Writing code is only one part of development. There are also agent sessions to manage, tools to connect, workflows to keep running and unfamiliar software to understand.
I’ve put together developer tools that address different parts of that work. Some help you work with coding agents. Others let you create videos with HTML, build visual AI workflows or make backend processes more reliable.
This is a collection to explore based on the problems you’re working on. You won’t need every tool here, but a few could be useful additions to your setup.
Here are the developer tools worth exploring
- opencode (Work with an open-source AI coding agent)
- HyperFrames (Create videos with HTML)
- Orca (Run coding agents in separate workspaces)
- Temporal (Build workflows that recover from failures)
- CLI-Anything (Give AI agents command-line access to software)
- Context Mode (Manage context and permissions for coding agents)
- REA (Investigate how software works with a coding agent)
1. opencode
opencode is an open-source AI coding agent available through a terminal interface, desktop application and IDE extension. It helps you work on code while giving you a choice of model providers.
You can connect supported AI subscriptions, use included free models or configure other providers, including local models. That flexibility makes it worth exploring if you want more control over the model behind your coding workflow.
Key Features:
- Terminal, desktop and IDE interfaces
- Support for multiple model providers and local models
- Automatic language server loading for the agent
- Multiple agent sessions on the same project
- Shareable session links for reference and debugging
- Supported GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT subscription connections
Key Advantages:
- Lets you choose models based on the task
- Works across several development interfaces
- Supports parallel coding sessions
- Can make use of subscriptions you already have
Best For:
Developers who want an open-source coding agent with flexible model choices and several ways to access it.
Pricing:
Open-source software with free models available. Paid models and connected services have their own usage charges or subscription requirements.
2. HyperFrames
HyperFrames lets you define videos using HTML and render them into video files. If you already work with web technologies, it gives you a familiar way to create animated compositions.
The toolchain includes a CLI for starting projects, previewing compositions and rendering output. It also provides skills for AI agents, so you can use an agent to help author the video code.
Key Features:
- HTML-based video compositions
- Frame-by-frame rendering through headless Chrome
- FFmpeg-based video encoding
- CLI commands for project creation, previewing and rendering
- Linting and snapshot tools for checking compositions
- Agent skills for composition authoring
Key Advantages:
- Uses web development skills for video creation
- Makes compositions editable as project files
- Supports repeatable video generation from code
- Fits into terminal and AI agent workflows
Best For:
Developers creating motion graphics, product videos or automated video workflows using HTML and coding agents.
Pricing:
Open-source framework under the Apache 2.0 licence. Local rendering uses your own computing resources; external AI services may cost extra.
3. Orca
Orca is a development environment built around working with coding agents. It combines agent sessions, terminals, files, browser previews and code review in one application.
Each task can run in its own Git worktree, giving parallel agents separate working directories. You can review their changes, leave comments on diffs and send that feedback back to the agent.
Key Features:
- Separate Git worktrees for parallel tasks
- Support for Claude Code, Codex, opencode and other CLI agents
- Integrated terminals and file editing
- Embedded browser with UI context sharing
- GitHub and Linear integration
- Inline diff comments for agent feedback
Key Advantages:
- Reduces manual workspace setup for parallel tasks
- Keeps agent work and code review close together
- Makes it easier to inspect UI changes alongside code
- Works with your existing agent subscriptions
Best For:
Developers running several coding agents who want workspace management and review tools in one application.
Pricing:
Free and open source for macOS, Windows and Linux. Connected agents and model services may require separate subscriptions or usage payments.
4. Temporal
Temporal is a durable execution platform for application workflows. It helps developers build processes that can recover after crashes, network problems or service failures.
You write workflow logic using its SDKs. Temporal records execution history so a workflow can recover its progress, reducing the amount of recovery coordination you have to build yourself.
Key Features:
- Durable workflow execution
- Recovery of workflow progress after failures
- Native SDKs for writing application logic
- Workflow history and visibility
- Managed execution infrastructure through Temporal Cloud
Key Advantages:
- Helps protect long-running processes from lost progress
- Reduces custom workflow recovery logic
- Makes multi-step backend processes easier to track
- Provides a managed cloud option
Best For:
Backend developers building multi-step application processes that need reliable execution and recovery.
Pricing:
Temporal Cloud offers $150 in introductory credits valid for 90 days. Pay-as-you-go action pricing starts at $50 per million actions, with storage and support charges in addition. There is no base monthly fee.
5. CLI-Anything
CLI-Anything helps make software accessible to AI agents through command-line interfaces. The linked CLI-Anything Hub provides a registry where you can discover and install these interfaces.
For developers building agent workflows, this offers another way to connect agents to software and APIs. The hub includes commands for searching, inspecting, installing and updating available CLIs.
Key Features:
- Agent-friendly CLI generation for software and APIs
- A searchable registry of available CLIs
- Command-line installation and update management
- An agent skill for discovering and installing tools
- Support for Claude Code, Codex and other compatible agents
Key Advantages:
- Helps agents operate software through explicit commands
- Provides a central place to discover existing interfaces
- Supports both direct terminal use and agent-driven workflows
- Can reduce the need to build every software connection yourself
Best For:
Developers building AI automations or extending agents with command-line access to additional applications.
Pricing:
Open-source project under the Apache 2.0 licence. Connected applications, APIs and model providers may charge separately.
6. Context Mode
Context Mode sits between coding agents and their model providers. It manages the information sent to the model, keeps session history accessible and applies rules to tool calls.
For example, it can fold a large test result into the relevant failure details while archiving the full output. Its memory and session features also aim to preserve useful project context across longer periods of work.
Key Features:
- Tool-output folding with full-output archiving
- Searchable session history
- Shared memory and session resumption
- Task-relevant skill loading
- Configurable rules for commands, file reads and network access
- Request-level token and cost visibility
Key Advantages:
- Reduces unnecessary tool output in model requests
- Keeps older work available for later retrieval
- Centralises coding-agent permissions
- Helps developers inspect agent usage and costs
Best For:
Developers using coding agents regularly who want more control over context, session continuity and tool permissions.
Pricing:
Free tier includes 1,000 one-time requests. Starter costs $20/month for 10,000 monthly requests; Pro costs $49/month for 50,000. Model-provider charges are separate.
7. REA
REA gives coding agents tools for investigating how software works. You can ask about a feature in an app, game or website, then have the agent inspect code and runtime evidence to explain its behaviour.
Its examples include tracing a calculator’s percentage logic and following how an Electron application copies rich content. The emphasis is on examining the implementation behind a feature.
Key Features:
- Coding-agent integration through a setup command
- Native binary inspection
- Function, string and call-reference analysis
- JavaScript and Electron application investigation
- Browser and process activity observation
- Guides and worked investigation examples
Key Advantages:
- Grounds explanations in inspected software
- Helps trace unfamiliar feature behaviour
- Supports learning from existing implementations
- Provides evidence for reconstructing and testing functionality
Best For:
Developers investigating application behaviour, learning reverse engineering or analysing unfamiliar software with coding agents.
Pricing:
Free and open source. Your coding agent and optional third-party analysis tools may have separate costs.
If you’ve used any of these, I’d like to hear where they helped and what took time to get working. Feel free to share another developer tool worth exploring in the comments.
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