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Top Dev Tools

by @annhex · last added 2026-10-20 · 16 items [dev-tools]

Popular-but-not-household-name developer tools: CLIs, TUIs and dev utilities with real traction that deserve a spot in your workflow.


* sqlite-utils: a CLI and Python library for building SQLite databases
Simon Willison's write-up introducing sqlite-utils, which turns JSON/CSV into SQLite tables and makes querying and changing them from the shell easy.
simonwillison.net · node›
* Mergiraf: a syntax-aware git merge driver
A git merge driver that resolves conflicts using the syntax tree, so many "conflicts" merge cleanly. Like difftastic, but for merges.
codeberg.org · node›
* Fossil: a self-contained SCM from the SQLite team
A single-binary version control system with a built-in wiki, bug tracker, forum and web UI. It hosts SQLite itself.
fossil-scm.org · node›
* ripgit: a fast, searchable, self-hosted Git remote
A self-hosted Git remote built on Cloudflare Durable Objects, with fast code search built in.
github.com · node›
* jaq: a jq clone focused on correctness and speed
A jq clone focused on correctness, speed and simplicity. It runs most jq filters, often faster.
github.com · node›
* difftastic: a structural diff that understands syntax
Diffs files by their parsed syntax tree instead of by line, so reformatting noise disappears.
github.com · node›
* ast-grep: structural code search, lint and rewrite
Search, lint and rewrite code with AST patterns that look like the code itself, across many languages.
github.com · node›
* Hurl: run and test HTTP requests in plain text
Define HTTP requests and assertions in plain-text files and run them as API tests in CI.
github.com · node›
* lnav: the log file navigator
A terminal log viewer that merges, colorizes and lets you query logs with SQL, with no server needed.
github.com · node›
* VisiData: a terminal spreadsheet multitool
Explore, sort, filter and summarize CSV, JSON, SQLite and dozens of other formats right in the terminal.
github.com · node›
* gron: make JSON greppable
Flattens JSON into one assignment per line so you can grep, diff and then rebuild it.
github.com · node›
* watchexec: run commands when files change
Re-runs any command when files change. It is gitignore-aware and works across platforms.
github.com · node›
* Atuin: shell history in a searchable database
Replaces shell history with a SQLite-backed, searchable store, with optional encrypted sync across machines.
github.com · node›
* mise: dev tools, env vars and tasks in one
Manages per-project runtime versions (like asdf), environment variables and tasks from a single config.
github.com · node›
* Yazi: a blazing-fast terminal file manager
An async, Rust-based terminal file manager with image previews and a plugin system.
github.com · node›
* VHS: script your terminal recordings
Write a .tape script and render it into a reproducible terminal GIF or video demo.
github.com · node›