The best and worst
issue regarding being an Web
developer is that the Web is
consistently ever-changing. Whereas this is often exciting it conjointly means Web
developers should always be proactive regarding learning new techniques or
programming languages, adapting to changes, and be willing and desperate to
settle for new challenges. This might embrace tasks like adapting existing
frameworks to fulfill business necessities, testing an Web site to spot
technical issues, or optimizing and scaling a website to raise perform with the
back-end infrastructure. we tend to thought we might compile a comprehensive
list of new development tools and resources that may assist you to be a lot of
productive, keep enlightened, and become a far better developer.
Web Development Tools and Resources for 2018
A lot of these web development tools below square measure ones we tend to use at Key CDN on a day
after day. we tend to can’t embrace everything, however here square measure a
handful of our favorites and alternative wide used ones. Hopefully, you
discover a brand new tool or resource which will aid you in your development advancement. Note the tools and resources below square measure listed
in no specific order.
JavaScript Libraries
JavaScript is one in
all the foremost well-liked programming languages on the net. A JavaScript
library may be a library of pre-written JavaScript that permits easier access
throughout the event of your website or application. For instance, you'll be
able to embrace a replica of Google’s hosted jQuery library by exploitation the
subsequent snipping.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->jQuery: A fast, small, and feature-rich
JavaScript library.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->jQuery UI: A curate set of user interface
interactions, effects, widgets, and themes.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->jQuery Mobile: HTML5-based
user interface system designed to make responsive websites
Front-end Frameworks
Front-end frameworks
typically include a package that's created of alternative files and folders,
like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc. There are several complete frameworks out
there. we tend to square measure a giant fan of Bootstrap and therefore the
main KeyCDN website is constructed on that. A solid framework will be an
important tool for front-end developers.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Bootstrap: HTML,
CSS, and JS framework for developing responsive, mobile first projects on the web.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Foundation: Family of responsive front-end
frameworks that make it easy to design beautiful responsive websites, apps and
emails that look amazing on any device.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->uikit: A lightweight and modular front-end framework for developing fast and powerful web interfaces.
Web Application Frameworks
A new application
framework may be a code framework designed to assist and alleviate a number of
a headache concerned within the development of web applications and services.
Ruby: Ruby on Rails is
a web-application framework that includes everything needed to create
database-backed web applications, with the MVC pattern.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Phalcon: A full-stack PHP framework delivered as a C-extension.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Symfony: A set of reusable PHP components and a
web application framework.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Flask: A micro framework for Python based on
Werkzeug and Jinja 2.
Task Runners / Package Managers
Tasks runners’ square
measure all regarding automating your advancement. for instance, you'll be able
to produce a task and automatism the magnification of JavaScript. Then build
and mix tasks to hurry up development time. Package managers keep track of all
the packages you employ and check that they're up thus far and therefore the
specific version that you simply want.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->npm: Pack manager for JavaScript.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Bower: A web package manager. Manage components
that contain HTML,
CSS, JavaScript, fonts or even image files.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Webpack: A module bundler for modern JavaScript
applications.
Languages / Platforms
Behind all the Web development tools may be a language. A programming
language may be a formal made language designed to speak with a pc and build
programs within which you'll be able to manage the behavior. And affirmative we
tend to understand a number of these won't continually be stated as a language.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->JavaScript: Programming language of HTML
to Bootstrap and the
web.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->HTML5: Markup language, the latest version of HTML and
XHTML.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->PHP: Popular general-purpose scripting language
that is especially suited to web development.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->CSS3: Latest version of cascading style sheets
used in front-end development of sites and applications.
Databases
A information may be
an assortment of knowledge that's kept in order that it will be retrieved,
managed and updated.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->PostgreSQL: A powerful, open source
object-relational database system.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->MongoDB: Next-generation database that lets you
create applications never before possible.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->MySQL: One of the world’s most popular open
source databases.
CSS Preprocessors
A CSS preprocessor is
largely a scripting language that extends CSS so compiles it into regular CSS.
Check that to conjointly look into our in-depth post on Sass vs. Less.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Sass: A very mature, stable, and powerful
professional grade CSS extension.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Less: As an extension to CSS that is also
backwards compatible with CSS. This makes learning Less a breeze, and if in
doubt, lets you fall back to vanilla CSS.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Stylus: A new language, providing an efficient,
dynamic, and expressive way to generate CSS. Supporting both an indented syntax
and regular CSS style.
Web Development Communities
Every Web developer has been there. They need a haul and what do they do? Well, they are
going to Google to search out a fast answer. The Web offers most content right
at our fingertips that it makes it straightforward to diagnose and troubleshoot
issues once they arise. look into many smart Web development communities below.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Visual Studio Code: Code editing redefined and
optimized for building and debugging modern web and cloud applications.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Text Mate: A code and markup editor for OS X.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Coda 2: A fast, clean, and powerful text editor
for OS X.
Markdown Editors
Markdown may be a
nomenclature in plain text exploitation a simple syntax that may then be reborn
to HTML on
the fly. Note: this is often completely different than an application editor.
Markdown editor’s square measure generally stated because of the mediate
application and easily writing code.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Stack Edit: A free online rich markdown editor.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Dillinger: An online cloud-enabled, HTML5,
buzzword-filled Markdown editor.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->Texts: A rich editor for plain text. Windows
and Mac OS X.
Icons
Almost every Web developer, particularly front-end developers can at some
purpose or alternative want icons for his or her project. Below square measure,
some nice resources for each free and paid high-quality icons.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Icons8: An extensive list of highly
customizable icons created by a single design team.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Icon Finder: Icon finder provides beautiful
icons to millions of designers
and development .
Git purchasers / Services
Git may be an ASCII
text file management system for code and Web
development legendary
for distributed revision management. Once operating with groups, employing a
dirty dog consumer to push code changes from dev to production may be thanks to
maintaining the chaos and guarantee things square measure tested so that they
don’t break your live Web application or website.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->GitHub Client: A seamless way to contribute to
projects on GitHub and GitHub Enterprise.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Gogs: A painless self-hosted Git service based
on the Go language.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->GitLab: Host your private and public software
projects for free.
Local Dev Environments
Depending upon what OS
you're running or the pc you presently have access to, it would be necessary to
launch fast native dev surroundings. There square measure tons of free
utilities that bundle Apache, MySQL, PHPMyAdmin, etc. all at once. This may be
a fast thanks to checking one thing on your native machine. tons of them even
have transportable versions.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->XAMPP: Completely free, easy to install Apache
distribution containing Maria DB, PHP, and Perl.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->MAMP: Local server environment in a matter of
seconds on OS X or Windows.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Wamp Server: Windows web development environment. It allows you to create web applications with Apache2, PHP
and a MySQL database.
Diff Checkers
Diff checkers will
assist you to compare variations between files so merge the changes. tons of
this may be done from command line interface, however, generally, it will be
useful to envision a lot of visual illustration
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Diffchecker: Online diff tool to compare text
differences between two text files. Great if you are on the go and quickly need
to compare something.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Beyond Compare: A program to compare files and
folders using simple, powerful commands that focus on the differences you’re
interested in and ignore those you’re not.
Code Sharing / Experimenting
There is continually
that point after you square measure on Skype or Google resort with another
developer and you would like him or her to require a fast explore your code.
Their square measure nice team tools for sharing code like Slack, however, if
they square measure a member of your team there are some nice fast
alternatives. Bear in mind to not share something secure.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Code share: Share code in real-time with other
developers.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Dabblet: Interactive playground for quickly
testing snippets of CSS and HTML code.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->JSfiddle: Custom environment to test your
JavaScript, HTML, and
CSS code right inside your browser.
Collaboration Tools
Every nice development team wants the simplest way to remain to bear,
collaborate, and be productive. Tons of groups work remotely currently. The
team at KeyCDN is really unfolded across many alternative continents. Tools
like these below will facilitate staff contour their development advancement.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Asana: Team collaboration tool for teams to
track their work and results.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Jira: Built for every member of your software
team to plan, track, and release great software or web applications.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Trello:
Flexible and visual way to organize anything with anyone. We also use
this as KeyCDN.
Website Speed check Tools
The speed of an Web
site will be a vital issue to its success. Quicker loading websites will like
higher SEO rankings, higher conversion rates, lower bounce rates, and a far better overall
user expertise and engagement. it's vital to require advantage of the various
free tools on the market for testing web site speed.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.
<!--[endif]-->Dotcom-Tools Speed Test: Test the speed of your website in
real browsers from 25 locations worldwide.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.
<!--[endif]-->Web Page Test: Run a free website speed test
from multiple locations around the globe using real browsers (IE and Chrome)
and at real consumer connection speeds.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.
<!--[endif]-->Pingdom: Test the load time of that page,
analyze it and find bottlenecks.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.
<!--[endif]-->GT metrix: Gives you insight on how well your
site loads and provides actionable