6 Stocking Stuffers for Your Front-end Des/Dev!
Some Favorite Front-end Tools.
These tools are what I use almost every day. They fit my workflow and enhance my experience. Life is better with them for sure.
Tried & True Tools:
These are some of my favorite things.
A Mac. Really there is nothing finer.
I use it for designing, developing, testing, music, video, etc.
[Every damned thing. $$$$]
Sketch3. Wooo!
I use this for anything that needs a drawing, line, text, diagram, etc.
Sketch has helped me put Photoshop where it really belongs — as a tool for photos! [Sitemap, Wireframes, Design. $$]
Coda2. One of my oldest and real friends.
I liked Panic software when all they had was Transmit.
Coda brought the code back to coding for me and my HTML/CSS. I am still rocking it with Coda2. Sublime or Brackets (or some other flavor) might someday guide me away from Coda2, but not yet.
[HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Sass, Developing, and Simple SVN/FTP. $$]
Alfred. This app makes me Batman — or at least Robin.
I don't use it enuff, but when I do, it ROCKS SO HARD!
It is truly a toolbelt, with access to everything when you need it.
If you have never heard of Alfred for your Mac, check it out now.
[I am Batman. $$]
CodeKit. Haha! It is too sweet.
I barely remember those moments of anxiety with Bower components and all that crap. I had to face facts — I love me an interface. Command-line offers too much power while blindfolded for me.
CodeKit is a swiss army knife for the front-end.
[“Steroids For Web Developers.” Really. $$]
Versions. SVN is easier than ever with this app.
Again… I do love me an interface! Versions just rocks SVN.
I can do it all with this tool. We are rocking the SVN here at Valtira, and this makes it simple and kinda made me a pro. [SVN baby! $$]
Also Inside the Fence:
I've been working with these for a while and am likely keeping them!
Chrome Canary. Latest & greatest Google dev tools & browser available.
When developing for the future, this browser is it.
Bug free? No. Interesting & useful? Yes.
[Design, Development, Viewports, Testing, Viewing the Future]
Duo Browser. When I want to view different viewports simply.
I do use this, but it has not totally replaced my Chrome Web Developer Extension and its “View Responsive Layout” option. My new Alfred workflow includes Duo — so maybe it will come up.
[Design, Development, Viewports, Testing]
iOS Simulator. Its the iPhone or iPad for my desktop and early testing.
I don’t have lots of use for Xcode, but this is why Xcode is on my Mac.
Pro tip: Locate and run iOS Simulator from Xcode, then hop in your dock and set its option to “Keep in Dock”. You are welcome.
[Design, Development, Viewports, Testing]
InVision. It brings ideas to life.
Wireframes can only explain so much and development is too late to learn about new or flawed flows and processes.
InVision seems a solid tool for prototyping, collaboration and workflow. (Just like they say.)
[Prototyping, Collaboration, Workflow]
These tools rock my work-world and I hope they rock yours too — especially if one is able to replace something that is a current nightmare.
Share your faves!
