Tools I use all the time
Since I started making websites, I have been building up a list of useful tools, scripts, and other bits of software that just make my job a little bit easier. This is my current list.
- Color Scheme Designer 3
- An invaluable tool for finding complementary shades and colours, with a good range of options and a simple interface.
- CSS Lint
- A controversial choice, but still something I use regularly. You don’t have to do everything it says, but it will pick up errors and it might just make your code a bit more efficient. Always read the label.
- Current IP Check
- Does exactly what it says it does.
- DomainTools WHOIS Lookup
- There are plenty of options for WHOIS queries, but I have always found this one the quickest and simplest.
- Down For Everyone Or Just Me
- Also available at isup.me, this simple site will save a lot of shouting across the office.
- Dynamic Dummy Image Generator
- Have you ever needed a dummy image to fill a gap in hurry? This generator is quick and simple and even prints the dimensions on the image, so you can remember what they are later.
- Font Squirrel
- Not really a single tool, this is a great resource for finding open source web fonts. The brilliantly flexible
@font-facegenerator has also made a lot of projects a lot easier. - HTML Lint
- You know your code is valid, but is it pretty?
- htpasswd generator
- If you don’t have time to do it yourself, this can quickly add a bit of security to your site.
- Is My Blog Working?
- This site checks your blog for errors, efficiency, and visibility. More useful than you might think.
- JSHint
- A friendlier cousin of the venerable JSLint, this code checker has plenty of options and provides really useful feedback on your JavaScript code.
- Mr Data Converter
- What if you have some comma-delimited data that need to be in an HTML table, or a PHP array, or a JSON string, or something else entirely? Job done.
- PXtoEM.com
- Put away the calculator. This site converts your old-fashioned
pxunits to shiny, responsiveemunits. - Responsive Design Test Bookmarklet
- Still endlessly resizing the window to test your responsive design? Stop that. You can also use Matt Kersley’s version, but personally I find the bookmarklet more convenient.
- Validator.nu
- The original and best HTML5 validator.
And that is my list.