It’s true to say that JavaScript rules the world in the field of web development. According to GitHub, it is the most popular programming language in the world. As per the latest reports, more than 97% of the websites use JavaScript on the client side. There are more than 15 million software developers who use JavaScript.
JavaScript is embedded with various tools which enhance the working of the application. These JavaScript tools can be IDEs, Frameworks, and Libraries. Let’s get a basic idea about these tools.
- IDEs – It is a platform where developers implement code to create applications. You can edit code, debug it and work on commands using integrated CLI. For Example VS Code, Eclipse, and Atom.
- Frameworks – They are used to build applications, and act as a structure to hold applications. Code redundancy can be avoided using the framework. It can also include programs, libraries, and APIs. For Example: React, Angular, and Vue.
- Libraries – It is a collection of functions to perform an operation that can be used for quick implementation. For Example mocha, socket.io, webpack, and npm.
In this blog, we will discuss 15 must-have JavaScript Tools for Developers. So let’s get started.
IDEs
1. Visual Studio Code
According to Stack Overflow 2019, Visual Studio Code is ranked as the best leading tool or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for JavaScript development. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. This generates both managed and native code. Adding additional features and plugins allows you to customize and extend it. It incorporates syntax highlighting, Git control, and much more. The Git support allows you to operate commands like commit, publish, pull, and push.
Its features are:
- Can add hundreds of plugins to the lot.
- In-Built debugger
- Code Refactor and Code completion with IntelliSense
- Database Schema Designer
- Integrated CLI (Command Line Interface)
2. Eclipse
Eclipse is the second most popular IDE among developers which is developed using Java. Although, it has a plugin for any programming language for which a plug-in is available most developers prefer it for JavaScript. Eclipse works completely fine in Windows, Mac, and Linux. Project management is also a key feature of Eclipse which makes it more accessible with the automated features. Moreover, to enhance its performance, it supports Docker images, new Docker UI, and Docker CLI. It is the best for running under the GNU classpath,
Its features are:
- Syntax Highlighting
- Hyperlink Navigation
- In-Built Debugger
- Git Integration
- Automated Error Reporting
3. Atom
An atom is built on the Electron framework which is used to build cross-platform apps for desktops. It is completely free and open-source Atom is compatible with Windows and Mac. The best feature is its transition from the text editor to IDE developed with Facebook. It also comes with an integrated package manager. You can easily customize the IDE without making any changes to the configuration file and also apply themes to enhance its look. Plugins written in HTML, CSS, JS, and NodeJS are also supported by JavaScript.
Its features are:
- Built-in package manager
- Cross-platform editing
- Fuzzy finder (instant switching of files)
- Integration of Git control and GitHub
- Find previews and replace the text across the project
4. Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a cross-platform text editor with Python API. It supports multiple languages and plugins can also be installed. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is the most popular code editor by Stack Overflow. It’s open-source and cross-platform and has also a customization feature. Installing third-party plugins is possible through its package manager called Package Control. It also helps in performing simultaneous editing (making the same interactive changes to multiple selected areas) and also quick navigation to files,
Its features are:
- Supports Automation
- Work on Multiple Projects
- Command Line Editor
- Impressive features like Go to Symbol and Go to Definition
- Improved Pane Management
Frameworks
5. Angular
Angular, a powerful JavaScript framework developed by Google, boosts your application in terms of speed, responsive UI, and various other factors. It is an open-source framework generally used for single-page applications. It is included in the MEAN (MongoDB Express Angular NodeJS) stack. It follows easier DOM manipulation. There’s no requirement of writing databases, user interfaces, and links (model-view-controller) separately. It has the feature of extending HTML into the application to dependency injection and data binding. The command “npm install -g @angular/CLI” installs Angular globally.
Its features are:
- Two-way data binding
- Ready for Unit Testing
- Integrated CLI
- Template Syntax
- Code Splitting
6. React
React is a JavaScript library developed by Facebook for user interfaces. It is the future of web development, more than 1300 developers and over 94,000 sites use ReactJS. It creates interactive UIs and is component-based. The main reason developers use React is the reusability of the code which saves time and helps in bringing optimized solutions. It is absolute to mention that companies like Apple, PayPal, and many others use it for their websites. Also, developers get to work with React Hooks which uses functional components which can be used across the project. The command “npx create-react-app file_name“ where npx is the package and create-react-app creates a default folder where you will have a default code of “Hello World” using port 3000 and file_name is the file name which you want to give.
Its features are:
- One-way data binding
- Virtual DOM
- Declarative
- Reusable Components
- Extensions
7. VueJS
Vue is another open-source front-end UI framework in JavaScript, also reliable for cross-platform development. Vue supports all browsers and is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Vue also has a web interface to visualize the different parts of an application and also supports fragments and portals. The dual integration mode for creating high-end Single Page Applications. Handling an app of any size is super easy with Vue and it covers both apps, a large scale or small scale. The plugin system lets you add things like a network, backend support, and state management. The command “vue create my-app” installs Vue with the file_name being my-app.
Its features are:
- Lightweight and Fast
- Two-way Data Binding
- Virtual DOM
- Integrated CLI
- Error Handling and Server Rendering
8. Express
Express is an open-source and back-end framework for NodeJS. It provides server-side logic for building single-page, multi-page, and hybrid web applications. It is fast, stable, and can build APIs very easily. Easy to configure and customize the application using Express. You can install it using the command “npm install express –save” where npm is the node package manager and –save saves it to the dependency file. The command “npm install -g express-generator” installs express globally using -g.
Its features are:
- Super-high test coverage
- Routing and Middleware-based
- Fast Execution
- HTTP helpers (redirection, caching, etc.)
- Supports multiple engines
9. Ember
Websites like Netflix, LinkedIn, and Nordstrom use Ember which is a productive, JavaScript framework used to build web applications. It has rich documentation for each of its versions and uses modern JavaScript with classes, generators, and decorators. It is more flexible for backend applications. It provides CLI integrated with Ember for better productivity. To increase the rendering speed, it provides a Glimmer rendering engine which is the most important feature Ember has.
Its features are:
- Access Data Across Multiple Sources
- High Performance
- Routing and Two-Way Data Binding
- Upgrades after every 6 weeks
- Three-level testing
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Libraries
10. jQuery
jQuery is a lightweight, fast and cross-platform library that is used for the DOM (Document Object Model) manipulation, for the front-end processes. It is used 3 to 4 times more than any other JavaScript library. It helps the developers with its feature of adding plug-ins, creating animations, and navigating documents. Companies like Google, MSN, and DailyMotion use jQuery to build their client-side application. It creates dynamic web pages. It is so extensible and versatile, also you “write less, do more” using jQuery.
Its features are:
- AJAX
- HTML, CSS, and DOM manipulation
- Event Handling
- Excellent API and cross-browser support
11. Webpack
Webpack, a module bundler, is a tool that helps you in compiling JavaScript modules. It compresses a large number of files into a single one and runs the application. It is of great help to the DevOps team giving them the way to organize their deployment files. It loads modules with dependencies like .css, .js, .jpg and .sass into the browser. It creates excellent web applications while managing JavaScript files. Its main purpose is to bundle JS files and is capable of transforming, bundling, or packaging.
Its features are:
- Splits Code
- Modular Plugin System
- Bundling
- Resolves dependencies
- Opt8mizations
12. Mocha
Mocha is an open-source JavaScript test framework that is used for testing test cases asynchronously. It allows developers to track and report on the ongoing function. It runs automated tests in NodeJS. Unlike any other, Mocha can be used with third-party assertions and spying tools. It helps in creating descriptive auto-test and reports. It has great support for both Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD).
Its features are:
- Asynchronous testing
- Auto-detects
- Meta-generate suites
- Supports multiple browsers
13. NPM
Npm is the Node Package Manager for the JS platform. It is also an online repo where you can publish projects. Approximately 11 million developers use npm across the world. You can also find thousands of reusable code packages. It works with two tasks: default and arbitrary. It has greater plugins and packages. It functions in two ways – an online platform and CLI, using the online platform developers can share and upload tools, and using CLI, developers can have interactions like managing versions, installing packages, and managing the dependent tools.
Its features are:
- Share code with npm users
- Run packages without downloading
- Collaborative Environment
- Less debugging issues
- Cross-platform projects
14. ESLint
ESLint is a tool that is used to identify and report patterns found in ECMAScript to make the code more consistent and avoid bugs. Companies like Netflix, Google, Atlassian, Microsoft, and Domain have already used it for the application. It supports Windows, Mac, and Linux. The best thing is that it can be configured according to the developer’s needs. Here “lint” refers to examining the code for errors. You should have NodeJS installed in your system to use ESLint. The command to install it is “npm install eslint –save-dev”
Its features are:
- Available as an extension of VS Code
- A tool for pluggable JS linting
- Maintains code integrity
- Code Supervision
15. Socket.io
Socket.io is an event-driven JS library for real-time web applications. enables a low-latency and bidirectional communication for all platforms. It consists of a JS client library for the browser and a Nodejs server. It is an event-based communication between the client and server. It is Socket.io can be installed using npm using the command “npm install socket.io”.
Its features are:
- Reliable and Scalable
- Cross-Browser Support
- Detects disconnection
- Asynchronous I/O
