🔓5 Open Source Tools That Changed My Development Workflow Forever

Doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is a sign of insanity. So why are so many developers getting stuck with the same tools, expecting better results?

The right tools don't just save time, they change how we work and think. These five open-source tools and apps have improved my work and made it impossible to work without them anymore. I'm sharing these five tools not because they're the newest or popular, but because they've genuinely transformed my work. Let's dive in!

1. Tolgee: Localization

Managing translation files across multiple languages, providing context for translators, and keeping everything in sync is just the start of what you have to keep track of when you want your product to be accessible for multiple languages and go global. Tolgee does all of that and saves tons of time for devs with smart translation integration. You can easily delegate translation or use AI features to instantly translate with context included!

Tolgee is an open-source localization platform that changed how I approach internationalization.

(Don't forget to star it on GitHub!)

Tolgee supports many integrations, including React, Vue, Svelte and even lets you translate Unreal Engine projects. Here is an example of how to use it with React:

import { useTranslate } from '@tolgee/react';

function Component() {
  const { t } = useTranslate();

  return <div>{t('key_to_translate', 'DEFAULT VALUE')}</div>;
}

2. Helmfile: Taming the Kubernetes

Kubernetes is powerful but complex. I was struggling with Helm charts across dev, staging, and production environments.

Helmfile fixed that problem for good.

Why Helmfile Changed Everything:

One config for all environments: Write once, run anywhere
Git-based configs: My cluster setup lives in version control
Smart dependencies: Charts install in the right order

3. Zx: Simple Shell Scripts

Shell scripts are essential but painful. Bash syntax is cryptic, error handling barely exists, and maintenance is a nightmare.

Zx solves these problems by letting you write shell scripts in JavaScript or TypeScript. It is maintained by Google and is perfect if you are a JS lover.

4. Fx: Better Command Line

Working with APIs means constantly working with JSON data. Traditional approaches like piping to jq or opening files in editors can break your flow, Moreover, it requires learning yet another syntax. But what if you could use something you already know? JSON!

Fx improves this with an interactive JSON processor made for developers. It combines viewing capabilities with powerful transformation functions that make complex data manipulation simple.

But its real power comes from JavaScript transformations that let you extract exactly what you need:


bash
# Extract all user emails from an API response
curl https://api.example.com/users | fx 'x => x.users.map(u => u.email)'

# Find items matching specific criteria
cat data.json | fx 'x => x.filter(i => i.status === "active" && i.price > 100)'

Fx has eliminated countless throwaway scripts and can help you reduce API debugging time from minutes to seconds. For anyone working with JSON (which is almost every web dev), it's an essential tool.

5. Refined GitHub

If you are an advanced GitHub user, you know its interface has limitations. Small problems and issues add up over time and slow down your workflow.

Refined GitHub addresses these issues with a lot of improvements that can make GitHub more productive. Some great features that it has:

File tree navigation for pull requests
Code review tools with better diffing
Better file editing and commit
CI status details without leaving the page

The extension is well-maintained, with frequent updates as GitHub's interface evolves. It has a great balance between adding functionality and keeping a familiar GitHub feeling.

Conclusion

Productivity isn't just about saving time. You should also take into account the mental bandwidth that you use for the boring and complex tasks that you can potentially improve, but it takes a little time to learn. When your tools work with you instead of against you, you have more energy for solving the problems that actually matter.

What tools have transformed your workflow? Share your discoveries in the comments

Nazarii @nazarii