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Updated backend developer tools copy and images (#5577)
* Update backend-developer-tools.md Small copy tweak to test * Update backend-languages.md Changed the order of sections to start with the most imp/relevant content + to try and catch featured snippets. * Update backend-developer-tools.md Replaced images & tweaked alt tags
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@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ In this article, we’ll cover 25 backend development tools that are crucial in
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The categories we’ll tackle are:
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The categories we’ll tackle are:
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- IDEs and Editors
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- IDEs and editors
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- Database Tools
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- Database tools
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- Collaboration
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- Collaboration
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- Hosting Services
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- Hosting Services
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- API-Related Tools
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- API-Related tools
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- Productivity
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- Productivity tools
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So let’s get started!
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So let’s get started!
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@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Let’s see some examples that are great for a web development project.
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The [Jetbrains family](https://www.jetbrains.com/) of IDEs targets multiple programming languages, including JavaScript, .NET, JAVA (and the Java Virtual Machine), Python, PHP, and more (mostly great options for web development).
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The [Jetbrains family](https://www.jetbrains.com/) of IDEs targets multiple programming languages, including JavaScript, .NET, JAVA (and the Java Virtual Machine), Python, PHP, and more (mostly great options for web development).
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The benefit of using these IDEs, in comparison with others, is that given how they’re language/technology specific, they have tools designed for those programming languages and specifically for this list to help in your backend development tasks, such as:
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The benefit of using these IDEs, in comparison with others, is that given how they’re language/technology specific, they have tools designed for those programming languages and specifically for this list to help in your backend development tasks, such as:
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@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ The only minor issue with these IDEs, especially when compared to the rest of th
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[VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com/) is definitely one of the most popular alternatives these days for all types of web developers, but definitely for backend developers. This IDE’s strongest selling point is that it’s incredibly extensible through plugins. And the community using it is so big and varied that there are plugins for literally anything you need.
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[VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com/) is definitely one of the most popular alternatives these days for all types of web developers, but definitely for backend developers. This IDE’s strongest selling point is that it’s incredibly extensible through plugins. And the community using it is so big and varied that there are plugins for literally anything you need.
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The other major benefit of VSCode over JetBrains products is that it gives developers a fully working IDE for FREE. While some of the extensions don’t provide exactly the same developer experience as a JetBrains IDE, the proper combination of extensions can provide a very close alternative through VSCode.
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The other major benefit of VSCode over JetBrains products is that it gives developers a fully working IDE for FREE. While some of the extensions don’t provide exactly the same developer experience as a JetBrains IDE, the proper combination of extensions can provide a very close alternative through VSCode.
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@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ The other major benefit of VSCode over JetBrains products is that it gives devel
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[Zed](https://zed.dev/) is a different type of code editor, and because of that, it might just be the right one for you.
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[Zed](https://zed.dev/) is a different type of code editor, and because of that, it might just be the right one for you.
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Zed, like VSCode, is an all-purpose code editor, letting you code in whatever language you want (whether you’re doing web development or not). The main reasons why you’d pick Zed over others are:
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Zed, like VSCode, is an all-purpose code editor, letting you code in whatever language you want (whether you’re doing web development or not). The main reasons why you’d pick Zed over others are:
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@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ Before VSCode, [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/) was probably one of
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Just like VSCode, Sublime supports extensibility through plugins, and the rich ecosystem of plugins makes it quite a versatile editor. As a note, this code editor also supports GPU rendering of the UI, like Zed does, so if performance is important to you, then you’ll want to keep reading.
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Just like VSCode, Sublime supports extensibility through plugins, and the rich ecosystem of plugins makes it quite a versatile editor. As a note, this code editor also supports GPU rendering of the UI, like Zed does, so if performance is important to you, then you’ll want to keep reading.
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With a refreshed UI (if you’ve used Sublime Text in the past, you’ll be happily surprised!) and better internal tooling, the latest version of this editor (version 4) is trying to regain the portion of the market that VSCode took from it at the time.
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With a refreshed UI (if you’ve used Sublime Text in the past, you’ll be happily surprised!) and better internal tooling, the latest version of this editor (version 4) is trying to regain the portion of the market that VSCode took from it at the time.
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@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ With a refreshed UI (if you’ve used Sublime Text in the past, you’ll be happ
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This is such an iconic text editor that all the previously mentioned IDE have what is called a “vim mode,” which allows you to use them as if you were using VIM (with the visual and input modes).
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This is such an iconic text editor that all the previously mentioned IDE have what is called a “vim mode,” which allows you to use them as if you were using VIM (with the visual and input modes).
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Vim lets you write code without having to move your fingers away from the home row (the row where you “rest” your fingers, the one with the F and G keys). That means you can navigate documents, write code, move through projects, and more, all with minimum hand movement.
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Vim lets you write code without having to move your fingers away from the home row (the row where you “rest” your fingers, the one with the F and G keys). That means you can navigate documents, write code, move through projects, and more, all with minimum hand movement.
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@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ Let’s take a look at some great database tools you can use as a backend develo
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This tool lets you access all SQL databases from within the same user interface, it provides great help while browsing the data stored in the database, and it also has features that help you write better SQL queries.
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This tool lets you access all SQL databases from within the same user interface, it provides great help while browsing the data stored in the database, and it also has features that help you write better SQL queries.
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While the pricing of these tools might be a bit steep (especially if you go with the IDE as well), it’s definitely a solid option if you’re looking for feature-rich and stable software development tools.
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While the pricing of these tools might be a bit steep (especially if you go with the IDE as well), it’s definitely a solid option if you’re looking for feature-rich and stable software development tools.
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@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ While the pricing of these tools might be a bit steep (especially if you go with
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In general, the Navicat alternatives are quite lightweight and powerful to use. They might not be as feature-rich as Datagrip, but they let you easily browse and query the data you need.
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In general, the Navicat alternatives are quite lightweight and powerful to use. They might not be as feature-rich as Datagrip, but they let you easily browse and query the data you need.
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The free trial for Navicat only lasts 14 days, and then you’ll have to pay a monthly fee. That said, for non-commercial use, the license is quite low, which makes it accessible to almost all developers.
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The free trial for Navicat only lasts 14 days, and then you’ll have to pay a monthly fee. That said, for non-commercial use, the license is quite low, which makes it accessible to almost all developers.
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@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ The Navicat series of apps are great backend tools to have at your disposal, if
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- Tableplus only supports SQL-based databases.
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- Tableplus only supports SQL-based databases.
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- The pricing model is simpler, by only charging a one-time license without you having to commit to a monthly subscription.
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- The pricing model is simpler, by only charging a one-time license without you having to commit to a monthly subscription.
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Some of the most relevant features of Tableplus are:
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Some of the most relevant features of Tableplus are:
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For a full list of supported databases on the free version, check out their [about page](https://dbeaver.io/about/).
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For a full list of supported databases on the free version, check out their [about page](https://dbeaver.io/about/).
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Some of the major features of DBeaver are:
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Some of the major features of DBeaver are:
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Setting up a new project and a team takes minutes in Trello, and through the plugin system, you can get extra features such as date reminders, calendar integrations, and more.
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Setting up a new project and a team takes minutes in Trello, and through the plugin system, you can get extra features such as date reminders, calendar integrations, and more.
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The simple UI and intuitive UX make Trello one of the best options out there for collaborative tools as long as the needs of the team are met with simple column-based layouts and minimal information.
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The simple UI and intuitive UX make Trello one of the best options out there for collaborative tools as long as the needs of the team are met with simple column-based layouts and minimal information.
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@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ The simple UI and intuitive UX make Trello one of the best options out there for
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Their limited free plan lasts forever, so if you have a small team and limited requirements, this might just be the perfect tool for you. Also, if you actually need to pay, Monday’s plans are accessible, especially when compared to other alternatives.
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Their limited free plan lasts forever, so if you have a small team and limited requirements, this might just be the perfect tool for you. Also, if you actually need to pay, Monday’s plans are accessible, especially when compared to other alternatives.
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Monday’s fully customizable UI lets you build the collaborative environment you need. This is a huge advantage over others who've been around for longer and have a fixed UI that you have to adapt to.
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Monday’s fully customizable UI lets you build the collaborative environment you need. This is a huge advantage over others who've been around for longer and have a fixed UI that you have to adapt to.
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[Basecamp](https://basecamp.com/) is a mix between Trello, Monday, and Notion in the sense that it tries to provide developers with the best and most relevant tools from those worlds, leaving out the ones that just create “noise.”
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[Basecamp](https://basecamp.com/) is a mix between Trello, Monday, and Notion in the sense that it tries to provide developers with the best and most relevant tools from those worlds, leaving out the ones that just create “noise.”
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Basecamp’s philosophy is to keep things simple and only focus on the features that truly add to collaboration:
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Basecamp’s philosophy is to keep things simple and only focus on the features that truly add to collaboration:
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They have a free plan that, while feature-limited, it’s perfect for understanding the basic way of using Wrike and how useful it can be to you in your current project.
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They have a free plan that, while feature-limited, it’s perfect for understanding the basic way of using Wrike and how useful it can be to you in your current project.
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Their innovative use of AI allows you to create content faster, analyze project and task descriptions, and create subtasks based on it.
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Their innovative use of AI allows you to create content faster, analyze project and task descriptions, and create subtasks based on it.
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@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ Let’s take a look at some of the most common alternatives!
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- A great uptime (99.95%)
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- A great uptime (99.95%)
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- With more than 200 ready-made templates for you to get going.
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- With more than 200 ready-made templates for you to get going.
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Railway has no free plan, but their basic one is very accessible. Careful though, they also charge per resource utilization. Lucky for you, they have a [very handy consumption calculator](https://railway.app/pricing) to avoid surprises at the end of the month!
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Railway has no free plan, but their basic one is very accessible. Careful though, they also charge per resource utilization. Lucky for you, they have a [very handy consumption calculator](https://railway.app/pricing) to avoid surprises at the end of the month!
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The list of supported programming languages is not huge, but the most common ones are definitely covered: Node.js, Ruby, JAVA, PHP, Python, Go, Scala, and even Clojure.
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The list of supported programming languages is not huge, but the most common ones are definitely covered: Node.js, Ruby, JAVA, PHP, Python, Go, Scala, and even Clojure.
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Another great selling point for Heroku is that on top of their infrastructure, they also offer a managed Postgre database as a service and a Redis one. In both situations, you’ll have to pay for the services as you use them, so keep that in mind.
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Another great selling point for Heroku is that on top of their infrastructure, they also offer a managed Postgre database as a service and a Redis one. In both situations, you’ll have to pay for the services as you use them, so keep that in mind.
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This is by no means something bad, some teams do prefer to have that freedom over other platforms like Railway and Heroku, where everything’s already managed.
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This is by no means something bad, some teams do prefer to have that freedom over other platforms like Railway and Heroku, where everything’s already managed.
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Large-scale applications will usually require to have custom infrastructure that managed services can hardly provide. This is where IaaS providers come in.
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Large-scale applications will usually require to have custom infrastructure that managed services can hardly provide. This is where IaaS providers come in.
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Their only “managed” offer is for web hosting though, so if you’re looking to host your website or app and you don’t want to have to deal with server maintenance and configuration, then this is a good option for you.
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Their only “managed” offer is for web hosting though, so if you’re looking to host your website or app and you don’t want to have to deal with server maintenance and configuration, then this is a good option for you.
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Other than that, their offering is quite standard, although their pricing model might not be. While they do have the standard pricing tiers like the rest of them, they also give you the option to “bid” for used hardware that is no longer needed.
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Other than that, their offering is quite standard, although their pricing model might not be. While they do have the standard pricing tiers like the rest of them, they also give you the option to “bid” for used hardware that is no longer needed.
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Their platform allows you to link your GitHub account to their systems and deploy your entire application with a single push to the repo.
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Their platform allows you to link your GitHub account to their systems and deploy your entire application with a single push to the repo.
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And since they’re experts on NextJS, your app will “just work.”
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And since they’re experts on NextJS, your app will “just work.”
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You’re not tied to a single technology; instead, you have all the major runtimes available out of the box. Much higher HTTP timeouts (up to 100 minutes, which is incredible compared to the standard 10 or 30 seconds most providers give you) and tons of other security and quality-of-life improvements.
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You’re not tied to a single technology; instead, you have all the major runtimes available out of the box. Much higher HTTP timeouts (up to 100 minutes, which is incredible compared to the standard 10 or 30 seconds most providers give you) and tons of other security and quality-of-life improvements.
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Render also offers managed MySQL and managed Redis instances for you to use, even in their free tier. In the end, unless you’ve been using Heroku for a while and you’re happy with their DX, it might be a good idea to check out Render instead.
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Render also offers managed MySQL and managed Redis instances for you to use, even in their free tier. In the end, unless you’ve been using Heroku for a while and you’re happy with their DX, it might be a good idea to check out Render instead.
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However, they do not seem to offer quality-of-life integrations to make your deployment workflow simple and intuitive.
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However, they do not seem to offer quality-of-life integrations to make your deployment workflow simple and intuitive.
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Now, given how they centralize all related services from domain name registration all the way up to analytics, identity management, file storage (CDN), and even one-click install CMS (content management systems, such as WordPress), etc, it might just be a good option for you. That is if you have the expertise in your team to deal with all these options.
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Now, given how they centralize all related services from domain name registration all the way up to analytics, identity management, file storage (CDN), and even one-click install CMS (content management systems, such as WordPress), etc, it might just be a good option for you. That is if you have the expertise in your team to deal with all these options.
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That’s where [Swagger](https://swagger.io/) comes into play.
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That’s where [Swagger](https://swagger.io/) comes into play.
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This tool allows you to create interactive documentation that provides developers with all they need to understand how to use your endpoints, and at the same time, it also gives them the option to test them directly from the generated UI.
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This tool allows you to create interactive documentation that provides developers with all they need to understand how to use your endpoints, and at the same time, it also gives them the option to test them directly from the generated UI.
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With Postman, you can organize all your company’s APIs, share them with the associated dev teams, and let them use and interact with them without having to write a single line of code.
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With Postman, you can organize all your company’s APIs, share them with the associated dev teams, and let them use and interact with them without having to write a single line of code.
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While Swagger is more of a development tool that every backend developer should know about, Postman is the tool that every development team should use to share & control internal API access and documentation.
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While Swagger is more of a development tool that every backend developer should know about, Postman is the tool that every development team should use to share & control internal API access and documentation.
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If you’re a macOS user, then [iTerm](https://iterm2.com/) is definitely one of the “must haves” you need to look into. As a backend developer, you’ll spend a lot of your day in the terminal.
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If you’re a macOS user, then [iTerm](https://iterm2.com/) is definitely one of the “must haves” you need to look into. As a backend developer, you’ll spend a lot of your day in the terminal.
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iTerm will take that experience to the next level by bringing in features such as:
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iTerm will take that experience to the next level by bringing in features such as:
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- Spelling corrections
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- Spelling corrections
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- And more.
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- And more.
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As mentioned above, after you have your ZSH installed and set up, you should look into installing oh-my-zsh, which helps with configuring all the customization options you have on this shell:
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As mentioned above, after you have your ZSH installed and set up, you should look into installing oh-my-zsh, which helps with configuring all the customization options you have on this shell:
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Now, you suddenly have access to hundreds of [community-created extensions](https://www.raycast.com/store) that allow you to directly interact with chatGPT from the app launcher, use GitHub, interact with VSCode directly, and more.
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Now, you suddenly have access to hundreds of [community-created extensions](https://www.raycast.com/store) that allow you to directly interact with chatGPT from the app launcher, use GitHub, interact with VSCode directly, and more.
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While it is only available for macOS users, Raycast has become a must-have application for backend developers on this platform. In the end, the faster you can reach for your tools, the more productive you become. And a properly configured Raycast can make your web development process feel like a breeze.
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While it is only available for macOS users, Raycast has become a must-have application for backend developers on this platform. In the end, the faster you can reach for your tools, the more productive you become. And a properly configured Raycast can make your web development process feel like a breeze.
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Two of the key components when it comes to backend development are the programming language that you are going to code in and the database. In this article, we will be looking into a subset of programming languages that could be used for backend development. We will be discussing the pros and cons of each and the community to help you pick the best programming language for backend development.
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Two of the key components when it comes to backend development are the programming language that you are going to code in and the database. In this article, we will be looking into a subset of programming languages that could be used for backend development. We will be discussing the pros and cons of each and the community to help you pick the best programming language for backend development.
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Without further ado, let’s get started!
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Diving straight in, I'll cover the top 5 backend programming languages that you should to learn if you’re looking to broaden your horizons in the server-side world.
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## What are backend languages?
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When it comes to web development, there is a very clear distinction between frontend and backend technologies.
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While the frontend ecosystem is quite limited to JavaScript (and other JavaScript-based languages, like TypeScript) due to Browser compatibility, the backend (A.K.A server-side) is a very different scenario.
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||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Please note that neither of those lists is extensive, as they’re both constantly growing.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
You can think of a backend language as one that “runs on the server side”. That said, by that definition, any language is a backend language because even JavaScript nowadays can be used on the backend as well (thanks to Node, Bun, and Deno).
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
However, we can go one step further and say:
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
> “A backend language is a server side programming language that has the tools and frameworks required to build web backends”
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
That will narrow down the list a little bit. But essentially, we can think of backend languages as anything that fits the following list:
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
- Is able to listen for incoming HTTP/S connections.
|
|
||||||
- Can access databases.
|
|
||||||
- Can send HTTP/S requests.
|
|
||||||
- Can access the filesystem.
|
|
||||||
- Has a rich ecosystem of tools and frameworks to build web applications.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
With those features and a rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks, a language can definitely be considered “backend-ready”.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Why learn a backend programming language?
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
If you’re already a backend developer, then the main reason would be to become a more versatile developer. The more languages you know, the better code you’ll write. Either because you’ve learned different ways of solving the same problem, or simply because you’ll be able to contribute to more projects.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
If, on the other hand, you’re just getting started, the main reason would be that you’re entering an industry that’s always looking for people.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Is the market in demand for backend developers?
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
One thing to keep in mind right now is that the software development market is always in demand for devs. For example, the [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives our industry a 25% growth rate](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm) (demand-wise) from 2022 to 2023, whereas the mean for other industries is 3%.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
According to [JetBrains, during 2022, 75% of developers were involved with web development](https://www.jetbrains.com/lp/devecosystem-2022/) in one fashion or another, so whether you’re backend devs or frontend devs, there is always someone looking for you.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
That said, we also have to consider that this industry is becoming a global industry. While some countries might still be fighting that process back, most developers can directly access the global market and work for any company in the world.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
That is a great opportunity for a backend developer who lives in an area where there isn’t a big IT industry; however, it also means competing with every other developer in the world. That might cause the illusion that the IT industry is in recession or that there are no job opportunities for developers.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
There are always opportunities; it’s just that you're now after the same job that many others from around the world are after as well.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
That said, backend devs are always in high demand because they’re the bread and butter of any web application. They’re always required to create the underlying platform that will power most systems, so the key to standing out here is to stay up-to-date with the industry’s trends and technologies.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Don’t get me wrong. You can’t possibly be expected to keep up with every single programming language that is released or with all the new frameworks that are created every month. However, keeping an eye on the industry and understanding what survives long enough to become a new industry standard is important. You have to keep updating yourself and learning new technologies/skills constantly; that way, you’ll stay relevant.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Is learning a backend language good for your career?
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Whether you’re a frontend developer looking to become full-stack (someone who can code both the backend and the frontend of an application), or if you’re new to the industry and you’re thinking if this might be the best place for you, the answer is “yes”.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Backend developers are always in demand, so adding a new tool to your already existing toolbelt (if you’re already a dev) will only make you more flexible in the eyes of your employer.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
But remember, a language is just a language until you give it context. If you’re wondering whether or not one of the backend languages in this article might be for you, the answer will always be “yes”. However, understand that if backend development is new to you, you will also need to pick up other skills and backend technologies around the language, such as:
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
- Understanding HTTP.
|
|
||||||
- Learning Structured Query Language (SQL) to query your databases.
|
|
||||||
- Understanding how APIs work.
|
|
||||||
- What server side rendering means and how to take advantage of it.
|
|
||||||
- What web servers are and how to use them/build them.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Otherwise, you’ll understand the language, but you won’t know how to use it for the role of backend development.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Top 5 Backend Languages to Learn for Web Development
|
## Top 5 Backend Languages to Learn for Web Development
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
With that introduction out of the way, let’s see the top 5 backend programming languages that you might want to learn if you’re looking to broaden your horizons in the server-side world.
|
The best backend languages to learn in 2024 are:
|
||||||
The languages we’ll cover are:
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
- Python
|
- Python
|
||||||
- Java
|
- Java
|
||||||
@@ -326,6 +261,70 @@ A handy tool when trying to evaluate a language like that is [roadmap.sh](https:
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||
There you’ll find community-maintained roadmaps for many career paths within software development. In particular, for this article, the [backend roadmap](https://roadmap.sh/backend) is a great place to start, because while picking a backend language is important, you’ll see there that it’s not just about the language. In fact, there is a lot of tech around the language that is also required (I’m referring to databases, git, understanding how client-server communication works, and a big “etc).
|
There you’ll find community-maintained roadmaps for many career paths within software development. In particular, for this article, the [backend roadmap](https://roadmap.sh/backend) is a great place to start, because while picking a backend language is important, you’ll see there that it’s not just about the language. In fact, there is a lot of tech around the language that is also required (I’m referring to databases, git, understanding how client-server communication works, and a big “etc).
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
## What are backend languages?
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
When it comes to web development, there is a very clear distinction between frontend and backend technologies.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
While the frontend ecosystem is quite limited to JavaScript (and other JavaScript-based languages, like TypeScript) due to Browser compatibility, the backend (A.K.A server-side) is a very different scenario.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Please note that neither of those lists is extensive, as they’re both constantly growing.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
You can think of a backend language as one that “runs on the server side”. That said, by that definition, any language is a backend language because even JavaScript nowadays can be used on the backend as well (thanks to Node, Bun, and Deno).
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
However, we can go one step further and say:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
> “A backend language is a server side programming language that has the tools and frameworks required to build web backends”
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
That will narrow down the list a little bit. But essentially, we can think of backend languages as anything that fits the following list:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
- Is able to listen for incoming HTTP/S connections.
|
||||||
|
- Can access databases.
|
||||||
|
- Can send HTTP/S requests.
|
||||||
|
- Can access the filesystem.
|
||||||
|
- Has a rich ecosystem of tools and frameworks to build web applications.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
With those features and a rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks, a language can definitely be considered “backend-ready”.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
## Why learn a backend programming language?
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
If you’re already a backend developer, then the main reason would be to become a more versatile developer. The more languages you know, the better code you’ll write. Either because you’ve learned different ways of solving the same problem, or simply because you’ll be able to contribute to more projects.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
If, on the other hand, you’re just getting started, the main reason would be that you’re entering an industry that’s always looking for people.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
## Is the market in demand for backend developers?
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
One thing to keep in mind right now is that the software development market is always in demand for devs. For example, the [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives our industry a 25% growth rate](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm) (demand-wise) from 2022 to 2023, whereas the mean for other industries is 3%.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
According to [JetBrains, during 2022, 75% of developers were involved with web development](https://www.jetbrains.com/lp/devecosystem-2022/) in one fashion or another, so whether you’re backend devs or frontend devs, there is always someone looking for you.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
That said, we also have to consider that this industry is becoming a global industry. While some countries might still be fighting that process back, most developers can directly access the global market and work for any company in the world.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
That is a great opportunity for a backend developer who lives in an area where there isn’t a big IT industry; however, it also means competing with every other developer in the world. That might cause the illusion that the IT industry is in recession or that there are no job opportunities for developers.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
There are always opportunities; it’s just that you're now after the same job that many others from around the world are after as well.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
That said, backend devs are always in high demand because they’re the bread and butter of any web application. They’re always required to create the underlying platform that will power most systems, so the key to standing out here is to stay up-to-date with the industry’s trends and technologies.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Don’t get me wrong. You can’t possibly be expected to keep up with every single programming language that is released or with all the new frameworks that are created every month. However, keeping an eye on the industry and understanding what survives long enough to become a new industry standard is important. You have to keep updating yourself and learning new technologies/skills constantly; that way, you’ll stay relevant.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
## Is learning a backend language good for your career?
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Whether you’re a frontend developer looking to become full-stack (someone who can code both the backend and the frontend of an application), or if you’re new to the industry and you’re thinking if this might be the best place for you, the answer is “yes”.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Backend developers are always in demand, so adding a new tool to your already existing toolbelt (if you’re already a dev) will only make you more flexible in the eyes of your employer.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
But remember, a language is just a language until you give it context. If you’re wondering whether or not one of the backend languages in this article might be for you, the answer will always be “yes”. However, understand that if backend development is new to you, you will also need to pick up other skills and backend technologies around the language, such as:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
- Understanding HTTP.
|
||||||
|
- Learning Structured Query Language (SQL) to query your databases.
|
||||||
|
- Understanding how APIs work.
|
||||||
|
- What server side rendering means and how to take advantage of it.
|
||||||
|
- What web servers are and how to use them/build them.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Otherwise, you’ll understand the language, but you won’t know how to use it for the role of backend development.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Jumpstarting Your Backend Development Journey
|
## Jumpstarting Your Backend Development Journey
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
To get started with your backend development journey, it's crucial to have a roadmap that guides you through the learning process and equips you with the skills to build robust and scalable backend systems.
|
To get started with your backend development journey, it's crucial to have a roadmap that guides you through the learning process and equips you with the skills to build robust and scalable backend systems.
|
||||||
|
|||||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user