Software development tool helps developers create, maintain, test, debug, deploy, and manage software applications.

We live in an era where software delivery must be fast, incremental, and continuous. It’s no longer acceptable to spend valuable time of developers on activities that could be automated and faster solved by a dedicated tool. 

And it’s not only about the speed but about quality as well. Manual work almost always leads to some inevitable mistakes that, later on, will take another time to resolve. That’s where the right software development tools and products can step in and change the game.

Developers will focus on the creative part of the project, while the tool will automate the routines, encourage collaboration, and provide quality checks wherever applicable.

Geekflare has researched and compiled the best software development tools to help developers streamline the development process and improve the quality of the software product.

  • GitHub – Best for Git-Based Collaboration
  • Bitbucket – Best for Git Integration with Atlassian Tools
  • AWS Cloud9 – Best for Cloud-Based IDE and Seamless AWS Integration
  • Azure – Best for Comprehensive Cloud Services for Developers
  • Firebase – Best to Build and Host Web Applications
  • Docker – Best for Containerized Application Deployment
  • Node.js – Best Cross-Platform JavaScript Runtime
  • Deno – Best for JavaScript Apps Development
  • Bootstrap – Best for Responsive Front-End Development
  • Tailwind CSS – Best for Frontend Development
  • Vim – Best for Text-Based Editor Power and Efficiency
  • Microsoft Visual Studio – Best for .NET and C++ Development
  • Eclipse – Best for Open-Source and Java-Centric Development
  • JetBrains – Best for Language-Specific Intelligent IDEs
  • DbVisualizer – Best Database Client
  • DbSchema – Best for Database Design and Visualization
  • Jira – Best for Agile Project Management and Issue Tracking
  • Netdata – Best for Observability and Application Monitoring
  • Show moreShow less

You can trust Geekflare

Imagine the satisfaction of finding just what you needed. We understand that feeling, too, so we go to great lengths to evaluate freemium, subscribe to the premium plan if required, have a cup of coffee, and test the products to provide unbiased reviews! While we may earn affiliate commissions, our primary focus remains steadfast: delivering unbiased editorial insights, and in-depth reviews. See how we test.

GitHub

GitHub

Best for Git-Based Collaboration

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Use Case
    Code Repository, Collaboration Platform, AI Coding Assistant
FREE

About GitHub

GitHub is an American company founded in 2008 in the United States. It is now owned by Microsoft, which acquired the company in 2018.

Developers and companies use it widely to host and review code, manage projects, and build software. GitHub has a large community of users and is well known for its open-source contributions and collaboration features and practices.

GitHub is a web-based platform and cloud-based development service that provides tools for software development and version control using Git. GitHub is about a collaborative environment where developers can work on projects. They can manage code and track changes to the source codes and documentation the team produces.

GitHub has over 100 million developers and more than 420 million repositories, which makes it one of the largest and most widely used platforms for software development and collaboration.

GitHub Features

  • Key feature

    Includes robust version control capabilities through Git, allowing developers to track changes and manage different versions of their code.

  • Key feature

    Provides many collaboration features, such as pull requests, code reviews, and issue tracking, and it is dedicated to helping teams work together more effectively.

  • Key feature

    It offers project management capabilities, including Kanban boards, milestones, and labels, which help teams organize and prioritize their work.

  • Key feature

    Widely used for open source projects, making it easy for developers to contribute to and maintain open source software.

  • Key feature

    Integrates well with a wide range of third-party tools and services. That allows developers to streamline their workflows and customize their development environment.

  • Key feature

    GitHub’s user-friendly interface, powerful collaboration features, and strong community support make it a great platform for Git-based collaboration and software development.

GitHub Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Great collaboration among team members by providing features like pull requests or code reviews.

  • Advantage

    Powerful version control system.

  • Advantage

    Open-source projects are available for free to anyone.

  • Disadvantage

    Steep learning curve for beginners, requiring time and effort to understand the concepts and commands.

  • Disadvantage

    Privacy concerns as the free version is a public platform. Private repositories require a paid subscription.

  • Disadvantage

    Being a cloud-based platform, GitHub is dependent on an internet connection.

GitHub Pricing Model

PlanPricing (monthly)Offerings
Free$0Unlimited public/private repositories, Automatic security and version updates, 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month, 500 MB of package storage, community support
Team$4Access to GitHub Codespaces, 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month, 2 GB of package storage, web-based support
Enterprise$21Enterprise managed users, Advanced auditing, 50,000 CI/CD minutes/month, 50 GB of package storage, premium support
Bitbucket

Bitbucket

Best for Git Integration with Atlassian Tools

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Use Case
    Code Repository, Version Control, CI/CD
FREE

About Bitbucket

Bitbucket was founded by Jesper Nøhr and Kim Nylander from Australia in 2008 and later acquired by Atlassian. It’s an Australian software company known for its developer tools and collaboration software suite.

Bitbucket is a web-based version control repository hosting service best suited for teams collaborating on software development projects using Git and Mercurial version control systems. Specific customer counts for Bitbucket are not publicly disclosed. However, Bitbucket is widely used by individual developers, teams, and organizations as part of the overall Atlassian ecosystem.

Bitbucket Features

  • Key feature

    Offers seamless collaboration between Bitbucket and other Atlassian products.

  • Key feature

    Bitbucket integrates closely with Jira, Atlassian’s project management tool, which means efficient tracking of development tasks and issues. This integration greatly enhances visibility for project stakeholders.

  • Key feature

    Integration with Confluence (Atlassian’s team collaboration software) helps teams document and share their development processes, code, and project documents directly from Bitbucket.

  • Key feature

    Integration with Bamboo allows you to run automated build and deployment processes directly from Bitbucket repositories.

  • Key feature

    Robust security features and access controls allow teams to manage permissions and secure their code repositories.

Bitbucket Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Free private repositories for small teams.

  • Advantage

    Seamlessly integrates with Atlassian’s project management tools like Jira and Trello.

  • Advantage

    Robust branch permissions and workflows for better code review processes.

  • Disadvantage

    Free plan has limitations on the number of users and storage. It’s insufficient for larger teams or projects.

  • Disadvantage

    User interface is less intuitive than that of other Git hosting platforms.

  • Disadvantage

    Occasionally slower performance on Bitbucket compared to other Git hosting services, especially with larger repositories.

Bitbucket Pricing Model

PlanPricing (monthly/user)Offerings
Free$0Up to 5 users, 1 GB Git LFS, Community support only
Standard$3Unlimited users, 5 GB Git LFS, Standard support
Premium$6Unlimited users, 10 GB Git LFS, Premium support
AWS Cloud9

AWS Cloud9

Best for Cloud-Based IDE and Seamless AWS Integration

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Use Case
    Cloud-based IDE, Web Development, Serverless Development
FREE

About AWS Cloud9

AWS Cloud9 is a standalone cloud-based company founded by Ruben Daniels, Rik Arends, and Arnold Daniels in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 2010. The company initially offered a cloud-based IDE for various programming languages. Cloud9 was acquired by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2016.

Today, AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment that provides a seamless and collaborative environment for writing, running, and debugging code.

AWS Cloud9 Features

  • Key feature

    Developers can write, run, and debug code directly in the cloud. This eliminates the need for local development environments. It also gives flexibility in accessing and working on projects from anywhere with an internet connection.

  • Key feature

    Provide advantage of real-time collaboration features, enabling multiple developers to work together on the same codebase. It is ideal for team-based development.

  • Key feature

    AWS Cloud9 is tightly integrated with other AWS services. As a developer, you can easily access and manage AWS resources directly from the IDE, simplifying the development and deployment process.

  • Key feature

    Contains preconfigured development environments for popular programming languages. It’s easy for developers to start with coding without the need for manual setup.

  • Key feature

    Supports a wide range of programming languages, and you have the possibility to install additional software and tools if required.

  • Key feature

    AWS Cloud9 Pricing Model

  • Key feature

    AWS Cloud9 offers a pricing model based on usage and resources, as is the standard pricing strategy for any AWS-native service. It is available as part of the AWS Free Tier so that users can get started with a certain level of usage at no additional cost.

  • Key feature

    Beyond the Free Tier, AWS Cloud9 pricing is based on the compute and storage resources used and any additional AWS services or resources accessed through the IDE.

AWS Cloud9 Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Fully-featured cloud-based IDE with code editing and debugging.

  • Advantage

    Seamless integration with various AWS services.

  • Advantage

    Real-time collaboration features, such as shared editing and chat.

  • Disadvantage

    Limited language support compared to other IDEs.

  • Disadvantage

    Performance may be affected by internet connectivity and server load, leading to potential lags.

  • Disadvantage

    Using advanced features or working on larger projects may incur costs based on usage.

Azure

Azure

Best for Comprehensive Cloud Services for Developers

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Use Case
    Cloud Computing, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS)
FREE

About Azure

Microsoft officially announced Azure in October 2008 and released it as Windows Azure on February 1, 2010. Then, the product’s name was changed to Microsoft Azure on March 25, 2014.

Azure is a cloud computing platform and set of services provided by Microsoft. It offers a wide range of tools and resources for building, deploying, and managing applications and services through Microsoft’s global cloud platform. Based on Azure Active Directory, over 722 million Azure users are active worldwide.

The main competitor of Azure is the Amazon Web Services cloud platform. AWS is equally flexible and effective in terms of usability. The choice between the two comes from your preference for native Microsoft products and services. The more of them you need to include in your infrastructure, the more likely your pick will lean toward Azure.

Azure Features

  • Key feature

    Offers a comprehensive suite of cloud services, including AI, databases, virtual machines, machine learning, analytics, networking, storage, and much more. It provides developers with a huge selection of tools to build applications.

  • Key feature

    Azure integrates with Microsoft’s development tools and technologies, such as Visual Studio, .NET, and Xamarin. It even expands the environment in which developers work.

  • Key feature

    Hybrid cloud capabilities of Azure enable developers to seamlessly integrate on-premises environments with the cloud.

  • Key feature

    Scalability and Flexibility are fundamental properties of Azure infrastructure and platform services. Developers can easily scale their applications based on demand and pay only for the resources they use.

  • Key feature

    Azure prioritizes security and compliance, which means you have a wide range of security features and certifications to build and deploy applications.

  • Key feature

    With developer tools and services, such as Azure DevOps, Azure Functions, and Azure App Service, Azure aims to automate the development process.

Azure Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Scalable cloud infrastructure and services for projects of any size.

  • Advantage

    Seamless integration with popular Microsoft tools and technologies like Visual Studio, .NET, and SQL Server.

  • Advantage

    Vast network of data centers worldwide.

  • Disadvantage

    A wide range of services and features can be overwhelming for beginners.

  • Disadvantage

    Pay-as-you-go pricing model can be challenging, especially for projects with fluctuating resource usage.

  • Disadvantage

    Vendor lock-in to Azure service might be problematic if migrating to another platform.

Azure Pricing Model

PlanPricing (monthly)Offerings
Free$0Free monthly amounts of 25+ popular services for 12 months, Access to full catalog of services up to free amounts and $200 credit, Free monthly amounts of 55+ always-free services
Pay as you goCustomAccess to full catalog of services with no cap on service usage, Technical support options available
Firebase

Firebase

Best to Build and Host Web Applications

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Use Case
    Backend as a Service (BaaS), Authentication, Hosting
FREE

About Firebase

Firebase was founded by Andrew Lee and James Tamplin in San Francisco, California, in 2011 and was acquired by Google in 2014. Since then, it has become a popular choice for app developers due to its ease of use, scalability, and integration with other Google services.

Firebase is a comprehensive platform for building and hosting web and mobile applications developed by Google.

Firebase Features

  • Key feature

    Offers support from a real-time NoSQL database that allows developers to store and sync huge amounts of data in real-time.

  • Key feature

    Provides hosting capabilities to offer secure and scalable web hosting for static and dynamic content.

  • Key feature

    Offers Firebase Cloud Functions that allow developers to run server-side code in response to events triggered by HTTPS requests. With that, you can create serverless applications and backend logic.

  • Key feature

    Includes cloud storage for user-generated content, such as images, videos, and other files, with powerful security rules.

  • Key feature

    Firebase Analytics provides insights into user behavior and app usage. Developers can better understand and optimize their application’s performance.

  • Key feature

    Includes comprehensive performance monitoring capabilities.

  • Key feature

    Cloud messaging features enable developers to send notifications and messages to users across platforms, which means a higher level of engagement with users.

Firebase Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Easy-to-use authentication and authorization services, including email/password authentication.

  • Advantage

    Includes hosting services for web applications and Cloud Functions for serverless computing.

  • Disadvantage

    May lead to vendor lock-in, as applications become tightly integrated with Firebase services.

  • Disadvantage

    Limitations in querying and indexing capabilities compared to traditional databases.

  • Disadvantage

    Understanding and managing costs can be complex, especially as usage scales up or additional features are utilized.

Firebase Pricing Model

PlanPricing (monthly)Offerings
Spark Plan$0A/B Testing, 10 SMS sent/day, App Distribution
Blaze PlanPay as you goApp Hosting, Billed per SMS sent
Docker

Docker

Best for Containerized Application Deployment

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Use Case
    Containerization, Application Deployment, Environment Standardization
FREE

About Docker

Docker was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. Docker popularized the use of containerization technology.

It’s a technology that enables developers to package their applications and dependencies into a standardized unit for software development. As such, Docker is a platform and tool for developing, shipping, and running applications within containers.

It’s a dedicated tool to package applications and their dependencies into standardized containers. This provides a consistent environment for applications to transfer and run across different infrastructures.

Docker Features

  • Key feature

    Docker containers are portable and can run on any machine that has Docker installed. You can easily deploy applications across different environments, from development to test to production.

  • Key feature

    Containers are lightweight and efficient, which means faster deployment and scaling of applications. Because of that, It also optimizes resource utilization on the host system.

  • Key feature

    Docker containers give you process and resource isolation so that applications run independently of each other and do not interfere with the host system or other containers.

  • Key feature

    You benefit from orchestration and managing containers at scale, such as Docker Swarm and Kubernetes.

  • Key feature

    Docker supports good DevOps Integration, enabling continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows.

Docker Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Allows developers to create lightweight, portable containers that encapsulate applications and their dependencies.

  • Advantage

    Ensured consistency between development, testing, and production environments.

  • Advantage

    Highly scalable and resource-efficient container creation.

  • Disadvantage

    Necessary learning curve for beginners, as it involves understanding concepts like containers, images, and Dockerfiles.

  • Disadvantage

    Improperly configured Docker containers can pose security risks, such as vulnerabilities or data breaches.

  • Disadvantage

    Running applications in Docker containers may introduce a performance overhead compared to running them directly on the host machine.

Docker Pricing Model

PlanPricing (monthly)Offerings
Personal$0Docker Desktop, Unlimited public repositories, 200 image pulls per 6 hours
Pro$7Unlimited private repositories, 5,000 image pulls per day, 5 concurrent builds, 5-day support response
Team$11Up to 100 users, Unlimited teams, 15 concurrent builds, 2 day support response 
Business$24Hardened Docker Desktop, Single Sign-On (SSO), SCIM user provisioning, 24-hour support response
Node.js

Node.js

Best Cross-Platform JavaScript Runtime

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Use Case
    Server-side JavaScript Runtime, Building Web Applications, API Development
Open-source

About Node.js

Node.js is a popular open-source and cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment allowing developers to run JavaScript code outside a web browser. Ryan Dahl created it in 2009, and its development and maintenance are guaranteed by the Node.js Foundation, which is now part of the OpenJS Foundation.

Node.js Pricing Model

As an open-source project, Node.js is available for use and distribution under the MIT License’s terms, allowing for free software use, modification, and distribution.

Node.js Features

  • Key feature

    Designed to handle asynchronous I/O operations. This makes it well-suited for building scalable and high-performance applications that can handle a large number of concurrent connections.

  • Key feature

    Node.js is cross-platform and can run on popular operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • Key feature

    It comes with NPM (Node Package Manager), a powerful package manager that allows developers to easily install and share reusable code packages and libraries.

  • Key feature

    Developers can use JavaScript for both client-side and server-side development, enabling full-stack JavaScript development.

  • Key feature

    Node.js has a vibrant and active community with a rich ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools that support a wide range of use cases.

  • Key feature

    Due to its event-driven architecture, it’s suitable for building scalable network applications, such as web servers and APIs.

Node.js Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Single language (JavaScript) for both client-side and server-side development.

  • Advantage

    Event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, which is efficient for handling concurrent requests and I/O operations.

  • Advantage

    Vast ecosystem of libraries and packages available through npm (Node Package Manager).

  • Disadvantage

    Asynchronous programming in Node.js heavily relies on callbacks, which can lead to nested callback functions.

  • Disadvantage

    May not perform as well for CPU-bound tasks due to its single-threaded nature.

  • Disadvantage

    Some libraries and modules can vary in terms of maturity and stability.

Deno

Deno

Best for JavaScript Apps Development

Geekflare rating score 4.2 out of 5
4.2
|
  • Use Case
    TypeScript Support, Web Development, Server-side Scripting
Open-source

About Deno

Deno is a secure runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript. Its main purpose is to address some of the shortcomings of Node.js and to provide a more secure and productive environment for building JavaScript and TypeScript applications.

Deno runs in a secure sandboxed environment by default, meaning it cannot access files, networks, or environments unless explicitly granted.

Ryan Dahl created Deno, first announced at JSConf EU in Berlin in June 2018. Later, it was officially released as an open-source project on May 13, 2020.

Deno Pricing Model

Deno is an open-source project and is available for free for anyone to use.

Deno Features

  • Key feature

    Provides First-class support for TypeScript, allowing developers to write and run TypeScript code without additional configuration or tools.

  • Key feature

    Provides native support for ES modules, making working with modern JavaScript code easier.

  • Key feature

    Comes with a set of standard modules that provide essential functionality for building applications, which reduces the need for third-party dependencies.

  • Key feature

    Deno’s standard library is designed to be compatible with the web platform, making it easier to write code that can be shared between the server and the client.

Deno Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Enhanced security features such as permissions-based access to resources.

  • Advantage

    Built-in TypeScript support.

  • Advantage

    Deno is distributed as a single executable file, so it’s easy to install.

  • Disadvantage

    Relatively new platform compared to Node.js, so it has a smaller ecosystem of libraries.

  • Disadvantage

    Some Node.js modules may not work directly with Deno due to differences in APIs.

Bootstrap

Bootstrap

Best for Responsive Front-End Development

Geekflare rating score 4.2 out of 5
4.2
|
  • Use Case
    Front-End Framework, Responsive Web Design, CSS Framework
Open-source

About Bootstrap

Bootstrap is a popular open-source front-end web development framework created by Mark Otto and Jacob Thornton at Twitter in August 2011 to achieve consistency across other internal tools.

It was later released as an open-source project on GitHub in August 2011. Bootstrap enables developers to create responsive and mobile-first websites and web applications. It provides a set of pre-built CSS and JavaScript components and a grid system.

Bootstrap Pricing Model

Bootstrap is an open-source framework available for free under the MIT License.

Bootstrap Features

  • Key feature

    Provides a mobile-first grid system where developers can create flexible and responsive layouts for their web projects. The design adapts to different screen sizes and devices.

  • Key feature

    Bootstrap has many pre-styled UI components, such as buttons, forms, navigation bars, and modals. That makes it easy for developers to create visually intuitive user interfaces.

  • Key feature

    It offers customizable themes and templates to quickly prototype and build modern websites and applications.

  • Key feature

    Bootstrap ensures cross-browser compatibility.

  • Key feature

    Extensive documentation and community support are available.

  • Key feature

    Bootstrap includes support for Flexbox layout and Sass preprocessor, which offers advanced layout and styling capabilities.

Bootstrap Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Responsive grid system and predefined CSS classes.

  • Advantage

    Wide range of pre-built components, such as buttons, forms, navigation bars, and modals, that can be easily customized.

  • Advantage

    Large community of developers, extensive documentation, and resources like themes and templates.

  • Disadvantage

    Websites built with Bootstrap may have a similar look and feel unless customized extensively.

  • Disadvantage

    Including the entire Bootstrap framework in a project can increase the overall file size, impacting page load times.

  • Disadvantage

    There is a learning curve for beginners to understand the grid system and components.

Tailwind CSS

Tailwind CSS

Best for Frontend Development

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Use Case
    CSS Framework, Rapid UI Development
Open-source

About Tailwind CSS

Tailwind CSS was created in Canada by Adam Wathan, Jonathan Reinink, David Hemphill, and Steve Schoger in 2017. It is a popular utility-first CSS framework that provides a set of low-level utility classes to build custom and responsive user interfaces.

It’s a Utility-First approach, providing a comprehensive set of utility classes for styling elements, such as margins, padding, typography, or colors.

Tailwind CSS Pricing Model

Tailwind CSS is an open-source framework that is available for free to anyone.

Tailwind CSS Features

  • Key feature

    Comes with native built-in support for responsive design.

  • Key feature

    Optimized for minimal CSS output, reducing the overall file size and improving performance.

  • Key feature

    Large community and ecosystem ecosystem of plugins, extensions, and resources.

  • Key feature

    Contains documentation and a large amount of learning resources in the form of tutorials.

  • Key feature

    Supports easy integration with build tools such as Webpack, PostCSS, and Laravel Mix.

Tailwind CSS Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Enables rapid development by providing a set of utility classes that can be applied directly in HTML.

  • Advantage

    Offers extensive customization options through configuration files.

  • Advantage

    Includes responsive design utilities that make creating layouts that adapt to different screen sizes easily.

  • Disadvantage

    Requires a learning curve, especially for developers accustomed to traditional CSS frameworks or methodologies.

  • Disadvantage

    May result in larger CSS file sizes compared to hand-written CSS, as it includes a comprehensive set of utility classes, which could impact page load times.

Vim

Vim

Best for Text-Based Editor Power and Efficiency

Geekflare rating score 4.2 out of 5
4.2
|
  • Use Case
    Text Editing, Code Editing, Command-Line Interface
Open-source

About Vim

Vim, which stands for “Vi IMproved,” was created by Bram Moolenaar in the Netherlands and was first released publicly in 1991. It is a configurable, open-source text editor with a modal editing system, allowing users to switch between different modes for editing, navigation, and other tasks.

Vim Pricing Model

Vim is open-source software, and it is distributed under a charityware license. Users can freely use, modify, and distribute the software. The charityware license encourages users to consider donating to children in Uganda through the ICCF Holland Foundation, but Vim is not required.

Vim Features

  • Key feature

    Modal editing model is a unique feature that enables users to switch between different modes (such as insert mode, normal mode, and visual mode).

  • Key feature

    Supports high customization and extensibility, with the possibility of plugin addition, custom key mappings, and scripting.

  • Key feature

    There are powerful and efficient navigation commands, such as motions, text objects, and search capabilities.

  • Key feature

    VIM contains a command-line interface for executing commands, searching, and performing various operations.

  • Key feature

    You can simultaneously split windows and tabs to work with multiple files and views.

  • Key feature

    VIM includes built-in support for syntax highlighting, auto-indentation, and formatting for a wide range of programming languages and file types.

  • Key feature

    Available on various operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and Windows. It provides a consistent editing experience across different platforms.

Vim Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Known for its efficiency and speed in editing text, thanks to its modal editing system and extensive keyboard shortcuts.

  • Advantage

    Highly customizable, allowing users to configure settings and install plugins.

  • Advantage

    Vim is a lightweight text editor that runs in the terminal, so it’s very fast.

  • Disadvantage

    Steep learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with modal editing.

  • Disadvantage

    Lacks a graphical user interface by default.

  • Disadvantage

    Core functionality focuses on text editing only, so users may need to install plugins or configure settings to add features.

Microsoft Visual Studio

Microsoft Visual Studio

Best for .NET and C++ Development

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Use Case
    IDE, .NET and Web Development
FREE

About Microsoft Visual Studio

Microsoft Visual Studio was first introduced in 1997 directly by Microsoft. Since then, it has evolved through various versions and updates. Today, it is a powerful IDE that provides a wide range of features for software development across various platforms and programming languages.

MS Visual Studio is a robust tool for .NET development, with support for building web applications, desktop applications, cloud services, and mobile apps. It’s a powerful tool for C++ development, containing advanced code editing, debugging tools, profiling approaches, and performance tuning capabilities.

It has over 14 million active users.

Microsoft Visual Studio Pricing Model

Microsoft offers a range of pricing options, including a free Community edition for individual developers and small teams and one-time paid Professional and Enterprise editions with additional features and support. The actual prices vary a lot depending on your needs, so check the MS Visual Studio pricing pages for concrete quotes based on your use case.

Microsoft Visual Studio Features

  • Key feature

    Includes complex integrated debugger with advanced features such as breakpoint management, variable inspection, and real-time code execution analysis.

  • Key feature

    Native support of code refactoring and analysis features aimed to automate code quality improvement, maintainability, and performance.

  • Key feature

    Rich ecosystem of extensions and add-ons where developers can customize and extend the IDE’s functionality to meet specific development requirements.

  • Key feature

    Contains collaboration and team development features, such as version control integration with Git, team project management, and various agile tools.

  • Key feature

    Cross-platform development is easy due to Windows, macOS, and Linux support.

Microsoft Visual Studio Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Supports multiple programming languages, frameworks, and platforms, such as C#, .NET, Python, JavaScript, and more.

  • Advantage

    Rich ecosystem of extensions, plugins, and integrations with Azure services, GitHub, and other tools.

  • Disadvantage

    Can be resource-intensive, especially for larger projects or on less powerful hardware.

  • Disadvantage

    Extensive features and configurations can overwhelm beginners or users accustomed to simpler text editors.

Eclipse

Eclipse

Best for Open-Source and Java-Centric Development

Geekflare rating score 4.2 out of 5
4.2
|
  • Use Case
    IDE, Java Development, Cross-Platform Development
Open-source

About Eclipse

Eclipse is a popular open-source IDE known for its extensive support for Java development and its rich ecosystem of plugins and extensions. IBM created it in November 2001.

Eclipse is developed and maintained by an active open-source community, providing a collaborative and transparent development process alongside comprehensive documentation.

Eclipse Pricing Model

Eclipse is an open-source software development platform available for free to all users. There are no licensing fees or subscription costs associated.

Eclipse Features

  • Key feature

    Includes Java Development Tools (JDT), such as a powerful code editor, debugger, compiler, refactoring tools, and support for Java EE and Jakarta EE development.

  • Key feature

    Provides an integrated environment for software development. It offers features for project management, version control integration, build automation, and testing.

  • Key feature

    Highly extensible and customizable, which allows developers to add new features, tools, and language support through plugins and extensions.

  • Key feature

    Offers modeling and development frameworks support with domain-specific languages. This makes it suitable for a wide range of software development tasks beyond Java.

Eclipse Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Cross-platform IDE that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • Advantage

    Rich plugin ecosystem support.

  • Disadvantage

    Can be resource-intensive and may suffer performance issues, especially with large projects.

  • Disadvantage

    User interface can be overwhelming for new users or those accustomed to simpler text editors, as it offers a wide range of features.

JetBrains

JetBrains

Best for Language-Specific Intelligent IDEs

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Use Case
    IDEs, Code Analysis, Refactoring
Open-source

About JetBrains

JetBrains is known for its popular integrated development environments (IDEs) such as IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, and others, as well as productivity tools like TeamCity and YouTrack. The company was founded in 2000 in Prague, Czech Republic.

JetBrains offers a suite of intelligent integrated development environments (IDEs) tailored for specific programming languages. JetBrains has over 15.9 million developers as active users.

JetBrains Pricing Model

The company provides subscription-based, perpetual, and free licensing for open-source projects and educational use. The pricing varies significantly depending on the concrete feature pack included.

JetBrains Features

  • Key feature

    Contains comprehensive support for specific programming languages, including Java, Kotlin, Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, and more.

  • Key feature

    JetBrains IDEs come with a rich set of built-in tools, such as version control integration, build tools, testing frameworks, and database tools.

  • Key feature

    You get integrated code quality and testing capabilities for code quality analysis, unit testing, and debugging.

  • Key feature

    Includes productivity features, such as live templates, code snippets, keyboard shortcuts, and customizable workflows.

  • Key feature

    Available on multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • Key feature

    JetBrains IDEs support a wide range of plugins and extensions to customize and extend the IDE’s functionality.

JetBrains Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Offers a rich set of features for software development, including intelligent code completion, refactoring, and debugging.

  • Advantage

    Strong focus on developer productivity, with features like code inspections, quick fixes, code templates, and smart navigation.

  • Advantage

    Integrate seamlessly with other JetBrains products, such as TeamCity, for continuous integration and with popular version control systems like Git.

  • Disadvantage

    Advanced features and full capabilities require purchasing a license, which may be a challenge for smaller projects.

  • Disadvantage

    Can be resource-intensive, especially for larger projects or on less powerful hardware, leading to increased memory usage, longer startup times, and potential performance issues.

DbVisualizer

DbVisualizer

Best Database Client

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Use Case
    Database Management, SQL Editor, Query Optimization
FREE

About DbVisualizer

DbVisualizer was founded in 1999 in Stockholm, Sweden. It is a feature-rich, universal database tool for developers, database administrators, and analysts. It supports all major databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, Sybase, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and many more.

As of today, the company reports over 6 million downloads and 28,000 companies using the pro version.

DbVisualizer Features

  • Key feature

    Support of a wide range of databases makes it a single tool for managing multiple database platforms.

  • Key feature

    It contains comprehensive database object management features such as SQL editing, schema browsing, data visualization, and query building.

  • Key feature

    You get SQL Editor and Query Builder in one single package.

  • Key feature

    It contains tools for visualizing and analyzing data, including charting, pivot tables, and data export capabilities.

  • Key feature

    It’s a strong database administration tool with features such as user management, database monitoring, and performance tuning tools.

  • Key feature

    DbVisualizer contains collaboration features such as shared sessions and team sharing of database connections.

DbVisualizer Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    A cross-platform tool that supports various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • Advantage

    Connectivity to multiple database types, including popular ones like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, and more.

  • Disadvantage

    The user interface may appear complex or overwhelming for some users.

  • Disadvantage

    Advanced functionalities and commercial use require purchasing a license, which may be a problem for budget-limited projects.

DbVisualizer Pricing Model

PlanPricing (yearly)Offerings
Standard$0Standard feature set, supported by a helpful User Guide and active Community
Pro (60 day support)$197Full access to all DbVisualizer Pro features, guidance from the development team for the initial 60 days
Pro (Premium support)$229All DbVisualizer Pro features, Added priority assistance from the development team during the full period
DbSchema

DbSchema

Best for Database Design and Visualization

Geekflare rating score 4.0 out of 5
4.0
|
  • Use Case
    Database Design, Data Modeling, Schema Documentation
FREE

About DbSchema

DbSchema is a powerful database design and visualization tool that offers a wide range of features for database developers, architects, and administrators. It is German based IT software company.

It offers a visual interface for designing and modeling databases in the first place. Such strong focus allows users to create and modify database schemas, tables, relationships, and constraints using intuitive diagramming tools. The diagrams for visualizing database structures are interactive and customizable. Users can navigate, explore, and understand complex database schemas and relationships.

DbSchema Pricing Model

The pricing includes options for individual users, teams, and enterprises, with varying features and support levels. Additionally, DbSchema provides a free community edition and trial for users to explore its features before purchasing.

The Pro edition starts at $29.4 per month.

DbSchema Features

  • Key feature

    Includes full reverse engineering support. That practically means you can import database schemas from various original sources, such as SQL scripts or JDBC connections, for visualization and documentation.

  • Key feature

    Offers deep integration of data modeling features. You can document database structures, generate data dictionaries, and maintain comprehensive database documentation.

  • Key feature

    Includes as a standalone tool dedicated SQL query builder.

  • Key feature

    Offers database synchronization features, with the ability to compare and synchronize database schemas, generate migration scripts, and apply changes to target databases.

  • Key feature

    Offers strong collaboration and team support, such as shared projects, version control integration, and team sharing of database designs.

DbSchema Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Great visual interface for designing and modeling databases.

  • Advantage

    Allows for generating detailed documentation of the database schema.

  • Advantage

    Available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • Disadvantage

    Users new to database design tools may find DbSchema’s interface and features complex.

  • Disadvantage

    Limited collaboration features compared to some other database design tools.

Jira

Jira

Best for Agile Project Management and Issue Tracking

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Use Case
    Issue Tracking, Project Management, Agile Software Development
FREE

About Jira

Jira is a widely used project management and issue-tracking tool developed by Atlassian, an Australian company, in 2002. It is designed to help teams plan, track, and manage agile software development projects. Jira has over 2,60,000 active paying customers worldwide.

Jira Features

  • Key feature

    Great support for agile methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban, features for sprint planning, backlog management, and agile boards to organize incremental development.

  • Key feature

    Allows teams to define and customize workflows to match their specific processes.

  • Key feature

    Include tools for roadmap and release planning and tracking progress toward project goals.

  • Key feature

    Strong support for reporting and dashboard features, offering insights into project progress, team performance, and key metrics.

  • Key feature

    Strong collaboration and communication tools for teams to work and share content.

Jira Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Robust project tracking and management features, including issue tracking and agile boards.

  • Advantage

    Integrates with a wide range of development tools, such as Bitbucket, Confluence, and Jenkins, as well as third-party apps and plugins.

  • Advantage

    Extensive customization options allow users to tailor workflows, issue types, fields, and permissions to match their specific project needs.

  • Disadvantage

    Jira’s extensive features and configurations can lead to complexity.

  • Disadvantage

    Advanced features and larger user bases may incur significant costs.

  • Disadvantage

    Managing and maintaining Jira instances can require dedicated administrative effort and resources.

Jira Pricing Model

PlanPricing (monthly)Offerings
Free$0100 automation per site per month, 2 GB of storage, Support from Atlassian Community, Up to 10 users
Standard$7.161,700 automation per site per month, 250 GB of storage, 9/5 regional support, Unlimited users
Premium$12.48Per user automation limits (1000 per month), Unlimited storage, 24/7 support for critical issues, 99.9% uptime SLA
EnterpriseCustomUnlimited automation, Multiple instances (up to 150), 24/7 support for all issues, 99.95% uptime SLA
Netdata

Netdata

Best for Observability and Application Monitoring

Geekflare rating score 5.0 out of 5
5.0
|
  • Use Case
    Server Monitoring, Performance Monitoring, Real-time Metrics
Open-source

About Netdata

Netdata was founded in 2018 in Würzburg, Germany. It is an open-source, distributed, real-time performance and health monitoring tool for systems and applications. It is, therefore, the extremely versatile tool you might need in almost every possible use case and environment setup.

Netdata is designed for distributed monitoring. This means users can aggregate and visualize metrics from multiple nodes and environments. It’s a lightweight and resource-efficient tool with minimal impact on system resources. As an open-source, it has a vibrant community of contributors and users.

Netdata Pricing Model

Netdata is an open-source monitoring and troubleshooting tool available for free to all users. The company offers additional services and support for enterprise customers, but the core monitoring tool is freely accessible to all users.

Netdata Features

  • Key feature

    Collects various metrics, including CPU usage, memory utilization, disk I/O, network traffic, and application-specific metrics. It gives a holistic view of system and application performance.

  • Key feature

    Netdata contains interactive and customizable visualization capabilities, including charts, graphs, and dashboards.

  • Key feature

    Numerous alerting and notification features allow users to set up alarms based on predefined thresholds and receive real-time notifications via various channels (e.g., email, Slack, and PagerDuty).

Netdata Pros and Cons

  • Advantage

    Real-time insights into system and application performance metrics.

  • Advantage

    Support of a wide range of data collectors and integrations. Users can monitor various systems, applications, and services.

  • Disadvantage

    Running Netdata for continuous monitoring can consume system resources, such as CPU and memory.

  • Disadvantage

    Exposing Netdata’s web interface for remote monitoring may raise security concerns, as it involves opening ports and potentially exposing sensitive system data to unauthorized access.

What Is a Software Development Tool?

A software development tool is a program or application that gives developers a dedicated environment for creating, maintaining, and debugging software. These tools can include integrated development environments (IDEs), code editors, debuggers, compilers, version control systems, SQL editors, and many more. 

The creators design such tools to streamline the development process and improve code quality. As the ultimate inevitable consequence, they increase productivity for software developers.

Why are Software Development Tools Important?

Without software development tools, the work of developers would look like 20 years ago: coding and debugging in command prompt and doing administration tasks via text commands without any visual feedback. 

It would be possible, but today’s fast-paced agile delivery expectations would mean a significant slowdown in incremental release execution. It’d be just unacceptable.

Software development tools are important for several reasons outlined below.

  • They help developers write, test, and debug code significantly more efficiently and save time and effort in all stages of software development.
  • Many tools facilitate collaboration among team members. That’s a crucial property of modern development teams. It enables better communication and coordination in the development process.
  • Development tools often include native features for code analysis, testing, and debugging, which would be non-existent or require significant manual effort from the team members. Such features improve the quality and reliability of the software being developed.
  • Tools can automate repetitive tasks, which is exactly what happens when building and deploying software. Freeing up developers is essential and a smart way to keep their focus on more complex and creative aspects of their work.

How Important Is the Scalability of a Software Development Tool?

Software development tools play a crucial role in software delivery. Developers work more effectively and produce higher-quality software.

In connection with that, the scalability of a software development tool is highly important, especially as projects and teams grow. As the software you are creating is evolving, growing, and getting more complex, the tools you are using must also be able to keep pace. 

A tool’s scalability means its ability to handle increasing workloads, users, and data without sacrificing performance. For software development tools, scalability is very important for several reasons outlined below.

  1. As a development team expands or the scope of a project increases, the tool must be able to handle larger codebases, more complex workflows, and increased collaboration.
  2. Scalable tools maintain performance levels even as the size and complexity of the software being developed grows. Usually, that means horizontal scaling (as you can’t increase the hardware performance by the tool itself). But this still ensures that developers can work equally effectively without being hindered by tool limitations.
  3. The growth of the tools can be defined also by the needs of the team or project. This is a huge advantage for the teams, as they don’t need to constantly switch to new tools as requirements change. This can lead to cost savings and reduced disruption.

In summary, the scalability of a software development tool is ultimately necessary for supporting the growth and evolving needs of development projects and teams.

What Is the Purpose of Software Software Development Tools?

The essential purpose of software development tools is to provide developers with the necessary resources and utilities they ultimately need to deliver software. That covers designing, building, testing, and deploying high-quality software applications. 

These tools are intended to streamline the development lifecycle and enhance code quality. On your project, you can use them to facilitate collaboration, automate repetitive tasks, and ultimately enable the creation of reliable and scalable software solutions.

How Do You Choose the Right Software Development Tool?

You can choose your desired set of project tools in many ways and by following many different approaches. Usually, it’s highly case-by-case specific.

However, if we are about to generalize the process, consider the following factors when choosing the right software development tool.

  • Project Requirements – Evaluate the specific needs of your project, such as programming languages, frameworks, and platforms you must use, to ensure the tool aligns with these requirements.
  • Team Collaboration – Consider the tool’s capabilities for facilitating collaboration, communication, and version control among team members. This will be the primary factor that will determine how agile the team is going to be.
  • Scalability – Consider whether the tool can accommodate the potential growth of your project and team over time and what it would mean for the team’s performance a few years from today.
  • Integration -Verify if the tool integrates well with other tools and systems you will use in your development environment—for example, issue tracking, continuous integration, and deployment tools.
  • Support and Community – Look for tools with strong support resources, documentation, and an active user community to assist with troubleshooting and learning.
  • Cost and Licensing – Consider the tool’s cost, licensing model, and any associated expenses the software tool might have when support is required (which almost certainly will be required).

By carefully considering these factors, you can narrow down the selection of software development tools much closer to the real-life needs of your project and team.

Explore more on software development