12 Open Source tools that Developers would give up Pizza for👋🍕
Tags: tooling, webdev, opensource, productivity
Published: 2024-06-24 17:21:08

It's Open Source tool time!

There is more to open source tools than the top 3 that everyone knows about.

Heck, you might actually know all the 12 in this list already(in which case: "slow clap"), but most of us don't.

![developer open source slow clap](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/87r8u8xpfavjuc4xp96v.gif)

And when it comes to tools to help devs do their jobs, open source makes for a convincing argument!

That's why we launched our own [Open Source tool for developer productivity](https://github.com/middlewarehq/middleware) as well.😉

So, here’s a curated list of 12 open source tools that can become indispensable in your toolkit.

Let’s go!

> Note: We found some inconsistencies in the projects, rephrased and added new projects based on suggestions from the community.

## 1. Theia

Think of Theia when you're looking for a [truly Open Source alternative](https://eclipse-foundation.blog/2020/05/05/eclipse-theia-and-vs-code-differences-explained/) to VSCode.

It's a flexible IDE that works on both the cloud and desktop. It’s built in TypeScript and comes with lots of add-ons you can use. 

- **Key Features**:
  - Cloud & desktop IDE capabilities
  - Extensible plugin system: Accepts VSCode plugins/extensions
  - Multi-language support

- [Theia Website](https://theia-ide.org/)
- [Theia Github](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia)

## 2. Postman

A lot of us would already know about Postman.

No no, not the guy who delivers your Amazon packages.

![Postman Open Source](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/d2pslqrzp72ztaf3myck.gif)

This Postman makes it easier to work with APIs by letting you chain requests together, automate tasks, and collaborate with others.

So, if you're not a fan of cURL, Postman comes to rescue.

- **Key Features**:
  - API testing and automation
  - Request chaining for complex workflows
  - Collaboration tools for teams

- [Postman Website](https://www.postman.com/)
- [Postman Github](https://github.com/postmanlabs/postman-app-support)

## 3. Hoppscotch

Hoppscotch is a free, lightweight, fast, and a pretty API request builder tool to create and test your APIs relatively quickly.

- **Key Features**:
  - HTTP request methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, etc.)
  - Built-in support for GraphQL
  - Collection management and environment variables

- **Website**: [Hoppscotch](https://hoppscotch.io/)
- **GitHub**: [Hoppscotch GitHub](https://github.com/hoppscotch/hoppscotch)

## 4. Pocketbase

Pocketbase is an open source realtime backend in one file that can be used in your Flutter, Vue, React & Angular applications.

Think of a no fuss & a simple SQL database for developers written in Go.

- **Key Features**:
  - Embedded database (SQLite) with realtime subscriptions
  - Built-in files and users management
  - And simple REST-ish API

- [Pocketbase Website](https://pocketbase.io/)
- [Pocketbase Github](https://github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase)

## 5. cURL

I guess there is no developer who wouldn't know cURL.

cURL is a simple command-line tool that is used for calling APIs. In fact, cURL is included by default in most operating system distributions like Linux & MacOS.

- **Key Features**:
  - Support for multiple protocols (HTTP, FTP, etc.)
  - Scriptable command-line tool

- [cURL Website](https://curl.se/)
- [cURL Github](https://github.com/curl/curl)

## 6. Waveterm

Waveterm is an open-source AI-native terminal.

Waveterm ties command line with open web to help developers be more productive.

- **Key Features**:
  - Persistent sessions across network disconnections and reboots
  - Searchable contextual command history
  - CodeEdit, to edit local and remote files with a VSCode-like inline editor
  - AI Integration with ChatGPT (or ChatGPT compatible APIs) to help write commands and get answers inline

- [Waveterm Website](https://www.waveterm.dev/)
- [Waveterm Github](https://github.com/wavetermdev/waveterm)

## 7. Ollama

AI is all the rage and a developer who doesn't play around with local LLMs isn't a developer at all in 2024, right?😜

Ollama is all about experimenting with Large Language Models locally.

It's like Docker Desktop for LLMs.

![Ollama Open Source](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8l3mt8lhulrm4iftjjtz.gif)

- **Key Features**:
  - Local experimentation with LLMs
  - Development environment for large language models
  - OpenAI compatible API

- [Ollama Website](https://ollama.com/)
- [Ollama Github](https://github.com/ollama/ollama)

## 8. LM-Studio

LM-Studio is also like Docker Desktop & a competitor to Ollama.

- **Key Features**:
  - Local experimentation with LLMs
  - OpenAI compatible API
  - Support for Windows PCs

- [LM-Studio Website](https://lmstudio.ai/)
- [LM-Studio Github](https://github.com/lmstudio-ai)


## 9. VS Code

Tell me you knew VS Code is Open Source. Tell me please.

VS Code is a more or less the first code editor that most developers start with these days. Unless you use Vim on Linux. I use Arch btw.

Extensions for VSCode are available in unimaginable quantities.

- **Key Features**:
  - Extensible code editor
  - Debugging support
  - Rich ecosystem of extensions

- [VS Code Website](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
- [VS Code Github](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode)

## 10. Docker Compose

Everyone uses Docker these days, right?

Docker Compose makes it easier to set up multiple connected Docker applications by using a simple `compose.yaml` file.

- **Key Features**:
  - Orchestration of Docker containers
  - Service definition with YAML
  - Multi-container application management

- [Docker Compose Website](https://docs.docker.com/compose/)
- [Docker Compose Github](https://github.com/docker/compose)

## 11. ESLint

ESLint is a great tool for JavaScript and TypeScript that enforces coding standards and enhances code quality through customizable linting rules and plugins.

ESLint in combination with Prettier and other such tools help JavaScript developers at large.

- **Key Features**:
  - Code quality analysis
  - Configurable linting rules
  - JavaScript and TypeScript support

- [ESLint Website](https://eslint.org/)
- [ESLint Github](https://github.com/eslint/eslint)

## 12. Oh My Zsh

Oh My Zsh is like a supercharged upgrade for your Zsh shell setup, it's got cool themes and plugins that put your terminal experience on steroids.

Of course, getting a proper Zsh resource file tends to be a bit difficult for some.

- **Key Features**:
  - Zsh configuration management
  - Customizable themes and plugins
  - Community-driven development

- [Oh My Zsh Website](https://ohmyz.sh/)
- [Oh My Zsh Github](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh)

---

Did I miss some important ones? 

What do you think?

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