Best Productivity Tools for Developers
Development workflow can hide potential bottlenecks, unclear situations, and interruptions. In addition to that, there is always a human factor. How to maintain the process uninterrupted? Fively team has prepared a list of tools and best productivity apps for developers that can help you to avoid difficulties and cheer up the spirit.
Time Management
Pomodor
According to the Pomodoro Technique, you can cut working time into regular intervals of 25 minutes when you will really just work. Every time interval must be ended with a 5-minute break to cheer you up. Pomodor is a web-based app that fully complies with the idea. It’s a concise product to track your working time. Pomodor is one of the most used productivity apps for several reasons. First, you can adjust the periods of your work and rest. Second, you can track and check how much work you did on any day. The app is super simple and easy to recommend to colleagues.
WakaTime
Track your programming time with WakaTime. It’s an open-source plugin that records your coding process from start to finish. As a result, you will get the metrics of how much time you spent on a file, system, or language. Using a special option provided by WakaTime, you can even compete in productivity with your colleagues.
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Blocking Distractions
StayFocusd
If you suffer from overusing time-wasting resources and want to have fewer distractions from Twitter and Facebook, try StayFocusd. It’s a Chrome extension that became a must-have software for certain developers at Fively. The extension will block your access to unwelcome websites and will be on guard in the days and hours when you need it.
Cold Turkey
If you’re looking for a tougher website blocker, try Cold Turkey. It will not only forbid you to use social media but can block your access to the Internet, a nuclear option that will be effective for professional procrastinators. You will be able to create your own schedule for using different resources and set daily limits to using time killers.
Focusmate
A circle of support can be a powerful source of work motivation. Focusmate was developed right for those who agree with the statement. It’s a service that matches you with a partner who has work to do during the same period of time. Then it organizes a videoconference for both parties for the time they are planning to dedicate to work. At the beginning of the conference, you should announce your goals and stick to them while your partner could be asking whether you’re concentrating at work.
Coding Assistance
Codeanywhere
Codeanywhere is a cloud-based Integrated Development Environment that allows you to collaborate with your teammates and work on different parts of a project simultaneously. If you need a code editor to work anywhere and to choose any device for that purpose, try Codeanywhere. Use the IDE right in your browser or set it up on iOS and Android.
The Silver Searcher
Whether you notice that you spend too much time reading your code and trying to find a specific part, the Silver Searcher can become your helping hand. It’s an open-source code searching tool that will save you time and find exactly what you need. You can install it on Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD.
IntelliJ IDEA
If you are looking for a tool to support a smooth development workflow and get assistance with code issues, IntelliJ IDEA has something to offer. It’s an Integrated Development Environment that provides deep code analyses and assistance, finds errors, and automates repetitive tasks so that you could focus on boosting your productivity. IntelliJ IDEA promotes the idea of developer ergonomics, which means the system analyzes your context and offers corresponding tools in the process to not interrupt the flow.
Workplace Health
F.lux
Software developers spend days in front of the monitor and forget about their eyesight, which can adversely affect their health and further work. To take care of the eyes, we recommend trying the F.lux app. It makes the display color adapt to the time of day, which prevents visual difficulties. F.lux makes the work environment more comfortable. Besides, the users admit that the app helps them to solve problems with falling asleep that are closely related to screen time.
Stretchy
When talking about productivity tools for software engineers, we feel obliged to share the solutions that can help you to slow down and take a break. Rest is an important part of working culture and if well-organized, it will save you from burnout. That’s why we talk about Stretchly, a break reminder to keep your body healthy. With its help, you can schedule small and long breaks to stay focused on work.
eyeCare
Specialists recommend taking breaks to prevent eye strain and save vision. We recommend you try eyeCare, a Google Chrome extension that sends you break reminders to take the eyes off the screen. The breaks last for 20 minutes and repeat after every 20 minutes by default but you can adjust it as you like.
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Additional Motivation and Fun
musicForPrograming
Sometimes we need an additional source of fun and joy to work with zest. And the concept of musicForProgramming is a noteworthy example of morale-boosting services. It’s a website music generator that helps you focus on work. musicForProgramming offers more than 50 playlists, most of which are instrumental and are good for your brain and spirit. The interface looks like a code editor and when you open the page to change music, you will stay focused on your work as the interface is visually associated with it.
Rainy Mood
If music distracts you from work but you would like to listen to pleasant background sounds, try Rainy Mood. As the name implies, the service will create a rain experience for you that is good for working, studying, or relaxing. The sound of falling rain and thunder is refreshing in the heat and saves you from the office chatter.
Invest Your Time In Improving Productivity
We hope that our compilation of the best productivity tools for programmers is useful for you. The most important thing is to understand what kind of things distract you from work and where to find a source of motivation that is just right for you. Spend some time experimenting with new services to find yours and you will see how it will improve the quality of your work in the long run.
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What tools do you use to combat procrastination and distractions? Share your favourite apps in the comments!
