Introduction:

Macs have long been the preferred productivity tool for developers, and for good reason. They are powerful, versatile, and offer a wide range of features that can help developers be more productive.

In this article, I will take a look at some of the essential productivity tools that I use on my Mac. I will cover a variety of categories, including development tools, system utilities, editors, cloud storage, and other utilities.

Development Tools

ServBay (Local Environment)

ServBay is a revolutionary local web development tool exclusively designed for macOS. With features like multi-instance PHP running, robust CLI support, domain and SSL customization, it provides a streamlined and efficient development environment. It excels in resource efficiency, ease of use, and performance.
ServBay can also be used as a testing tool, saving time and significantly improving work efficiency.

Postman(API Testing Tool)

Postman is an essential tool for API testing, especially after completing development requirements. It provides a comprehensive set of features for testing APIs, including request and response body generation, authentication, and logging.

Navicat(Database Management Tool)

Navicat is a dominant player in the field of database management tools and is widely known. It supports a wide range of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQL Server. It is easy to use and provides a variety of features for managing databases, including data import and export, query execution, and backup and restore.

Cornerstone(SVN Client)

For version control using SVN, Cornerstone is claimed to be the most user-friendly SVN client. It provides a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy to manage your SVN repositories.

FileZilla(FTP Client)

FileZilla is a frequently used FTP client, free and open-source, with powerful performance and most FTP software features. It is easy to use and provides a variety of features for transferring files, including file transfer scheduling and bandwidth throttling.

System and Terminal

iTerm2 + oh my zsh(Terminal)

iTerm2, in combination with oh my zsh, is an excellent terminal tool offering features like theme selection, syntax highlighting, auto-fill, and a pleasant split-screen experience. It is highly customizable and can be tailored to your specific needs.

Snipaste(Screenshot)

Screenshot tools are indispensable in development. Snipaste and iShot, known for their usability and convenience, are popular choices. They allow you to easily capture screenshots of your screen, edit them, and share them with others.

Magnet(Window Management)

Magnet is a valuable tool for managing multiple open windows, allowing quick adjustments to screen positions. It provides a variety of window snapping options, making it easy to arrange your windows in a way that is efficient and visually appealing.

Bartender 4(Menu Bar Icon Management)

When numerous applications clutter the menu bar, Bartender hides unwanted ones, keeping the menu bar neat. It provides a variety of customization options, allowing you to control which icons are displayed in the menu bar and how they are arranged.

iStat Menus(System Monitoring)

iStat Menus is a top-notch system monitoring tool, providing real-time insights into CPU, GPU, memory, temperature, and more. It is highly customizable and can be tailored to your specific needs.

Compression/Decompression

The Unarchiver(Compression/Decompression)

A highly efficient and free compression tool, offering fast decompression speeds. It supports a wide range of compression formats, including ZIP, RAR, and 7-Zip.

IDE and Editors

VSCode(IDE)

VSCode is a lightweight and fast IDE that is versatile and supports editing almost any programming language.

Typora(Markdown Editor)

Typora is a Markdown editor that is known for its excellent features and user interface.

XMind(Mind Mapping)

XMind is a classic mind mapping tool, while the author recently discovered and recommends MarginNote for its convenience in generating mind maps from outlines.

Other Tools

VLC(Video Player)

VLC is a powerful and versatile video player that supports almost all video formats. It is known for its lightweight and user-friendly interface.

Itsycal(Time Calendar Tool)

Itsycal is a simple and elegant time calendar tool that supports custom calendar styles and displaying calendar events.

Wrap Up

The above are some commonly used Mac applications. Some are paid, and you can find them on Mac software download platforms. If you have any hidden gems or installation issues to discuss, feel free to share.