There are so many websites that can help you become a faster developer, better debugger, or just a more technical software developer than you were before...and whether you are a beginner or seasoned developer, you can appreciate the benefits of time-saving coding services and apps that are available. It can be overwhelming how many websites are available, and unfortunately, it can result in wasting time figuring out what the useful sites are or what to use!
To help you out, I have compiled a list of 10 essential websites that every developer, from frontend to backend should know and bookmark.
These websites can seriously boost your productivity, improve your code quality, and even spark project ideas.
1. DevDocs.io
Best for: Quick, offline-accessible documentation
Why it’s amazing: DevDocs merges docs for dozens of programming languages and frameworks in a fast searchable interface; it is small, works offline for you, and is much faster than searching official docs.
What you can do:
- Search documentation without internet
- Access docs for JS, Python, HTML, React, Node.js, and more
- Keyboard-first navigation for faster browsing
🎯 Pro Tip: Use the offline mode for uninterrupted work during travel or power outages.
2. Can I Use
Best for: Frontend compatibility checks
Why it’s amazing: When adding a new CSS property or an HTML5 feature, one important consideration is browser support. "Can I Use" presents you with instant compatibility data for modern web features across different browsers.
What you'll do:
- See if flexbox, grid, or WebP are supported on Safari or Edge.
- Get support statistics by version
- Ensure that your growing audience is accessible
🎯 Pro Tip: Use this with Tailwind or with custom CSS so layouts don't break last minute.
3. Stack Overflow
Best for: Troubleshooting and peer-to-peer "community" answers
What makes it great: It's the Google for developers. If you have a pesky error or are just trying to figure out why your code doesn't work, Stack Overflow probably has your answer or at least someone who will help you find it.
What you can do:
- Ask questions and get answers from veteran devs
- Search millions of resolved issues
- Earn reputation for helping others
🎯 Pro Tip: If searching for a relevant answer, search Google using site:stackoverflow.com your-error-here for the best results.
4. GitHub
Best for: code hosting, collaboration, and open source.
Why it’s amazing: GitHub is the best place to version control, contribute to open source, or display your personal projects.
What you can do:
- Host your repositories with your code
- Look at what trending open-source projects are
- Collaborate with teams in open-source projects using pull requests and issues number
🎯 Pro Tip: Use GitHub README files to document your projects for your portfolio or potential employer.
5. CodePen
Best For: Prototyping front end projects and examples quickly
What makes it awesome: CodePen is an in-browser code editor that lets you build and preview HTML, CSS, and JavaScript straight away. It’s an awesome playground to experiment with or share frontend code snippets.
What you can do:
- Try out UI/UX concepts before integrating them
- Share live demos in seconds
- Fork and remix other people's creations
🎯 Pro Tip: Use it to share reproduction of bugs or UI mockups with clients.
6. FreeCodeCamp
Best for: Learning to code through practice
Why it’s amazing: FreeCodeCamp is an outstanding resource for anyone interested in learning web development, data structures, or full-stack programming through interactive challenges.
What can you do:
- Earn certifications in web design, JavaScript, data science
- Build real-world projects
- Practice algorithms and coding challenges
🎯 Pro Tip: Use this alongside ChatGPT to get instant explanations if you get stuck.
7. CodeWars
Best for: Practicing problems and sharpening skills
Why it's amazing: Think of it like a gym for your brain — CodeWars gives you "katas" (challenges) to complete in a variety of languages and levels.
What you can do:
- Practice coding problems every day
- Learn idiomatic code patterns in JavaScript, Python, etc.
- Move up ranks based on your skill at answering coding problems
🎯 Pro Tip: 15 minutes a day at CodeWars can build your coding fluency at a steady pace with little effort.
8. MDN Web Docs
Best for: The official, detailed HTML/CSS/JS documentation
Why it's amazing: MDN (Mozilla Developer Network) is the gold standard when it comes to web development documentation. You can go from understanding the basics of HTML to complex browser APIs all in crystal-clear detail.
What you can do:
- Get understanding of CSS properties illustrated with examples
- Learn about JavaScript language features
- Look into browser APIs like fetch, localStorage, etc.
🎯 Pro Tip: Use MDN and DevDocs together for a perfect documentation combination — one online, one offline.
9. Regex101
Best for: Creating and validating regular expressions
Why it's amazing: Regex can be confusing. Regex101 makes it simple by having a live editor that provides explanations of each part of your pattern along with test cases and error findings.
What you can do:
- Create regex expressions with real-time results
- Learn what each character in your pattern is doing
- Debug broken or difficult expressions
🎯 Pro Tip: Save your regex snippets for future use or share them with your team.
10. Hacker News
Best for: Tech trends, startup culture, and news
Why it's amazing: Managed by Y Combinator, Hacker News is a forum-style site where founders and developers share news, thoughts, and deep dives on subjects related to software, hardware, and AI.
What you can do:
- Keep current with tech and programming trends
- Read interesting comment threads by devs and CEOs
- Uncover deep technical knowledge and content you wouldn't see on other mainstream sites
🎯 Pro Tip: Follow Hacker Newsletter, which gives you weekly posts of the top posts.
Bonus: Other Helpful Mentions
- Frontend Mentor - Get real-world UI challenges for practice
- You.com/code - AI based search engine for coding
- Figma - Design and collaborate on UI/UX mockups
- Notion - Organize doc, plans, and dev notes
- ChatGPT
Wrapping up
The right tools and sites can greatly improve your workflow, reduce bugs, and even make learning fun again. These ten sites are not just simply popular - they are tried and true by developers across the world, including myself.
If you are serious about coding, freelancing, or building a career in tech, you should check out and use these resources regularly, as they are very valuable, fast, and personable, and to be honest - they are free!
Which was your favourite? Did I miss something you use daily? Leave a comment or find me on Hidden Protocols, and I would love to hear your picks.
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