Every year, I evaluate the tools in my development workflow. Some stick around, some get replaced, and occasionally something comes along that fundamentally changes how I work. 2025 has been one of those transformative years.
Here are the tools and services that have earned their place in my daily workflow.
Claude Code
AI-assisted coding has matured significantly, and Claude Code stands out as a genuine productivity multiplier for experienced developers. Let me be clear: it doesn’t replace the need for skilled engineers. What it does is dramatically accelerate the mechanical aspects of development.
Where Claude Code distinguishes itself from other AI coding tools is its ability to understand the bigger picture of your project. Rather than working in isolation on single files, it grasps context across your codebase. The local client can analyze your project structure, understand relationships between components, and make suggestions that actually fit your architecture.
The results are lightning fast compared to writing everything by hand. With proper oversight and code review, it produces robust solutions. I’ve found it particularly valuable for scaffolding new features, writing tests, and handling repetitive refactoring tasks. The key is treating it as a capable junior developer who works incredibly fast but still needs senior review.
Cloudflare
I’ll admit it: I avoided Cloudflare for years. I was comfortable with AWS and liked having everything on one platform. Classic “stuck in my ways” syndrome.
Making the switch was humbling. Cloudflare provides a genuinely fresh take on infrastructure. The DNS management is intuitive, the bot and DDoS protection works seamlessly, and the interface is remarkably powerful while remaining easy to use.
But what really sold me was the application hosting. Pages handles static sites beautifully, with builds that just work. Workers enable interactive functionality at the edge with minimal configuration. The deployment experience is what I always wished AWS had been.
The free tier deserves special mention. It’s generous enough to be genuinely useful, not just a teaser. For individual developers and small projects, you can accomplish a remarkable amount without spending anything.
Astro
I’ve long been a proponent of static HTML for marketing sites. They perform better than CMS platforms out of the box, and they eliminate the plugin maintenance nightmare that plagues WordPress and similar systems. No more constant updates, breaking changes, or abandoned plugins leaving security holes.
Astro has become my go-to framework for this approach. It’s intuitive and powerful, generating clean static output while allowing dynamic islands of interactivity where needed. The developer experience is excellent, with sensible defaults and minimal configuration.
Coupled with automated build and release processes, the workflow becomes genuinely enjoyable. I use GitHub integration with Cloudflare Pages: push to main, and the site deploys automatically. No SSH, no manual uploads, no deployment scripts to maintain. It just works.
Slack
Sometimes the best tools aren’t the newest or flashiest. They’re the ones that reliably do their job, year after year.
I’ve used Slack for close to a decade now. Through necessity, I’ve also used Discord, Teams, and various other platforms. Slack is the one that consistently feels like there’s no barrier to communication. Messages flow naturally. Channels organize logically. Search actually finds what you’re looking for.
That might sound like basic functionality, and it is. But getting the basics right, consistently, for years, is harder than it looks. Many platforms add features while letting core functionality degrade. Slack has stayed solid at its primary job: connecting teams.
Warp
The terminal hasn’t evolved much in decades. Warp changes that, and it’s particularly compelling in the age of AI-assisted development.
Warp creates an interface tailored to the unique requirements of working with AI coding partners. The output is more readable, with intelligent grouping and formatting that makes it easier to scan results quickly. When Claude Code or similar tools are making changes across your project, that visibility matters.
The experience takes what could feel like “vibe development” (hoping the AI did what you asked) and adds the structure needed for quick review and verification. You can actually see and understand what’s happening, which is essential for maintaining confidence in AI-assisted workflows.
The Common Thread
Looking at this list, a pattern emerges. These tools share several qualities:
They respect developer time. Fast interfaces, minimal configuration, sensible defaults. They get out of the way and let you work.
They do their core job exceptionally well. Each tool has a clear purpose and executes on it reliably. Feature bloat hasn’t diluted their primary value.
They have sustainable business models. Free tiers are generous but the paid offerings are reasonable. These companies aren’t going to disappear or pivot dramatically.
They play well with others. None of these tools demand you adopt an entire ecosystem. They integrate smoothly with whatever else you’re using.
That last point matters more than it might seem. The best tools enhance your existing workflow rather than requiring you to rebuild around them.
What tools have transformed your workflow this year? I’m always interested in discovering what’s working for other developers. Reach out if you have recommendations, or check out how I apply these tools in my consulting work.