--- title: "Developer Tools I Use and Recommend" date: "2026-04-10" slug: "developer-tools-i-use-and-recommend" author: "Dany Paredes" canonical: "https://danywalls.com/developer-tools-i-use-and-recommend" description: "A transparent list of developer tools I use daily - from productivity powerhouses like Warp and GitKraken to minimalist gems like There and Mole. Some are referrals, all are essential." --- I want to share the tools that are currently open on my machine. Before we start, a quick note on transparency: **some of these are referral links**. If you sign up through them, I get a small reward at no extra cost to you. However, many of the tools I love are open-source or simple utilities that don't have "rewards" - I include them because they are genuinely great. I only recommend what I actually use. --- ## There If you work in tech, you probably have friends or teammates scattered across every timezone. [There](https://there.pm/) is the most elegant way I've found to keep track of them. It lives in your macOS menu bar. Instead of Googling "Time in Berlin" or "Time in Tokyo," you just click the icon and see a beautiful list of your people, their local time, and their offset from you. **Why I use it:** - **Avoid the "Midnight Ping"**: I can see at a glance if it's 3 AM for a friend before I send a message. - **Visual Offsets**: It shows a clear timeline of who is "starting their day" vs. who is "signing off." - **Minimalist**: It stays out of the way until you need it. [Check out There](https://there.pm/) --- ## Mole Most "Mac Cleaner" apps are expensive, bloated, and feel like "scareware." [Mole](https://github.com/tw93/mole) is the exact opposite. It’s an open-source system cleaner that is incredibly fast and lightweight. It focuses on the things that actually take up space: system caches, application logs, browser data, and the trash. **What sets it apart:** - **Open Source**: You can see exactly what it’s doing with your files. - **Beautiful UI**: Following the aesthetic of its creator (tw93), it feels like a native part of macOS. - **No Fluff**: No "memory optimizers" or fake "speed boosters" - just a solid tool to reclaim disk space. [Get Mole on GitHub](https://github.com/tw93/mole) --- ## RunJS I use [RunJS](https://runjs.app/?via=danywalls) every time I want to try something quickly without spinning up a project. The problem it solves: most modern frameworks come with setup overhead. If you just want to verify how a library works or test a function, you don't want to create a `package.json` just to see a result. RunJS gives you a desktop scratchpad where you write code and see output instantly. [Try RunJS (Referral)](https://runjs.app/?via=danywalls) --- ## Warp I resisted switching terminals for a long time. Then I tried [Warp](https://app.warp.dev/referral/9WLV3V) and haven't looked back. It’s written in Rust and brings modern features like "Blocks" (command/output grouping) and built-in AI that helps you remember those obscure shell flags. [Try Warp (Referral)](https://app.warp.dev/referral/9WLV3V) --- ## GitKraken [GitKraken](https://gitkraken.cello.so/bg56QY1UMWg) is my command center for complex workflows. While I use the terminal for basic commits, GitKraken is unbeatable for visual commit graphs, managing multiple repositories in Workspaces, and resolving nasty merge conflicts with its built-in editor. [Try GitKraken (Referral)](https://gitkraken.cello.so/bg56QY1UMWg) --- ## Cap Cap is the screen recording tool that made me finally stop using Loom. It's open-source, faster, and gives you a clean shareable link in seconds. I wrote a [full breakdown here](/posts/why-i-switched-from-loom-to-cap). [Try Cap (Referral)](https://go.cap.so/dany-paredes) --- ## Final Thoughts Whether it’s a paid tool with a referral or a free open-source project, the goal is the same: reducing friction so we can focus on building. If any of these help your workflow, they've done their job! _Photo by [Nathan da Silva](https://unsplash.com/@silvawebdesigns?utm_source=unsplashx&utm_medium=referral) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplashx&utm_medium=referral)_