We all have that "Tools" bookmark folder we never look at.
Last weekend, I did a deep clean. I audited my workflow to find the utilities that actually saved me hours, not just seconds. I ruthlessly cut the bloat and kept the gems.
If you want to speed up your dev loop in 2025, here is the stack I'm betting on. 👇
- Bruno (The Postman Killer) 🐶 Category: API Client Repo: usebruno/bruno
If you are tired of Postman asking you to log in or sync to the cloud just to test a GET request, you need Bruno.
The Killer Feature: It stores your API collections directly in your filesystem (folder structure). This means you can git version control your API tests alongside your code. No more "It works on my machine" sync issues.
Cost: Open Source.
- Lazygit 💤 Category: Terminal UI Repo: jesseduffield/lazygit
I know, I know. "Real devs use raw git commands." But when you need to stage specific lines, squash 4 commits, and resolve a merge conflict in 30 seconds, lazygit is a superpower.
It turns your terminal into a visual dashboard. I haven't typed git add . in six months.
- Biome ⚡ Category: Formatter & Linter Repo: biomejs/biome
I replaced Prettier and ESLint with this. It is written in Rust and it is blazingly fast.
Why switch? In large monorepos, saving a file used to take 2-3 seconds to format. Biome does it in milliseconds. It handles formatting and linting in a single pass. The speed difference is actually noticeable.
- PocketBase 🗄️ Category: Backend-as-a-Service Repo: pocketbase/pocketbase
For your side projects, stop over-engineering Kubernetes clusters. PocketBase is an open-source backend in a single Go file.
It gives you: Realtime database, Auth, File Storage, and an Admin Dashboard. You can drop the binary on a $5 VPS and serve 10k users easily. It is the spiritual successor to Firebase, but you actually own the data.
- Zod 💎 Category: TypeScript Validation Repo: colinhacks/zod
If you are trusting your API responses blindly, you are going to have a bad time. Zod allows you to define a schema and validate data at runtime.
The "Aha" Moment: It infers the static TypeScript type from the schema. You write the validation once, and you get the types for free. It essentially eliminates "undefined is not a function" errors.
Stop taking screenshots of your VS Code with the messy file tree visible.
Ray.so creates those beautiful, syntax-highlighted code snippets you see on Twitter/X. If you are writing documentation or sharing a bug fix with a junior dev, presentation matters. It makes your code look readable and professional.
- Excalidraw 🎨 Category: Whiteboarding Repo: excalidraw/excalidraw
The best way to document a system isn't a 50-page Google Doc; it's a messy hand-drawn diagram. Excalidraw brings back the "napkin sketch" feel but makes it collaborative.
Pro Tip: Use the "Libraries" feature to drag and drop AWS/Azure icons instantly.
The "So What?"
We often get obsessed with learning new frameworks (Next.js vs. Remix vs. Vue), but I've found that the biggest quality-of-life improvements come from optimizing the "boring" stuff—how we commit code, how we test APIs, and how we format files.
Which "hidden gem" tool are you gatekeeping? Drop it in the comments so I can steal it. 👇
Top comments (0)