their data to external servers.

What I've Built So Far

Some of the current utilities include:

JSON Formatter & Validator
JWT Decoder & Validator
Regex Tester
SQL Formatter
Text Cleaner
QR Code Generator
Meta Tag Generator
Sitemap Generator

And many more.

Lessons Learned

One of the biggest lessons has been that small tools solve real problems.

Developers, creators, marketers, and business users often spend more time on repetitive tasks than on complex work.

Removing friction from those workflows can have a surprisingly large impact.

What's Next

I'm continuing to expand ToolNudge with additional developer tools, text utilities, SEO tools, and creator-focused utilities.

The goal is simple:

Create useful tools that are fast, accessible, and respectful of user privacy.

I'd love to hear:

What utility tools do you find yourself using most often?

DEV Community: Sahil Bedi

5 Browser-Based Tools I Use Almost Every Day as a Developer

1. JSON Formatter & Validator

2. JWT Decoder & Validator

3. Regex Tester & Validator

4. SQL Formatter & Beautifier

5. QR Code Generator

Other Utilities I Frequently Use

Why I Prefer Browser-Based Tools

Why I Built ToolNudge: A Privacy-First Collection of Browser-Based Utilities

The Idea

What I've Built So Far

Lessons Learned

What's Next