Web development has come a long way from manually coding scripts on a notepad. Today, there are plenty of tools and resources that simplify the workflow and help keep up with rising user expectations.
Drag and drop builders, coding shortcuts, and plugins are only some of the tools that make it easy to deliver on client requests more efficiently.
Much like continuously refining your skills in programming and design, it’s important to stay updated on the different technologies you can work with. Web development tools and resources allow you to create responsive websites at a lower cost — but only if you use the right ones.
Choosing your technology stack depends on the needs of your project. Consider the specs of the website or web application, its expected functionalities, and aesthetics. Then, check the features of a web development tool and resource to see if it fits.
Go for the ones that will accelerate the web development and design process while giving you room to customize builds. Also, take into account scalability, portability, and ease-of-use.
Based on the current trends, we’ve rounded up the best web development tools and resources for 2021. This list includes the most popular technologies used to cater to SMEs and large businesses for building, testing, automation, and more.
1. Angular.JS
AngularJS is a frontend web framework maintained by Google and an active pool of developers. It is distributed as a JavaScript file that lets you extend HTML vocabulary. The result is a readable and expressive environment suited for developing web applications.
AngularJS makes dynamic views of HMTL pages possible using the ng-model directive. This allows two-way binding of data between the model and the view to reflect changes in real-time.
To make things easier, AngularJS models are plain JavaScript objects so you can test, maintain, and reuse your code effortlessly. All its features, including Deep Linking, Form Validation, and Server Communication are open source and free to use.
2. Sass
Sass is a preprocessor scripting language dubbed as the most mature, stable, and powerful professional-grade CSS extension language in the world. The tool offers a simple solution to organizing and maintaining large and complex stylesheets.
Instead of typing hex codes multiple times, for example, developers are turning to Sass to work with CSS more efficiently. It gives you access to variables, nested rules, mixins, imports, and other features that are otherwise unavailable on CSS. You can also create your own functions.
Sass is compatible with all versions of CSS and is the backbone of numerous frameworks like Compass, Bourbon, and Susy. What’s more, it’s free and is supported by numerous tech companies and hundreds of developers.
3. Bootstrap
Bootstrap is a free and open source toolkit built for mobile-first web development. It was created by a team of developers for Twitter but was later made public as a collection of CSS and JavaScript files.
With Bootstrap, you can build responsive and eye-catching websites fast using one of the templates that are optimized for mobile. Premium themes are available on the official Bootstrap marketplace and they come with unique plugins and components.
The best part about this toolkit is it’s easy to learn. It features a responsive grid system that does away with manually entering media queries by letting you add a grid within an existing one. It also has an SVG logo library, Sass variables, and powerful JavaScript plugins.
4. React
React is arguably the most popular JavaScript framework today. It provides a straightforward way to build interactive UIs through a render() method.
The framework is efficient for two reasons: it uses encapsulated components, and it manipulates documents on a virtual DOM (document object model). This allows it to change only what needs to be altered on the actual browser.
React is designed with declarative views so your code is more predictable and painless to debug. It can also be interfaced with other frameworks and libraries, meaning you can build new features without having to rewrite code.
5. npm
npm, or Node Package Manager is a trusted software registry with the world’s largest code packages. It has over one million packages available for free, giving countless elegant and safe solutions for faster web development.
Among the most popular items from its collection include open source code for front-end development web apps and mobile apps. But npm is more than just a vast library. It manages dependencies and is capable of installing all dependencies of a project in one command line.
Unlimited access to public packages and automatic security warnings are guaranteed for free users. Meanwhile, npm Pro gets you unlimited private packages and npm Teams gives you the same plus team-based management.
6. Grunt
Grunt is the ultimate time-saving web development tool. It’s a JavaScript task runner that allows you to bypass mundane work and focus on more complex coding and design.
Installing Grunt is a breeze, although you need the updated npm to use all of its plugins. Once it’s configured, you can automate tasks like compilation, minification, linting, unit testing, and more. Hundreds of plugins are available, but if you can’t find what you need, you can always author and publish your own plugin to npm.
The tool is especially useful in team settings, as it helps everyone follow standard code formats and styles. Grunt enforces uniformity and catches poorly written scripts, reducing the chance of human error.
7. Figma
Pair your excellent codework with stunning visuals using Figma. It’s a cloud-based platform perfect for prototyping and collaborative work. Since everything is saved on the cloud, all your assets are one drag and drop away, in addition to keeping everyone on the same page.
Prototypes built on Figma feel like the real thing when you add animations, transitions, dynamic overlays, and GIFs. You can even define subtle interactions and see how your elements look while hovering, pressing a button, and more.
No better tool allows you to build mockups in tandem and share your ideas faster with clients. Once your design is approved for development, Figma’s Auto Layout feature simplifies the process by translating padding, direction, and spacing configurations directly into code.
8. Sublime Text
An essential web development tool you should have is a first-class code editor. Sublime Text is the most popular, and for good reason. It’s sophisticated, efficient, and boasts a speedy user interface.
Tons of its features are designed to help you work seamlessly, For example, Goto Anything, which is triggered by hitting Ctrl + P, opens files instantly and lets you jump to symbols, lines, or words with ease.
Its wide collection of keyboard shortcuts also includes a function that simultaneously edits multiple selected areas at once. This means you can rewrite several lines or rename variables faster than ever. Use Sublime Text with Python API to add plugins to your website.
9. CodePen
If you love coming up with new ideas, CodePen is the perfect tool for you. You can build entire projects on the platform or input snippets of code to test specific features and animations. It supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other frameworks that generate them.
CodePen comes with a customizable web-based code editor. It’s side by side with a preview that automatically updates with every tweak. Topped with an autocomplete feature and Emmet, you can code accurately and at high-speed.
You can use CodePen for free but paid plans let you keep your work private or collaborate with a team. Individual plans start at $8 per month while team plans go for $12 a month per member.
10. Chrome Devtools
Last but not least is Chrome Devtools. What better web development tool for Chrome is there than one that’s built into Google Chrome itself? It’s a free toolkit that offers a variety of functions like debugging JavaScript, optimizing site speed, and more.
Chrome DevTools gives you quick access to different parts of its UI with just a few clicks. To open the DOM or CSS of an element, right-click on it and select Inspect to open the Elements panel. Or you can press Ctrl + Shift + C on (or Command + Option + C on Mac).
Aside from editing pages, you can also view messages, test elements on Device-specific Mode, diagnose and resolve network issues, and run performance analyses.
Takeaway
Depending on your project’s specs, one tool can give you more advantages over another. Take time to assess your needs and read more about the resources you plan to get.
If you’re unsure of how to execute your ideas, reach out to a professional web developer and designer. Contact DevWerkz today.