💻 7 Open-Source DevTools That Save Time You Didn't Know to Exist ⌛🚀
Tags: opensource, productivity, programming, webdev
Published: 2023-12-06 13:48:19

In the fast-paced world of software development, one of the most significant challenges developers face is efficiently managing time and resources.

![No time for that](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/u8t7q1budiu16g83z1vy.png)

Reinventing the wheel for common development tasks not only drains valuable time but also diverts focus from the unique aspects of their projects. This is where choosing the right tools becomes crucial. Utilizing well-designed, open-source tools can alleviate common pain points, allowing developers to focus on innovation and craftsmanship.

Almost a decade ago, I started reducing my boilerplate (and saving time with [Lombok](https://github.com/projectlombok/lombok). It made my life much easier, simple as that. Ever since I've been looking into finding the smoothest solutions for saving time rather than handling all of it myself.

The following piece presents **seven** such tools, each with its own set of advantages, designed to streamline various aspects of software development.

## 1. Authenticate with **Hanko**

![Hanko](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0002yqzk2of1qezzsrcd.png)
🌟 Support on [GitHub](https://github.com/teamhanko/hanko)
Website: https://www.hanko.io

Hanko provides a secure and user-friendly way to implement passwordless authentication. It leverages the latest standards in web security, including WebAuthn and FIDO, to enhance both security and user experience. Integration with existing systems is simplified, making Hanko an excellent choice for modern authentication needs. Authenticate only the users you want to access your applications and be able to implement it super fast.


## 2. Authorize with **Cerbos**

![Cerbos](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/fx6w5dlouayaq29m2dbt.png)
🌟 Support on [GitHub](https://github.com/cerbos/cerbos)
Website: https://www.cerbos.dev

After implementing a good authentication you can't mess it up with not having a great one for authorization. In software development, setting up rules for access, known as authorization policies, is crucial for security and proper functioning, and doing it yourself takes months. Cerbos is a self-hosted, stateless solution that solves exactly that, and does it amazingly. Removing authorization from your codebase into a configuration, enabling you to authorize everywhere (and at the edge). And yes, whether you decided to authenticate with Hanko, or any other solution for that matter, Cerbos is compatible with all of them.

## 3. Monitor Databases with Postgres Exporter

![Prometheus](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/sk2p22hsx9v33z63kvgr.png)
🌟 Support on [GitHub](https://github.com/prometheus-community/postgres_exporter)
Website: http://prometheus.io/community

Prometheus Community's Postgres Exporter is utilized to overcome the limitations of manual database monitoring. It offers an automated and centralized solution for collecting comprehensive PostgreSQL database metrics, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual queries. By using the Postgres Exporter, users can efficiently gather performance data, gain valuable insights, and ensure the scalability and health of their database infrastructure, all while minimizing resource consumption and human intervention. This tool enhances database monitoring practices and is an essential component of a robust observability strategy.

## 4. Deep Learning with Tinygrad

![Tinygrad](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/bauvhlkf1yqko8vxz37t.png)

🌟 Support on [GitHub](https://github.com/tinygrad/tinygrad)
Website: https://tinygrad.org/

Tinygrad stands out for its simplicity and small size, making it an excellent educational tool for those looking to understand deep learning mechanics or implement simple models. With GPU support and easy-to-understand code, it simplifies the process of learning and experimenting with deep learning concepts. It's super fast and super easy to get started with, and it may be simple, but it's a powerful framework for deep learning.

## 5. Test Automation with Jest
![Jest](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/u0rei3vgqvhan49xlav0.png)

🌟 Support on [GitHub](https://github.com/jestjs/jest)
Website: https://jestjs.io/

Jest is a zero-config JavaScript testing framework maintained by Facebook. It simplifies unit testing and integration testing with features like built-in test runners, mocking, and snapshot testing. Developers can automate their testing workflows and ensure code quality without the need for extensive setup. It's fast, interactive, and only runs test files related to changed files - providing you instant feedback.

## 6. 

![Vercel](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/xgvl1y1dxavaiucfnqcv.png)

🌟 Support on [GitHub](https://github.com/vercel/vercel)
Website: https://vercel.com/

Vercel is an open-source platform for hosting and deploying web applications and websites. Developer experience - awesome,  deployment - automated, saving developers time on managing infrastructure. Helps you deliver without additional infrastructure complexity.


## 7. Vote & Review with ClickVote
![ClickVote](https://mintlify.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/github20k/logo/logo_text_light.svg)

🌟 Support on [GitHub](https://github.com/clickvote/clickvote)
Website: https://clickvote.dev/

ClickVote enhances web and mobile applications by adding interactive and real-time voting or polling capabilities. It simplifies the process of engaging users and gathering feedback. With real-time polling and customizable poll options, ClickVote makes it easy to integrate polling features into websites and applications. You can now integrate upvote, like, or review controls in your application with no sweat.


## What saves your time?

This list has introduced seven valuable open-source tools that can significantly boost productivity. Whether it's authentication, authorization, database monitoring, deep learning, testing, deployment, or user engagement, these tools offer practical solutions. 


![I got time](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/khoz9hgh4n29m7asf8qc.png)

By wisely selecting and incorporating such tools into their workflows, developers can free up more time and energy to focus on the core aspects of their projects. In an ever-evolving field, the right tools can be a game-changer, providing developers with the resources they need to excel in their work.

How often do you rely on open source? What are the open-source tools that saved you tons of time?