Workflows, extensions, and utilities that will double your productivity instantly.
We all know about VS Code, Git, and ChatGPT. But behind the mainstream developer stack lies a secret layer of lightweight tools, extensions, and utilities that quietly transform how top-tier developers work.
If you want to spend less time wrestling with repetitive tasks and more time building actual products, here are 5 underrated tools you should add to your daily workflow today.
1. Keybr — Master Touch Typing for Code
Category: Skill Building
Most developers spend a lot of time looking down at their keyboard or re-typing mistyped syntax. Keybr uses machine learning to analyze your typing patterns and generate customized exercises using phonetics and common coding characters.
Taking 10 minutes every morning to practice on Keybr will effortlessly bump your typing speed to 70+ WPM, making code flow directly from your brain to the screen without friction.
2. Carbon — Beautiful Code Snippets in Seconds
Category: Portfolio & Content Creation
Have you ever seen those slick, beautifully colored images of code shared on LinkedIn, Twitter, or tech publications? They are almost all created using Carbon (carbon.now.sh).
It lets you drop in any piece of code, automatically highlights syntax for dozens of languages, adds customized window borders, and lets you export high-resolution PNGs. It is essential if you write technical blogs or share snippets on social media.
3. Excalidraw — Diagramming at the Speed of Thought
Category: System Design & Architecture
Before typing a line of code, sketching out database schemas or app flows prevents massive headaches later. Excalidraw is a virtual, hand-drawn style whiteboard that lets you map out architectures in seconds.
It is lightweight, free, infinite, and supports real-time collaboration. The hand-drawn aesthetic keeps you focused on ideas rather than spending hours worrying about pixel perfection.
4. DevDocs.io — All Documentation in One Single Offline Tab
Category: Documentation & Focus
Jumping between 10 different tabs to read docs for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and Python ruins focus. DevDocs.io combines fast, organized, and searchable API documentation for dozens of languages and frameworks into a single fast web app.
Best of all,** it works 100% offline**, meaning you can keep building seamlessly even without an internet connection.
5. GitLens for VS Code — Supercharge Your Git Workflow
Category: VS Code Extension
If you use VS Code, GitLens is a game-changer. It visually overlays git authorship annotations right inside your code editor, showing who changed a specific line and when.
It allows you to seamlessly explore file history, compare commits, and understand why code was written a certain way without ever leaving your editor.
Summary
Improving your productivity isn't about working more hours—it's about working with better tools. Pick one or two tools from this list to test out this week and see how much time you save!
