I’m here to share 10 tools that aren’t just popular but can genuinely impact your daily routine as a developer, from coding and debugging to collaboration and keeping your sanity intact.

Let’s dive in.

1. Tabnine
AI-powered code completion
Tabnine’s predictive AI code completion feels like having an assistant right next to you. It learns from your patterns, suggesting not just code snippets but entire logic blocks you’re about to write. If you’ve been frustrated by boilerplate, this will save you serious time.

2. Kite
Another AI code assistant, but with style
Like Tabnine, but better if you need more intricate completions across Python, JavaScript, Go, etc. It also integrates with multiple IDEs, so you’re not limited to just one ecosystem.

3. Tuple
Remote pair programming without the lag
Forget Zoom or Teams for pair programming—Tuple is built specifically for developers. Low-latency screen sharing, keyboard shortcuts, and real-time code editing make remote collaboration feel like you’re working right next to your teammate.

4. Excalidraw
Hand-drawn diagrams for better collaboration
Need to explain a concept visually? Excalidraw allows you to draw hand-drawn style diagrams quickly, which is perfect for visualizing complex system architectures, workflows, or just a quick whiteboarding session.

5. Polacode
Polished screenshots of your code
Polacode is a VS Code extension that makes taking beautiful, shareable screenshots of your code super easy. Forget ugly screen grabs; this is what your code deserves.

6. LiveShare (VS Code)
Collaborative coding, done right
Built into VS Code, LiveShare lets you share your code with others in real time, complete with shared terminals and debugging sessions. Perfect for remote teams or mentoring sessions.

7. Cron
Supercharged calendar for developers
Cron is a developer-first calendar tool that integrates deeply with your favorite apps, offering shortcuts for scheduling, setting up stand-ups, and more. The UI feels snappy, and you can manage multiple time zones without needing an abacus.

8. LogRocket
Client-side logging and session replay
Debugging is painful, especially when issues only happen on the client side. LogRocket gives you visual recordings of user sessions, letting you replay and identify bugs in a fraction of the time.

9. HTTPie
Friendly CLI for HTTP requests
If you're tired of wrestling with curl or Postman, try HTTPie. It’s simple, intuitive, and makes debugging APIs a breeze right from your terminal. Syntax is human-readable, so no more forgetting the right flags.

10. Sourcegraph
Code search that scales
Whether you're working with monorepos or microservices spread across hundreds of repos, Sourcegraph makes searching through codebases fast and effective. Great for understanding the impact of code changes across an entire organization.

The key is to experiment, adapt, and mold your toolset to fit your unique style as a developer.

Which of these tools do you use already, and what’s your favorite “underground” tool you can’t live without?