Our resident webbies choose 6 handy tools to use when you’re coding up a storm.
Just like a builder uses a hammer, or a chef uses one of those fancy vacuum-seal things (we saw it on Masterchef once, okay?) Web Developers have loads of tools that they use day-to-day. One of the best and worst things about being a web developer is that you’re always looking for new ways to improve your code and keep an eye on the latest industry trends – so on top of all that (as well as continuously learning new coding languages – shout out to our fellow webbies!) it’s good to have a bank of useful tools in your digi back pocket that make your life that bit easier. So if you’re all about that database or just fancy a nosey in the life of a web developer (you’d be right to, they’re like superheroes) our digi-duo, Lewis & Fraser take time away from the land of code to give six of their favourite web development tools.
Coda
What it is: A web editor.
What it does (and why we like it)
Coda is a text editor with all the nice stuff that Web Developers like, such as syntax highlighting, code hinting etc, but it’s also got a bunch of other stuff built in. It has a built in terminal that can store SSH details for every project you work on, so you just have to click one button and it’ll SSH into the server, and move you to the right folder to start working. It has an FTP/SFTP client, which makes moving files between servers a breeze. It has built in support for Git, to make version control easy. It has a built in MySQL editor for managing databases and it’s got built in documentation for a bunch of languages (phew!) It’s our one-stop-shop for everything needed to build a website. It also looks really nice, which is always good.
Sketch
What it is: A vector drawing and digital design tool.
What it does (and why we like it)
Sketch is an incredibly easy to use drawing app that’s a lot smaller and leaner than it’s closest equivalent, Adobe Illustrator. It’s really powerful, with support for stuff like multiple pages and art boards. And because everything made in Sketch is vector based, it can be scaled infinitely without messing with quality, which is great for this day-and-age, where everything has retina displays.
Git
What it is: A version control system.
What it does (and why we like it)
Git is a simple, easy to use version control system. You create a “repository” to which you can add files and folders. Any changes made to the files are “committed” to the repository, and they can be rolled-back to at any time. All the changes are marked against your name, which is useful when multiple people are working on a single project — if I change something and break it, I can’t blame Fraser, for example, as the change has my name next to it. It also has a feature called “branches”, which means that, when you’re working on a new feature for a website, you can make those changes without having to worry about it accidentally being pushed to the live server.
Sequel Pro
What it is: MYSQL database management app
What it does (and why we like it)
Sequel Pro is a simple and fast database management app used to manage MySQL databases, so we’ll typically use it to connect and manage remote and local databases without hassle. You can create ‘favourite connections’ which allows you to save multiple database connections and quickly connect to them without having to remember connection details. The bulletin text editor is also a great feature – allowing you to run SQL commands directly within the app. We use this one all the time.
1Password
What it is: A password manager
What it does (and why we like it)
Passwords are hard. If you care about security, you want to have long passwords, and you want to have different passwords for all your accounts. 1Password helps you do that, without having having to memorise hundreds of stupidly long passwords. 1Password will store all your passwords in a, highly secure vault that’s encrypted using your one password (hence the clever name!).
When you want to log into a website, you just click the 1Password button (they have an extension for most major browsers), and it’ll automatically fill your username and password for you. And if you’re signing up for a new website, it can suggest secure passwords for you. It can also store other sensitive data, such as server information, and software licences. It has a built-in Security Audit, with a feature called “Watchtower”, which alerts you if there’s anything fishy going on with your websites, warn you of weak or duplicate passwords, and of passwords that are just plain old.
Sublime Text Editor
What it is: A text editor for developers
What it does (and why we like it)
Sublime is a lightweight code/text editor mainly built for developers; it offers basic features like auto code completion (based on which programming language you’re using), syntax highlighting and it’s super fast. One of the main advantages that Sublime offers is the ‘Package Control’ feature. This allows for the addition of extra functionality which can range from adding a built in FTP/SFTP client, to integrating Git into the text editor to allow for easier version control. The great thing about the ‘package control’ area is that it’s community-lead, which means the majority of these packages are free to install and use.
What are your favourite web dev tools? Join the conversation over on Twitter.
