Staying productive as a developer isn’t easy. Between Slack pings, endless tabs, and debugging sessions that eat half the day, it’s easy to feel busy without actually shipping anything.
Over the past year, I’ve tested dozens of apps, extensions, and platforms to find what really helps me focus and move faster. Some tools didn’t stick. Others became part of my daily workflow.
In this post, I’ll share 12 developer tools that actually keep me productive from automating boring tasks to organizing my ideas to making bug reports painless. Hopefully, you’ll find one or two that can help you reclaim time and mental energy too.
1. n8n – Workflow Automation Without Limits
If Zapier feels too limited or too expensive, n8n is the open-source answer. It’s a workflow automation tool that lets me connect APIs, databases, and services together with a visual editor.
Key features I like:
- Open-source and self-hostable, so I keep control.
- 350+ built-in integrations.
- Visual workflow builder instead of glue code.
- Ability to add custom nodes and JavaScript snippets.
- Flexible triggers from webhooks, cron jobs, or API calls.
Pro tip: I use n8n to automatically update project boards when I push commits no manual updates needed.
2. Spark Mail – Email That Doesn’t Feel Like a Chore
Email is usually a productivity killer. Spark Mail makes it manageable and keeps my inbox sane.
Key features I rely on:
- Smart Inbox that prioritizes important messages.
- Quick replies and reusable templates.
- Collaborative drafting for team responses.
- Snooze emails so they reappear when I’m ready.
- Powerful search across all connected accounts.
Pro tip: Pair Spark’s snooze feature with Focusmate (below) to time-shift distractions into a dedicated catch-up block.
3. Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Accountability
This one feels odd until you try it. Focusmate pairs you with another person for a live 50-minute session. You both silently work on your tasks but stay accountable.
Why it works for me:
- Fixed time blocks force me to start.
- Having an accountability partner keeps me on task.
- The sessions eliminate distractions.
- Calendar integration makes it a repeatable habit.
- A global network means there’s always someone online.
Pro tip: I use Focusmate for tasks I’d normally procrastinate, like writing tests or documentation.
4. Apidog – API Design, Testing, and Collaboration
Apidog has become my go-to for working with APIs. It’s an all-in-one tool for designing, testing, and documenting APIs without juggling Postman, Swagger, and Notion separately.
Key features I rely on:
- Unified API design + mock server + testing suite.
- Team collaboration and versioning built-in.
- Offline support when working locally.
- Generates clean, shareable API documentation.
- Works with OpenAPI standards for compatibility.
Pro tip: I use Apidog to share mock APIs with frontend teammates before the backend is even ready.
5. Mintlify – Docs That Don’t Feel Like a Burden
Writing documentation is usually the task developers avoid until the last minute. Mintlify changes that by making documentation feel as smooth as writing code.
Key features I use:
- GitHub-native integration for auto-generated API docs.
- Markdown-based, so no learning curve.
- Beautiful out-of-the-box themes.
- AI-assisted doc suggestions while coding.
- Easy search and navigation for readers.
Pro tip: I let Mintlify auto-generate starter docs, then edit only where clarity is needed. It saves hours.
6. Excalidraw – Diagrams That Don’t Get in the Way
Sometimes you need a whiteboard, but opening a heavyweight tool like Figma feels like overkill. Excalidraw hits the sweet spot.
Why I use it:
- Simple, hand-drawn style makes diagrams easy to read.
- Collaborative editing in real time.
- Open source and works directly in the browser.
- Plugins for charts, UML, and flow diagrams.
- Export options to PNG, SVG, or embed.
Pro tip: I sketch system architecture in Excalidraw during meetings and drop the link in Slack. No fancy design work, just clarity.
7. Obsidian – My Second Brain
Obsidian has become my long-term memory. It’s a knowledge management app built around plain-text Markdown files.
Key features I depend on:
- Local-first storage with optional sync.
- Bi-directional linking for connected notes.
- Plugins for task management, daily notes, and diagrams.
- Hotkeys and command palette for fast navigation.
- Works offline with Git backup.
Pro tip: I keep a “Dev Journal” in Obsidian to log what I solved each day. Future me is always grateful.
8. Pieces – Save and Reuse Code Snippets
Instead of digging through old repos or Stack Overflow bookmarks, Pieces helps me save code snippets with context.
Key features I like:
- Auto-detects and saves snippets from IDEs.
- Tags, search, and metadata for quick retrieval.
- AI-powered snippet recommendations.
- Works across devices with sync.
- Integrates with VS Code and JetBrains.
Pro tip: I tag snippets by language + framework (e.g., python-fastapi) for faster retrieval.
9. Linear – Issue Tracking Without the Drag
Linear is the issue tracker that doesn’t make me hate issue tracking. It’s clean, fast, and built for modern dev teams.
Key features that stand out:
- Keyboard-first workflow.
- Powerful filters and views.
- GitHub + Slack integrations.
- Roadmaps and milestones for planning.
- Blazing fast UI with offline support.
Pro tip: I batch triage tickets in Linear once a day instead of letting them pile up.
10. DevToys – Swiss Army Knife for Developers
Think of DevToys as the developer equivalent of a multi-tool. It’s a desktop app with dozens of handy utilities.
Tools I use most:
- JSON formatter and validator.
- Regex tester.
- JWT decoder.
- Base64 encoder/decoder.
- Text diff checker.
Pro tip: Instead of searching for “online JSON formatter,” I just open DevToys offline it’s faster and safer.
11. Jam – Bug Reports Without the Pain
Jam makes bug reporting less painful for both developers and testers.
Key features I rely on:
- Instant screen recordings with logs attached.
- Automatic environment capture (browser, OS, console logs).
- One-click sharing with GitHub, Linear, or Jira.
- No more “can you reproduce this?” back-and-forth.
- Works as a Chrome extension.
Pro tip: Jam bug reports often save me an hour of debugging because the logs are already attached.
12. Taipy – Data Apps Without the Boilerplate
For data-heavy side projects, Taipy helps me turn Python scripts into interactive dashboards or apps quickly.
Key features I like:
- Simple Python API for UI and workflows.
- Built-in data visualization.
- Handles scheduling and pipelines.
- Scales from prototype to production.
- Works well for ML experiment tracking.
Pro tip: I use Taipy to demo models for stakeholders without needing a full frontend stack.
Final Thoughts
These 12 tools don’t magically make distractions disappear, but they’ve helped me cut friction in my workflow. A few patterns stand out:
- Automate the boring stuff (n8n, Apidog, Mintlify).
- Keep knowledge organized (Obsidian, Pieces).
- Communicate clearly (Excalidraw, Jam, Linear).
- Stay focused (Focusmate, Spark Mail).
- Experiment faster (DevToys, Taipy).
Productivity isn’t about cramming more into your day it’s about reducing the effort it takes to get meaningful work done. If even one of these tools saves you 30 minutes a week, it compounds into serious gains over time.
So pick one, try it out, and see if it sticks.
Top comments (11)
Nice tips! Thx OP!
Glad you found it helpful.
Thank you Emmanuel for the list! Always want to find new tools to enhance my dev workflow!
These days so many tools to help our workflow.
You are welcome Helena. Lets keep building.
Very insightful stuff!
Excellent post!
All right, nice list! Any of them are Open Source and budget friendly to students like me?
Want to know that as well!
The excalidraw feels nice, I've actually bookmarked it. Thanks!
Super helpful stuff, I love seeing tools people actually use (not just hype).
out of those 12, which one do you think has saved you the most time so far?