Tools Programmers Need Nowadays
As the demand for programmers increases, so will competition in programming. Knowing the tools programmers need to succeed in their line of work is essential.
SQL Editor
This tool is good for gathering, processing, and analyzing large amounts of data. This tool is often-times used in music apps and social media platforms. SQL Editors are also often used by businesses. What makes this software great is that it is easy to use. It also provides online editors with a more helpful interface. This interface is excellent for building, running, and editing online requests. This software has its language, which, a large part, involves creating tables.
There are currently several SQL database systems available. Among programmers, the popular ones are Microsoft SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle DB. However, these have limitations on what they can do. This is why you should do a little bit of research before buying to ensure you get the right one.
Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
An IDE is an application that assists in developing other applications by providing programmers with an interface that offers all the tools a programmer needs. Also, an IDE provides features such as a text editor, a code compiler or interpreter, build or make integration, debugging, syntax highlighter, and other new unlisted features. Without an IDE, a programmer must choose and manage all these tools. Still, an IDE brings all these tools together as a single service, allowing a programmer to be quicker and more precise during testing.
There are several IDEs available online, some for free and some for a price. An IDE I use daily is PyCharm which I will include in this paper, an IDE for coding in Python.
Here are some features you would want as a programmer if you are trying to build or maximize what you can do with your IDE. First, you would like an IDE that supports all code languages used in your projects or a feature called Programming Language Support. Second, you would like an IDE that allows you to add mock objects to sections of your code without needing to complete that section; this feature is called Unit Testing. Third, you would also like an IDE to provide you with scripts and source code for your code(Source Code Library). Fourth, you would like one that finds errors in your code and shows them to you (Error Diagnostics). Lastly, you would like the one that could automatically complete your code. This feature is called Code Completion.
PyCharm
This tool offers a wide variety of essential tools needed for coding in Python and is among one of the best IDEs by many programmers worldwide. Here is a list of what PyCharm currently has to offer for programmers. This IDE uses intelligent code completion, code inspections, and error highlighting. These allow programmers to fix code mistakes quicker with their error-guiding capabilities. PyCharm also supports Javascript, Cython, SQL, HTML/CSS, CoffeeScript, etc. With PyCharm. You can also run, debug, test, and deploy applications on VMs. PyCharm also has a customizable UI, which lets you create or modify existing designs.
PyCharm currently has two versions, the Professional edition, and the Community edition. Professional is a paid version that bills on a yearly or monthly basis. At the same time, the Community version is free of use to anyone. The Professional version has everything the Community version has but with many more features. These features are an Intelligent Python Editor, debugging and testing, navigation and refactorings, code inspections, VCS support, scientific tools that help analyze data, tools for web development, Python web frameworks, Python Profiler, remote development capabilities, and Database and SQL support.
Here is an example of Python code in a range function.
x = range(1, 10, 2)for i in x:print(i)
Atom
This tool is an open-source text editor, meaning it is entirely free! An essential option for quicker and more efficient code writing. Here is a list of what Atom currently has to offer for programmers. First, this tool allows programmers to edit different operating systems like macOS and Windows. It also has a feature that helps programmers write code faster and complete code automatically. You can also split your interface in two or more ways which you can use to compare and edit code between different files. This tool has a built-in package manager that you could use to create your packages or install new ones, and you can easily find and replace text in a file or many files. Atom currently has a unique “Teletype” feature, which allows programmers to share or work on projects in real-time with others. This tool also allows programmers to customize and style how Atom looks using CSS and even add a lot of new functions using HTML and Javascript.
A list of companies currently using Atom includes but is not limited to Lyft, GitHub, Hubspot, Glovo, Accenture, Typeform, MAK IT, and Figma. Here are some reviews for Atom taken from Capterra. This website helps businesses pick which software to buy for their business. The first review that I found was “Overall. Atom makes developing a much easier task. I use it to develop Java, HTML, and CSS, and it is hands down the best text editor I have used.” The second review I found in Capterra is, “It is also swift, and its interface is fairly accessible and manageable, and it can be customized to suit our needs and comfort. It’s beneficial for us. Due to its many purposes, it suits us in web development. It’s so powerful that it is useful for us, not only for the members we consider novices but also for our expert programmers. Thus it’s suited for all levels, taking advantage of their varied talents, capacity, and functions.”
The code provided below customizes the editor’s colors. This changes the color of the text to red.
@text-color: #cc6666;@text-color-highlight: #cc6666;@text-color-selected: #cc6666;
Docker
This tool dramatically helps programmers during application or software development, allowing users to deploy their projects into a virtual environment for secure testing. Docker is a must for application or software development as it helps programmers analyze and fix bugs quicker within applications. This tool also helps save money on server costs and maintenance. Unlike virtual machines, the containers were created to allow for more efficient usage of resources. Additionally, since this tool deploys applications in separate containers, the risk of conflicting languages, libraries, or frameworks is reduced. From windows to macOS, this tool can run on any operating system.
Here is a list of what Docker currently has to offer for programmers. This application allows programmers to create a multi-container application for local buildings. Testing applications can combine tools during application development and support development tools programmers use, like GitHub and CircleCI. Docker also allows programmers to collaborate with other programmers by publishing to Docker Hub. Docker also allows programmers to deliver and run applications more efficiently. Its infrastructure-independent platform allows for easier integration between different system types. It also offers the separation of containers, reducing the risks of conflict between languages, libraries, and frameworks. You can launch applications locally or on the cloud with a straightforward command.
A list of companies that use Docker includes but is not limited to Adobe, AT&T, NETFLIX, TARGET, Verizon, YALE, PayPal, and Spiceworks. Here are some reviews for Docker taken from Capterra. This website helps businesses choose which software to choose for their business. Here is the first review I found, “Docker is a very awesome tool to deploy containerized applications. Docker is beneficial while working in a vast team.” I found the second review: “Docker is the most popular container tool that helps teams set up and manage environments to run their applications without resorting to VMs.” In the second review, VMs means Virtual Machine, which could take many more resources than Docker as Docker emulates the operating system while VM emulates your computer’s hardware.
AutoHotkey
This open-source tool allows programmers to create a “hotkey,” a combination of keys that enable the user to access a function quickly. This tool would help cut down on time spent writing code. The user can quickly put down simple to complex codes by simply pressing a few buttons and reducing the risk of bugs created by mistyping code. This tool allows programmers to fill out forms using shortcuts that open files and websites with a few button presses or shortcuts. This tool can also track a system and close specific programs. It also enables the automation of what could have been tedious tasks via macros. Finally, it can automatically fill out forms by creating a complex or straightforward script.
A list of companies that use AutoHotkey for work-related things includes LifeHacker, Newsforge, WIRED, PCMag, MakeUseOf, HostingAdvice.com, and Heise online. A review is taken from WIRED magazine, “there’s a tool that’s robust enough for power users but accessible enough for everyone: AutoHotkey.” Another study from PCMag is, “… save time, keystrokes, and mouse clicks by making your customized shortcuts” — “lift the burden of repetitive tasks — like typing email replies by doing them for you.” The best review I found would be from HostingAdvice.com, “Developers turn to AutoHotkey for its ease of use, power, and flexibility, which allow them to hone in on the tasks they are working on without the distraction of repetitive tasks.”
Takeaway
The tools listed above can make a programmer’s experience and life more accessible; it depends on your tool. You will need tools to be ahead of everyone SQL Editors, IDEs, PyCharm, Atom, Docker, and AutoHotkey. With these tools, you create fewer errors in your code and do tasks more quickly. In addition, you can get help with looking for errors in your code faster with features such as smart navigation. You can also test your code better and potentially help save resources for your company or home.
