Web development tools have made significant progress in just a few years. Thanks to this progress, we can harness the power of exceptional libraries to improve our workflows and benefit from better options in responsive web design.
From browser plugins to processors that simplify your code, there have never been so many ways to create great web applications.
However, with the number of modern web development tools growing practically every day, finding the best software tool to get the job done can sometimes be overwhelming.
If you’re a beginner and aspiring web developer, you’re lucky because you know where to start. But don’t worry! We’ve created a list of the top eight web application development tools to help you get started.
So, let’s get started!
8 Web development tools you’ll need in 2021
HubSpot CMS
- HubSpot CMS is a groundbreaking, versatile platform for creating beautiful websites, landing pages, blogs, lightweight applications, etc.
- It allows you to easily create and manage websites customized for different visitors and optimized for all devices.
- You can use HubSpot’s pre-built website themes that also support custom development. Create a unified website without fretting over mismatched designs, logos, or navigation.
- With the CMS, you can update and create websites without enlisting a developer’s help. With HubSpot, it’s never been easier to update changes on the fly.
- Plus, you can optimize your website effortlessly. You can select up to five-page variations, and HubSpot will observe and present the best-performing one.
- Developers can build websites using their favorite tools, technologies, and workflows.
Visual Studio Code
- VS Code is a lightweight yet powerful source code editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- It supports JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.js.
- It also has an extensive network of extensions for programming languages such as C++, C#, Java, Python, PHP, and. NET.
- Microsoft developed it and offers support for debugging, embedded Git control and Github, code completion, and several plugins to improve usability and workflow.
What’s admirable about VS Code is the frequency with which it releases new features. That shows how much thought, effort, and interest Microsoft puts into the editor, and we, end-users, enjoy the benefits.
The editor offers an unparalleled developer experience and has a thriving ecosystem with thousands of themes, plugins, extensions, and third-party tools to help you customize your experience.
Sublime Text
- Sublime Text is one of the most popular code editors that is a valuable tool for web design.
- It is cross-platform and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- Sublime Text is available both as a free version, based on a trial, and as a licensed version.
- This code editor is written in C++ and Python.
- It is developed and maintained by Sublime HQ.
- It is one of the best Python development tools preferred by Python developers worldwide.
- It supports multiple programming and markup languages.
- The command palette feature allows matching keyboard invocation of any commands.
- Simultaneous editing allows making the same interactive changes to multiple areas.
- Provides a Python-based plugin API
- Allows developers to make project-specific settings
- Compatible with many of TextMate’s language grammar
Chrome DevTools
- Chrome DevTools are built into Chrome and can be easily accessed via “Inspect.”
- These tools are perfect for testing designs, diagnosing issues, and editing pages on the go.
- DevTool is a great free tool every web developer should know about and use.
- It is one of the best web developer tools Google has to offer.
- It helps you create better and more reliable websites faster.
- With these tools, a developer can check the currently loaded HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.
- These tools also provide a report on the resources the page has requested and how much time it takes to load.
- DevTools recently added the Emulate vision deficiencies feature, which allows you to get an idea of how people with different vision deficiencies experience your website.
Note: DevTools is not limited to Google Chrome only. DevTools is one of the best web development tools Firefox has.
CodeCharge Studio
- It is a rapid application development tool.
- This IDE is ideal for developing database-driven web applications.
- It is one of the most powerful code generators for web developers.
- It provides a platform for designers and programmers to work together on a web application by separating the presentation and coding layers.
- With CodeCharge, you can turn any database model into a web application in no time.
- It outputs data in detailed and grouped formats, with automatically calculated fields.
- Master templates for pages and panels.
- Integrated full-page design templates.
- That is an ideal option for handling database operations, visual query builder, and security management to protect website data.
TestRail
- TestRail is a web-based test management solution suitable for testers, developers, and other stakeholders.
- It helps you manage, track, and organize the software testing process.
- It follows the concept of centralized test management, which enables smooth communication and rapid task development within the QA team and other stakeholders.
- It manages test cases and test runs and executes plans.
- It starts the test runs and stores the results.
- It also sends the defect reports to Jira and links the Jira issue IDs.
- It also tracks the test results, activities, and progress.
- It comes with a set of powerful integrations and testing tools.
- It has a simple and clean user interface that provides teams with a faster and more intuitive web experience.
- It has a built-in debugger and supports bug tracking programs such as Bug-tracker or FogBugz to report bugs or issues related to the features and usability of each test case.
- It also automatically executes test cases of any complexity.
- It also supports the easy management of large-scale test cases.
Embold
- It is a general static code analyzer that helps developers analyze and improve their code.
- It allows searching for problems in all dimensions, along with design and duplication.
- The Embold platform can instantly prioritize problems, suggest solutions, and redesign the software as needed.
- It accurately analyzes, diagnoses, transforms and maintains the software.
- In addition, it provides refactoring and debugging support before deployment.
- It also finds critical code issues before they become obstacles.
- It integrates seamlessly with GitHub, Bitbucket, and Azure.
- In addition, it provides the feature of automatic pull request verification.
- It also uncovers hard-to-detect anti-patterns.
- It makes code easy to maintain and less error-prone.
- You can deploy it within your current dev-ops stack, on-premises, or in the cloud privately or publicly.
Linx
- Linx is one of the modern software development tools that help users build, integrate and automate their business applications.
- Linx is popular among many IT staff to automate routine tasks and manage heavy workloads.
- With its drag-and-drop feature, it is pretty easy to use.
- It offers instant setup with easy one-step installation.
- It creates backend processes and web services and hosts them.
- It also supports live debugging.
- It offers thousands of drag-and-drop programming features for rapid application development.
- It automates backend processes in various ways, such as via directory events, timers, and message queues, or it exposes web services and calls APIs via HTTP requests.
Required skills for web development
Applicants with web development skills will stand out from the crowd. As with any newly acquired skill set, you will need to acquire a solid foundation of knowledge. HTML skills, design skills, and analytical knowledge are essential skills for front-end web developers.
Here are what essential skills you need to learn to become a web developer and what you require to know to become an effective web developer if you already have them.
HTML/CSS
To work as a web developer, you should be familiar with HTML and CSS. The standard markup language for creating web pages is HyperText Markup Language (HTML). On the other hand, CSS is used to design the layout, colors, fonts, and style of the page. Both languages are required for front-end developer work.
HTML forms the basis for creating web pages. This technology can create personalized websites with unique (and advanced) features and functionality. For the uninitiated, HTML5 is the latest version, and you should start learning it right away.
On the other hand, CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) is a must-have in web development, as mentioned earlier. We use it to give our website a unique look, including the layout and design. We also use it to ensure our website looks good on various devices and screen dimensions.
JavaScript
Along with HTML and CSS, JavaScript is also mentioned when discussing the World Wide Web. JavaScript is on the top list of required skills and qualifications for web developers. JavaScript is a programming language that enables you to include complicated features in a website. Knowing JavaScript will help you meet higher customer demands when it comes to website design. With these skills, you can create highly interactive websites that focus on user experience.
JavaScript is a text-based programming language that permits you to create interactive websites on both the client and server-side. While HTML and CSS provide the structure and layout of web pages, JavaScript adds interactive components that engage users.
Developers can also use JS to develop dynamic web pages with unique features (manipulable elements, algorithmic thinking, etc.) that help to develop an engaging network on a digital platform. If you intend to be a web developer, you can’t afford to leave out JavaScript.
Git
A web developer can utilize a version control system to track, regulate, and revise code changes. Git is an instance of a code versioning technology that lets you quickly identify and fix bugs. It allows you to track the changes you’ve made to the code so you can go back and review it before making any more changes. It is an indispensable talent for a full-stack web developer working under time pressure.
Backend Technology
The “behind the scenes” functions of web applications are managed by backend development languages. The code connects the web to a database, tracks user connections, and executes the web application. Backend development works with front-end development to deliver the final product to the end-user.
Backend developers are generally involved with the operation of a website. They write code that focuses on the functionality and logic that drives the product they are working on, and the technology they use is never visible to the consumer.
The backend is a mix of servers, applications, and databases.
Writing APIs, writing code to communicate with a database, creating libraries, working on business processes and data architecture, and more are all possible tasks for backend programmers. That often depends on the role and the business.
Object-oriented programming (OOP) and functional programming are two types of backend programming. Java, .NET, and Python are popular OOP languages. SQL, F#, and R are some of the most commonly used functional programming languages.
JS libraries and frameworks
As you learn to program, you’ll find that parts of your code can be used in various applications. In JavaScript, for example, there are several regularly used functions.
So why do they need to be written from scratch every time? It is where libraries come in. JavaScript libraries contain ready-made functions that an application can use to accomplish a task and make programming easier. We can use libraries in CSS that already contain classes that are used regularly.
It is the same with frameworks. The JavaScript framework is a JavaScript application that allows programmers to manipulate functions and use them as needed. Why develop something from scratch when you can use something and customize it to your project? Frameworks simplify your work and provide you with a standardized approach to programming. These frameworks also allow the programmer to create an application that is responsive to the device. Some frameworks include Vue.js, React, and Angular.js.
Testing and debugging
Debugging is about finding bugs, errors, or other irregularities in your code and then fixing or changing them. A software developer spends about 33% of their time debugging.
You may need to check your website for bugs regularly. When problems are discovered, you need to be able to fix them. Regular testing ensures that the code is working correctly. Therefore, to become a successful web developer, you need to be able to test and debug your code frequently.
It is a time-consuming and complicated process, but unfortunately, it is a necessary evil. Debugging becomes more and more fun over time because it’s like solving a puzzle, and with minor adjustments, you can make everything work.
The web development picture is constantly evolving. Today’s developers have a wide range of applications in their toolboxes. Therefore, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the latest technologies and stay up-to-date to remain competent in this field.
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