Developer Tools Prerequisites

Developer tools are the collection of applications and programming frameworks that improve developer efficiency. These tools are designed to make developers' lives easier, from simple tools like Emmet and Git and advanced programming frameworks like Django and React. You might worry that developer tools will be too hard to learn. This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning developer tools and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. This way, you’ll be successful however you choose to apply your new skills. 

What are Developer Tools?

Becoming a professional computer programmer takes a lot of training and effort. You’ll need to learn a wide range of programming languages that each serve a niche function in the development process. However, those looking to parlay their development skills into a long-term career will also need to learn how to use standard tools and libraries associated with computer programming to optimize their workflow and ensure that their code is easy to read, edit, and compile. Whether you are learning to use Visual Code Studio to compile your code, Git to archive it, or specific programming libraries like React and Node.js to expand the scope of your projects, learning developer tools is vital to be an efficient and effective computer programmer.

“Developer tools” is a broad category of skills that covers efficiency tools like Git, Emmett, and Visual Code Studio along with programming libraries like React and Django. These categories of tools are designed to help make programming easier and more efficient. Developers are more or less required to know Git since it is a crucial archiving program that is useful for all stages of the development process. Libraries, such as the JavaScript framework Node.js, serve more specific functions (in the case of Node.js, letting applications read JavaScript code outside of a web browser). Students must decide which set of tools will provide the largest return on investment, but learning a collection of different developer tools will significantly improve your job opportunities and code quality.

Read more about what developer tools are and why you should learn them.

What Can You Do with Developer Tools?

Developer tools are primarily used to make the coding and programming process more efficient and optimized for specific tasks. As a result, most of the things you can do with developer tools are focused on improving the things you can do with programming languages like HTML/CSS and JavaScript. For example, Git won’t do much on its own, but when paired with other programming languages, it becomes a powerful tool for documentation and collaboration between multiple developers. Visual Code Studio will help developers compile and debug code far faster than they might otherwise have been able to, which will help them work on more complex projects thanks to automating the basic elements of the process.

On the other hand, learning to use advanced programming frameworks and libraries will vastly expand the things you can do as a programmer. For example, learning Node.js will allow you to develop software applications that read JavaScript code without accessing a web browser. This is a necessary technical skill for building things like streaming service software. It is a vital component of the internet of things technologies that make everything from digital assistants to smart cars possible. Similarly, learning the MERN stack will let users build full-stack frameworks for web applications using only their knowledge of JavaScript.

Are Developer Tools Easy to Learn?

Since developer tools cover such a large category of applications and frameworks, there isn’t a simple answer to this question. That said, one of the reasons that these specific tools have become so popular across the industry is that they are accessible for new users and easy to pick up after a reasonable amount of training. 

What to Know Before Learning Developer Tools

Each developer tool will require students to have a different set of skills mastered before learning how to use that tool. Some will require students to be familiar with computer programming skills, while others will require students to know specific programming languages.

Programming Knowledge

Many developer tools don’t require students to know a specific programming language, but since they are tools meant to improve developer workflow and efficiency, learning them won’t accomplish anything if you aren’t familiar with computer programming skills. For instance, while you don’t need to know any specific language to learn Git, if you don’t know any programming language, learning Git isn’t going to help you do anything.

Specific Programming Languages,

Some developer tools, specifically advanced programming frameworks, will require students to learn specific programming languages and their associated prerequisites.

For example, learning Node.js and React will require students to learn JavaScript, since those are both JavaScript libraries. In addition, since JavaScript is a web development language, students need to know HTML/CSS. While each set of prerequisites will differ, users should know that some of these tools have specific skill requirements.

Key Insights

• Developer tools are a collection of different tools developers use to streamline and automate aspects of the development process. This includes simple applications like Git and Emmet and complex programming frameworks like Django and React.
• Many developer tools don’t have any technical prerequisites for use, but they require students to know some programming knowledge to utilize.
• Other developer tools, especially specialized programming libraries, like React and Django will require students to have experience with a specific programming language.
• Noble Desktop is available to help students master these talents with comprehensive in-person and live online web development classes, whether you want to learn a developer tool or a prerequisite skill.

Learn Developer Tools with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Those who want to optimize their web development skills may consider enrolling in a web development training program offered through Noble Desktop. These classes will teach students how to use these tools to become more efficient and productive programmers. Enrolling in a course through Noble Desktop means you receive expert instruction in real-time, regardless of whether you are taking a course online or in-person at Noble’s Manhattan campus. In either case, class sizes are kept small and students can interact directly with their instructors, making it easy to ensure that they don’t fall behind in their lessons. All students can retake their courses within one calendar year, giving them extra opportunities to train with these development tools. Plus, students who work in-person will be able to take advantage of Noble’s state-of-the-art computer lab.

For those looking to master the crucial tools that web developers use to streamline their work, Noble offers a Front End Tools and Portfolio course that covers all of the most common web development tools professionals utilize in their daily work. This includes Git and Github for documenting and sharing code, Emmet for programming efficiency and shortcutting, and Visual Code Studio for compiling and editing code. These tools will help significantly accelerate a student’s ability to bring projects to completion and are invaluable professional tools. This class assumes a knowledge of HTML/CSS, so you must find other means of training if you need to cover those skills.

If you want a more complete web development training regimen that includes many of these tools and frameworks, you may want to enroll in Noble’s Front End Web Development Certificate program or its Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. These career-focused courses provide training in every step of the development process, from basic coding skills with HTML/CSS to advanced JavaScript training. Along the way, you will learn the tools and techniques, as well as the specific programming libraries, that you will need to start a new career in professional web development. These courses are career-focused training options. In addition to receiving practical training in tools like Git and Visual Code Studio that make professional programmers more efficient,you will also receive professionalization training, such as one-on-one career mentorship and dedicated portfolio-building seminars. They are an ideal place to learn every element of web development and embark on a new career path in this ever-changing industry.