No matter how much experience you have, finding shortcuts can streamline your workflow and help you be more productive. Luckily, there are tons of website development tools designed to help take the stress out of your projects so you can get more done with less effort.
You don’t have to work harder. You just need to work smarter so you can take on more projects without spreading yourself too thin. Here are a few of the top tools for web developers that you can incorporate into your daily workflow.
Using web development tools with GoDaddy Pro
Tracking down individual tools and finding ways to integrate them into your workflow on a piece-by-piece basis is time-consuming. The Hub by GoDaddy Pro makes it easy by integrating a few key web development tools right into the dashboard.
Some of the tools that are integrated into The Hub include:
- Code snippets: Execute custom code without logging in and out of each site you’re working on.
- Backups: Back up dev work and site updates on one or multiple sites at the same time.
- Uptime monitoring: Monitor multiple sites for health, problems and interruptions.
- Performance scanning: Check multiple sites for performance issues on demand.
These are just a few of the tools you’ll have access to in The Hub. You’ll be able to use additional web development tools seamlessly as needed.
Our top 7 recommended tools for web developers
Every web development project is different, and while The Hub can help you manage your clients’ sites with ease, there are a few additional tools we recommend. Here are seven of the top must-have web developer tools you can use in conjunction with those provided in The Hub:
- PHPStorm
- Visual Studio Code
- Sublime
- Vim
- Emacs
- WebPac
- Gulp
PHPStorm
PHPStorm simplifies and streamlines the coding process. You’re able to work with HTML5, JavaScript, CSS, Sass, CoffeeScript, 5, Stylus and others to manually build out features for clients’ sites while analyzing and testing the code in real time.
And you can do it with every major framework, whether you’re working with WordPress or have clients that rely on Magento, Joomla! Laravel, Drupal and more.
The biggest benefit of the tool is its ability to monitor your code for errors in real time. Anytime the program detects a problem, it notifies you and suggests an appropriate fix. That means you’ll be able to test your code and identify issues long before the page goes live.
Learn more about PHPStorm.
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code was developed by Microsoft in 2015 and has since taken the web development world by storm. It’s one of the most popular code editors in use and for good reason: It’s easy to use and extensible, meaning you’re able to create extensions that will benefit your web development style and preferences.
The system works with all of the most common programming languages, so you’ll be able to work with the language you’re most comfortable with.
It works across platforms, so you can work on Windows, Linux or Mac operating systems. Even better, Visual Studio Code is free and, as an open-source program, you can count on continuing innovations from your peers to make the program as feature-rich as you need it to be.
Learn more about Visual Studio Code.
Sublime Text
If you’re looking for a simple, pared-down program to edit text and test your code, Sublime Text is your best bet. The interface is simple and, while it may lack some of the extensions and customizations of other programs, it’s still incredibly powerful.
The program allows you to edit text quickly and can make use of the many intuitive keyboard shortcuts to make the process faster, easier and more enjoyable.
The program is free for an extended period. You’ll have ongoing support and updates for three years after downloading the program. After those three years, you’ll still be able to use Sublime Text, but you won’t gain access to new versions or patches without paying for a license.
It’s the perfect front-end development tool for those just starting out and developers that don’t want to deal with complicated layouts or extensions that don’t serve their purposes.
Learn more about Sublime Text.
Vim
Vim is another free and open-source application designed for web developers who value efficiency above all else. The interface is simple and integrates seamlessly with Linux and Mac-based systems. As an open-source program, you can count on user input and leverage a vibrant community of web developers when you need assistance, support or just want to bounce ideas off of another person, much like you can in The Hub by GoDaddy Pro.
The control interface is designed to keep your fingers on the keyboard at all times, reducing lag when moving from line to line. There is a learning curve with Vim, but once you master it, you’ll find that writing, editing and testing code will be much faster and more efficient.
Vim is a unique platform in that the designers encourage users to donate to a charity rather than purchasing a license for advanced features. You’re able to pay what you think is appropriate or continue using the program for free.
Learn more about Vim.
Emacs
Emacs is one of the best web development tools for coding experts that like to switch between text-only and graphical interfaces. You can toggle between the two displays to better fit your mood or to better accommodate different coding projects. Even better, Emacs works with every major operating system.
It’s best for experienced web developers, as there can be a learning curve. But as long as you have a firm understanding of coding best practices, you’ll be able to use the program fully.
Learn more about Emacs.
Webpack
Great web pages aren’t just text. They incorporate tons of images and interactive features, and those features can be tough to code item by item. Webpack bundles those modules together into functional workflows that do much of the heavy lifting for you.
Webpack is predominantly for developers using JavaScript, but that doesn’t mean it’s restrictive. You can still use Webpack for HTML and CSS-based projects, too.
Learn more about Webpack.
Gulp
The best way to increase productivity is to automate as many processes as you can. Gulp allows you to automate certain tasks within your JavaScript code. Most web developers choose to automate the more repetitive tasks like compilation and linting that would otherwise take up valuable time.
The program also lets you nest or combine tasks into a cohesive function to further speed things along.
Though Gulp is usable right out of the box, the community of users is vibrant, and you’ll find tons of support and valuable extensions and plugins to make the program even more useful for each project you work on.
Learn more about Gulp.
Build your web development toolkit
As the digital world evolves, so too will your job. Using these web development tools will help you streamline your workflow and improve your efficiency. Each provides a level of portability, functionality and customization to support the specific projects you work on.
When combined with the tools already in The Hub by GoDaddy Pro, you’ll see a major improvement in your web development efforts with every project you take on.
