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Timeless Tools for Web Development

One of the great things about working in this industry is the constant change. There is always something new to learn, new design work to experience, or new technology to explore. Thankfully, the tools that we use don’t change as often. And there are a few tools that rarely—if ever—change. Such tools retain their usefulness regardless of time.

This list represents my opinion only, though I know I’m not alone. Tools in this context usually refers to software. But there are a couple pieces of hardware that I think fit the subject just as well, so those are also included.

What tools you use are obviously going to be affected by what platform you use. This list is based on my platform of choice: the LAMP platform (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), as it’s foundation. As a result, some of the tools are specific to that platform, and some aren’t. As a journal category, this list is intended to grow.

• jQuery and Javascript

  jQuery’s syntax and ease of use sets the standard for javascript frameworks. If you’ve held off on using javascript for any particular reason, then jQuery is likely to make you question those reasons.

• IBM Model-M Keyboard

  At no other time in history have so many resources been put towards the typing experience.

• VIM

  I get chastised for using a text editor that came from the 1960s, but I consider this a timeless tool that would be hard to do without. Here’s why.

• PHP

  Microsoft .NET developers make more, and Ruby and Python may have a nicer name, but PHP is by far the most important, longest lasting and widely adopted web programming language out there.