When I first started learning web development I honestly did not think much about tools. I was just trying to make things work. If the code ran without errors I was happy.
After some time, I realized the tools you use actually make a big difference. Not in a “you need everything” kind of way, but in how fast and comfortable you can work day to day.
I have tried a lot of different tools over time. Some of them I stopped using after a few days others just stayed and became part of my workflow. In this article I am not listing everything out there just the ones I actually use and keep coming back to.
Key Takeaway
You do not need a lot of tools. You just need a few that you understand well and feel comfortable using.
Visual Studio Code
This is probably the tool I use the most. I have tried other editors before but I always come back to VS Code.
It is simple fast and does not get in your way. You can use it for basic HTML or for bigger projects like Laravel apps and it handles both without issues.
What I like the most is that you can keep it minimal or extend it as much as you want. At the beginning I used it almost empty. Later I started adding extensions when I actually needed them.
If you have not used it yet you can download it here:
https://code.visualstudio.com/
If you want to go deeper, I also wrote a simple guide where I explain how I use VS Code in my daily workflow.
Read next: How to Use VS Code (Simple Guide for Beginners)
Chrome DevTools
I did not really use DevTools when I started. I used to guess what was wrong and change things randomly.
Later I realized this tool saves a lot of time. If something is broken on the frontend I usually open DevTools first.
You can inspect elements, change CSS live, check console errors and even test small JavaScript changes. It is one of those tools you slowly get used to and then you cannot work without it.
If you do not have Chrome you can get it here:
https://www.google.com/chrome/
Git and GitHub
I avoided Git at the beginning because it felt confusing. All those commands did not make sense at first.
But after I broke a project once and had no backup, I understood why it matters.
Now I use Git for almost everything. Even small projects. It helps you go back if something breaks and it just makes things safer overall.
GitHub is where I keep most of my code. It is also useful if you want to show your work to others.
https://git-scm.com/
https://github.com/
Postman
When I started working with APIs things got messy fast. Testing endpoints manually was not fun.
Postman made that part much easier. You can send requests, check responses and test things quickly without writing extra code.
I do not use it every day but when I need it, it saves a lot of time.
Figma
I am not a designer but I still use Figma sometimes.
Mostly for simple things. Like planning a layout or checking spacing before I start coding. It helps avoid a lot of guesswork.
Even basic use is enough. You do not need to go deep into design to get value from it.
Local Development (XAMPP)
If you work with PHP or Laravel you need a local environment.
I started with XAMPP because it was simple to set up. It is not perfect but it works and that is enough in the beginning.
Later you might switch to something else but for starting out this is fine.
https://www.apachefriends.org/
Notes (Anything Simple)
This might sound basic but writing things down helps a lot.
Sometimes it is just a bug I need to fix later sometimes an idea. I used to rely on memory but that does not work for long.
You can use Notion or just simple notes. It does not matter.
“After a while you stop thinking about tools and just use them without noticing.”
Conclusion
There are a lot of tools out there and it is easy to get distracted trying everything.
From my experience it is better to keep things simple. Find a few tools that work for you and stick with them.
For me, VS Code, Chrome DevTools and Git are enough for most of the work I do. Everything else depends on the project.
If you are just starting, do not worry too much about having the “perfect setup”. Just start building things. Over time, the tools will start to make more sense.
