Developers love shiny new frameworks. But the real magic often hides in small, quiet tools. The ones you don’t see on giant billboards. The ones your colleagues whisper about in Slack threads. Today, we explore seven lesser-known dev tools that can make your web, mobile, and backend life easier. And maybe even a little more fun.
TL;DR: There are hidden gems in the dev world that save time and reduce pain. Tools like HTTPie, Hoppscotch, and Raycast boost productivity fast. Others like Nx, Appwrite, and Temporal simplify complex problems. Try one or two this week. You might never go back.
1. HTTPie – The Friendly API Client
Working with APIs can feel messy. Long curl commands. Endless flags. Tiny mistakes. Big frustration.
HTTPie makes API requests simple and human-readable. It turns ugly command lines into clean, readable ones.
Example:
- Instead of messy curl syntax…
- You write something that looks almost like plain English.
It supports:
- JSON by default
- Colorized output
- Easy authentication
- Session support
There’s also a sleek desktop app. Clean UI. No clutter. Perfect for testing APIs without spinning up heavy tools.
Best for: Backend developers and frontend devs who talk to APIs all day.
2. Hoppscotch – The Open Source Postman Alternative
Many developers use big-name API tools. But sometimes you want something lighter. Faster. Open source.
Hoppscotch runs right in your browser. No heavy installs. No slow startup.
It supports:
- REST
- GraphQL
- WebSockets
- Server-sent events
The interface is simple. Clean panels. Quick response previews.
It’s perfect for quick testing during frontend development. Open a tab. Send a request. Done.
If you love minimal tools, this one feels refreshing.
Best for: Web developers who want speed and simplicity.
3. Raycast – The Power Launcher for Mac Devs
This one is not just a launcher. It’s a command center.
Raycast replaces your default app launcher. But it does much more.
With a simple shortcut, you can:
- Search files
- Run scripts
- Create GitHub issues
- Join Zoom meetings
- Manage tasks
It has extensions for developers. Lots of them.
You can merge pull requests without opening your browser. Or switch branches quickly. Or trigger deployment workflows.
It becomes muscle memory. Open. Type. Enter. Done.
If you’re on macOS and not using a launcher like this, you are leaving time on the table.
Best for: Devs who love keyboard shortcuts and hate context switching.
4. Nx – The Monorepo Tool That Stays Out of Your Way
Monorepos sound scary. Big codebases. Shared libraries. Complex builds.
Nx helps you manage all of that without losing your mind.
It works with:
- React
- Angular
- Node.js
- Next.js
- And more
Here’s why developers love it:
- Smart caching – It only rebuilds what changed.
- Dependency graphs – See how your apps and libs connect.
- Code generators – Reduce boilerplate.
It makes large projects feel smaller. More organized. More predictable.
Teams especially benefit. Clear boundaries. Clear ownership.
Best for: Teams managing multiple apps and shared code.
5. Appwrite – Your Backend Without the Headache
Building a backend from scratch takes time. Authentication. Database setup. File storage. Permissions.
Appwrite gives you all of that out of the box.
It’s an open-source backend server. You can self-host it. Or run it in the cloud.
It provides:
- User authentication
- Databases
- Storage
- Realtime subscriptions
- Cloud functions
For mobile and web developers, this is huge.
No need to build auth flows from zero. No need to wire complex permission systems.
You focus on your app. Not the plumbing.
It’s especially great for:
- MVPs
- Side projects
- Hackathons
- Startups moving fast
Best for: Developers who want backend power without backend burnout.
6. Temporal – Taming Distributed Systems
Distributed systems are hard. Things fail. Requests time out. Services go down.
Retry logic becomes messy. State gets confusing.
Temporal solves this with durable workflows.
Here’s the simple idea:
You write your workflow logic in code. Temporal ensures it runs reliably. Even if servers crash.
It handles:
- Retries
- Timeouts
- State persistence
- Long-running processes
Imagine processing payments. Sending emails. Updating inventory. If one step fails, Temporal can retry safely.
This reduces custom error-handling spaghetti code.
It feels like writing normal backend code. But with superpowers.
Best for: Backend engineers building scalable or event-driven systems.
7. Expo Application Services – Mobile CI/CD Without Tears
Mobile deployments can be painful.
Certificates. Signing keys. Build pipelines. Store submissions.
Expo Application Services (EAS) simplifies this for mobile developers.
If you build React Native apps, this is a gem.
It offers:
- Cloud builds
- Over-the-air updates
- Automated submissions
You push your code. EAS builds it in the cloud. It even handles credentials.
No more wrestling with local build errors that only happen on one machine.
This speeds up release cycles dramatically.
Best for: Mobile developers who want smooth CI/CD pipelines.
Why Lesser-Known Tools Matter
Big tools get attention. But smaller tools move faster.
They often:
- Have focused features
- Solve one problem very well
- Listen closely to community feedback
Using lesser-known tools can also:
- Boost your productivity
- Reduce app bloat
- Improve your workflow
- Give you an edge in your team
And let’s be honest. It feels good to introduce your team to something new.
“Hey, try this.”
And suddenly everyone works faster.
How to Try These Without Overwhelm
Don’t install all seven today.
Pick one that matches your daily pain.
- Struggling with APIs? Try HTTPie or Hoppscotch.
- Drowning in a monorepo? Try Nx.
- Fighting backend auth logic? Try Appwrite.
- Managing complex workflows? Explore Temporal.
- Shipping mobile builds slowly? Test EAS.
Use it for a week. Notice the difference.
Great tools don’t just save minutes. They save mental energy.
Final Thoughts
The developer ecosystem evolves fast. New libraries appear every week. But productivity is not about chasing hype.
It’s about finding tools that:
- Reduce friction
- Fit your workflow
- Stay reliable over time
The seven tools above may not always trend on social media. But they solve real problems.
And that’s what matters.
Explore them. Experiment. Share them with your team.
You might just discover your new favorite secret weapon.