I Built 30+ Developer Tools in One App (Because I Was Tired of Opening 47 Browser Tabs) 🤦‍♂️

Source: Dev.to

The “Aha!” Moment

After the 47th search for “free JSON formatter no login” I had an epiphany:

What if there was ONE tool that did EVERYTHING and actually respected my privacy?

So I built it. Meet Code Formatter – your Swiss‑army knife for web development.

What’s Inside? (The Good Stuff) 🛠️

1. Code Formatters & Beautifiers

• JSON Formatter (with syntax highlighting)
• HTML Beautifier
• CSS Formatter
• JavaScript Formatter
• SQL Formatter
• XML Formatter

No more copy‑pasting into sketchy websites. Format your code instantly.

2. Minifiers

Because production code shouldn’t look like a novel:

• CSS Minifier
• JavaScript Minifier
• HTML Minifier

One click. Instant compression. Ship faster.

3. Data Converters

The boring stuff made easy:

• JSON → CSV
• CSV → JSON
• Excel → HTML Table
• JSON ↔ XML

Ever needed to convert client data at 11:59 PM? Now you can.

4. Security Tools

For when you need crypto (the good kind):

• Hash Generator (MD5, SHA‑1, SHA‑256, SHA‑512)
• JWT Decoder
• Base64 Encoder/Decoder
• URL Encoder/Decoder

Perfect for testing auth flows without sending data to random websites.

5. CSS Generators

Stop Googling “glassmorphism generator”:

• Glassmorphism Generator
• Box‑Shadow Generator
• Text‑Shadow Generator
• Gradient Generator
• Aspect‑Ratio Calculator

Copy the CSS. Done. Ship it.

6. Utility Tools

The stuff you need but never bookmark:

• Text Diff Checker
• Lorem Ipsum Generator
• Mock Data Generator
• Color Picker
• Unit Converter

7. Preview Tools

• HTML Live Preview
• Markdown Preview
• Social‑Media Preview (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn cards)

Test your meta tags before shipping. Your designer will thank you.

But Wait… Is My Data Safe? 🔒

I literally cannot see your data. Even if I wanted to.

🛡️ 100 % Client‑Side Processing

Every single operation happens in your browser—not on my server, not in the cloud.

// What happens when you format JSON:
1. You paste code
2. JavaScript processes it locally
3. Result appears
4. Zero network requests

// What DOESN’T happen:
❌ No server upload
❌ No database storage
❌ No tracking scripts
❌ No analytics on your code

Why This Matters

When you use most online tools, your code goes through their servers. That means they can:

• Log it
• Store it
• Analyze it
• Suffer a data breach

With Code Formatter:

• Your API keys stay yours
• Your production code stays private
• Your client data stays confidential
• Your secrets stay secret

I built this because I was tired of sketchy tools asking for “permissions” to process my code.

The Tech Stack (For the Curious) 🤓

• Frontend: React + Vite (blazing fast)
• Styling: Tailwind CSS (because life’s too short for vanilla CSS)
• Processing: 100 % client‑side JavaScript
• Hosting: Vercel (for that sweet edge network)
• Libraries:
  • Prettier (code formatting)
  • PapaParse (CSV parsing)
  • Crypto‑JS (hashing)
  • Monaco Editor (syntax highlighting)

No backend. No database. No BS.

Features That Make Me Proud 😊

1. Works Offline – After the first load, it’s yours forever. No internet? No problem.

2. No Login Walls – No “Sign up to continue” pop‑ups.

3. No Ads – Your time is valuable.

4. Mobile Optimized – Format JSON on your phone at 2 AM.

5. Keyboard Shortcuts

   • Ctrl/Cmd + B – Format/Beautify
   • Ctrl/Cmd + M – Minify
   • Ctrl/Cmd + K – Clear

6. Dark Mode – Light mode in 2025? Come on. 😎

7. Open Source – Check the code yourself: [GitHub Link]

Don’t trust me? Read the code. That’s the beauty of open source.

Real Use Cases (From Real Devs)

Case 1: The API Response Formatter

// Messy API response:
{"user":{"name":"John","data":{"posts":[{"id":1,"title":"Hello"}]}}}

// One click later:
{
  "user": {
    "name": "John",
    "data": {
      "posts": [
        {
          "id": 1,
          "title": "Hello"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Case 2: The Last‑Minute Minifier

It’s 11:58 PM. Deploy deadline is midnight. Your CSS is 150 KB.

One click → 47 KB. Shipped with 2 minutes to spare. 💪

Case 3: The Client Data Converter

Client sends an Excel file. You need an HTML table.

Upload → Convert → Copy → Done. (No Excel license needed)

Case 4: The JWT Debugger

Auth isn’t working. Is the JWT valid?

Paste → Decode → “Expired 3 hours ago.” Mystery solved.

Performance Numbers 📊

All tested on a 2020 MacBook Pro. Your mileage may vary.

Roadmap (What’s Coming Next) 🗺️

I’m actively working on:

• Image optimization tools
• SVG optimizer
• RegEx tester
• API request builder
• Cron expression generator
• Timestamp converter
• Color palette generator
• WebP converter

Want a feature? Drop a suggestion in the repo issues or contact me directly.

# Why I Built This

I'm tired of:

- Sketchy websites with malware  
- Tools that require accounts  
- Services that sell your data  
- Ads everywhere  
- Slow, bloated apps  

I wanted **one tool** that:

- Respects privacy  
- Works fast  
- Has no BS  
- Helps developers ship faster  

So I built it. For me. For you. For all of us who just want to get sh*t done.

Try It Now 🚀

Link:

It’s free forever. No credit card. No signup. No tracking.
Just tools that work.

Let’s Connect!

If you find this useful:

• ⭐ Star it on GitHub
• 💬 Drop a comment with your favorite tool
• 🔄 Share with your dev friends
• 🐛 Found a bug? Let me know!

Built with ❤️ and too much coffee by a developer who was tired of 47 browser tabs.

FAQ

Q: Is it really free?
A: Yes. Forever. No hidden costs.

Q: Can I use it for commercial projects?
A: Absolutely. Go wild.

Q: Do you collect any data?
A: Nope. Zero data collection. I use simple analytics to see page views, but your code never leaves your browser.

Q: Can I contribute?
A: Yes! It’s open source. PRs welcome.

Q: Will there be a paid version?
A: No plans. This is a tool for the community.

Q: What if I find a bug?
A: GitHub issues or comment here. I’m pretty responsive.

Final Thoughts

Developer tools should be:

• Fast
• Private
• Free
• Useful

If you agree, give Code Formatter a try. If you have feedback, I’m all ears.

Now go format some JSON. You’ve earned it. 😎

Tags: #webdev #javascript #react #opensource #tools #developertools #programming #coding #productivity

P.S. If this helps you save even 10 minutes, it was worth building. If it saves you 10 hours, please share it so others can benefit too! 🙏