When you're just starting out in web development, it can be really overwhelming trying to figure out which tools to use. And if you've been looking at other developers' codebases, you might have noticed that different devs tend to use different sets of tools to get the same job done. While there are a host of options out there, we want to share with you some useful tools for beginner web developers that you could integrate into your development roadmap. Selecting the right tool for the job is a delicate balance of personal performance, productivity, and sometimes just taste - so let's get started!
The coding environment you use is very important in the beginning stages of web development. We recommend VS Code because it's a smaller version of Microsoft Visual Studio that's quick and has lots of great features like IntelliSense, built-in debugging, integrated version control, and syntax highlighting. These are all really useful when you're just starting out! Also, there's a big library available where you can get several different extensions to fit your specific needs.
Git is a version control system that many developers use to track changes made to a project. This way, if needed, developers can go back to previous versions. Because Git makes collaboration between teams so much easier, lots of companies now require some level of proficiency in it from their employees.
The Google Chrome Developer Tools are a crucial part of becoming more efficient. When you have to keep going back and forth between the code editor and browser, it gets old fast. The Developer Tools let you work on your website from inside the browser- meaning no more lost time waiting for pages to refresh. You can edit your HTML/CSS, use a console to test JavaScript, see what's happening in real time, and so much more. This overview function is amazing because it allows you to make changes until you find something that works before implementing those changes into your code for good!
Bootstrap is the most popular frontend library, and it saves a lot of time when creating web pages. With Bootstrap, you don't need to spend as much time on perfecting layouts or styling elements because they come with basic CSS already included. In addition, Bootstrap's JavaScript components make these elements interactive so that you can add your own scripts and customizations on top.
JavaScript is key for interactive websites. Yet, as sites grow larger and require more code for greater interactivity, complexity can worsen things. That's where jQuery comes in to save the day. This small JavaScript library streamlines processes by offering a higher level overview of functions than what is available through native JavaScript alone. We recommend using jQuery if your goal is to write quicker and cleaner scripts.
It's always a good idea to get an idea of what your website will look like before you start coding it. Web design tools such as Figma can help you with that. With Figma, you can create wireframes for your website using simple drag-and-drop controls - this way, you can see how different elements fit together and make changes until you're happy with the results. Plus, Figma supports team collaboration and keeps track of all the different versions of your wireframe so you can easily go back and view previous versions.
Although HTML is the foundation of web pages, it isn't equipped to manage dynamic content. That's where front-end web frameworks, like AngularJS, come in handy. Loaded with features, AngularJS lets us create interactive websites using components--a method that most tech companies employ as part of their workflow. If you're still on the fence about which framework works best for you, here are a few other notable options:
The following are a compilation of the most useful tools for beginner web developers, which fall into different categories such as libraries, frameworks, and other programs that can assist your development cycle. With comfortability comes usage ease so that you can focus more on the conceptualizing part of future projects and less time trying to figure out how to use new applications.
