As developers, we often hear about the big-name tools that dominate the ecosystem—React, TypeScript, Docker, and so on. But what about the smaller gems? The ones that quietly make our lives easier but don’t always get the spotlight?
In this post, I want to share some of my favorite lesser-known development tools that I use regularly. They may not be household names, but they’re invaluable to me. Let’s dive in!
🏎 Driver.js – Product Tours, Highlights, & Contextual Help
Ever needed to guide users through a web app? Driver.js makes it easy to create smooth, interactive onboarding experiences. Whether you’re highlighting new features or providing contextual help, this tool lets you craft beautiful step-by-step guides.
🗑 Knip.js – Find Unused Files & Dependencies
Dead code? Unused dependencies? Knip.js helps you identify and remove them, keeping your project clean and lean. It’s like a detective that uncovers all the unnecessary baggage in your codebase.
🔍 CSpell – A Spell Checker for Code!
Yes, you read that right—a spell checker for code. CSpell ensures that your variable names, comments, and documentation are free from embarrassing typos. No more “recieve” instead of “receive” in your function names!
✂️ jscpd – Detect Duplicate Code
Ever copied and pasted code and then forgotten about it? jscpd helps detect duplicate code, allowing you to refactor and keep things DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself). It’s a must-have for keeping your codebase maintainable.
📱 SwiperJS – The Best Mobile Touch Slider
When it comes to touch sliders, SwiperJS is my go-to. It’s smooth, hardware-accelerated, and feels native. Perfect for mobile-friendly carousels and swipeable interfaces.
🔐 zxcvbn-ts – Smart Password Strength Estimation
Ever wondered if your password strength meter is actually useful? zxcvbn-ts is a password strength estimator that goes beyond just counting characters—it analyzes patterns and common passwords to give truly meaningful feedback.
📋 Conform – Type-Safe Form Validation
Validating forms can be a nightmare, but Conform makes it simple with type safety and progressive enhancement. It plays nicely with server frameworks like Remix and Next.js, making form validation a breeze.
📄 React PDF – Generate PDFs with React Components
Need to generate PDFs dynamically? React PDF lets you build them using React components, making it easy to create invoices, reports, and other documents.
📦 Prettier Plugin Sort Imports – Organize Your Imports
Messy imports? prettier-plugin-sort-imports automatically sorts them for you, keeping your code neat and structured. If you love Prettier, this plugin is a no-brainer.
📂 FlyDrive – A Simple File Storage Library
Handling file uploads and storage shouldn’t be complicated. FlyDrive is a framework-agnostic library that makes file storage simple and consistent across different providers.
These tools may not be as famous as VS Code or GitHub Copilot, but they each solve a specific problem brilliantly. I use them regularly, and they’ve saved me countless hours. If you haven’t tried them yet, give them a spin!
Have any favorite underrated tools of your own? Let me know—I’m always on the lookout for new ones! 🚀