How to Learn Developer Tools Online

If you’re just starting to learn a new skill, you can find dozens of tips and resources online; learning developer tools is no different. Developer tools are used to streamline computer development projects by simplifying and automating common elements of the process. These tools range in function and complexity, but they are all invaluable skills to learn. If you’ve always wanted to learn developer tools, there are plenty of options at your fingertips. From free tutorials to live classes, your options are outlined here so you can decide how to learn in a way that works best for you.

What Are Developer Tools?

Becoming a professional computer programmer takes a lot of training and effort. You’ll need to learn a wide range of programming languages that each serve a niche function in the development process. However, those looking to parlay their development skills into a long-term career will also need to learn how to use standard tools and libraries associated with computer programming to optimize their workflow and ensure that their code is easy to read, edit, and compile. Whether you are learning to use Visual Studio Code to compile your code, Git to archive it, or specific programming libraries like React and Node.js to expand the scope of your projects, learning developer tools is vital to being an efficient and effective computer programmer.

“Developer tools” is a broad category of skills that covers efficiency tools like Git, Emmet, and Visual Studio Code along with programming libraries like React and Django. These categories of tools are designed to help make programming easier and more efficient. Developers are more or less required to know Git since it is a crucial archiving program that is useful for all stages of the development process. Libraries such as the JavaScript framework Node.js serve more specific functions (in the case of Node.js, letting applications read JavaScript code outside of a web browser). Students must decide which set of tools will provide the largest return on investment, but learning a collection of different developer tools will significantly improve your job opportunities and code quality.

Read more about what developer tools are and why you should learn them.

What Can You Do with Developer Tools?

Developer tools are primarily used to make the coding and programming process more efficient and optimized for specific tasks. As a result, most of the things you can do with developer tools focus on enhancing tasks performed using programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. For example, Git won’t do much on its own, but when paired with other programming languages, it becomes a powerful tool for documentation and collaboration among multiple developers. Visual Studio Code helps developers compile and debug code far faster than they otherwise would, facilitating more complex projects by automating basic processes.

On the other hand, learning advanced programming frameworks and libraries significantly expands the scope of what you can achieve as a programmer. For instance, Node.js enables you to develop software applications that execute JavaScript code outside of a web browser, a crucial technical skill for creating streaming services software and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies like digital assistants and smart cars. Similarly, mastering the MERN stack allows users to build full-stack frameworks for web applications solely through their knowledge of JavaScript.

Live Online Developer Tools Training

Some people may not live near an in-person training site or may prefer learning web development tools from home. These individuals won't have to sacrifice access to experienced instructors thanks to the availability of live online developer tools classes. Taught in real-time by expert instructors, these courses allow students to ask questions and receive feedback without leaving their personal workspace. Most live online classes keep class sizes small and retain many benefits of in-person learning. The primary drawback is the lack of networking opportunities and the need for students to maintain their own technology.

Noble Desktop offers all classes taught at its Manhattan campus as live online courses. Class sizes remain small, and online courses are independent of in-person sessions, ensuring students aren't treated as an afterthought or secondary. Additionally, students enrolled in these courses still receive all additional benefits offered by Noble, including free retake opportunities and one-on-one professional mentorship (in applicable courses). Anyone interested in exploring other live online training options can use Noble’s Classes Near Me tool to compare courses provided by Thinkful, Practicum Bootcamp, and others.

On-Demand Developer Tools Classes

One of the drawbacks to live training courses is that they require students to attend classes and training sessions regularly. This helps improve learning outcomes, but many students have external work and family obligations that prevent them from attending a scheduled class. These students may want to consider learning developer tools through on-demand developer tools training courses. These classes vary widely in terms of content and delivery systems, but they are all asynchronous courses that let students learn and practice skills at their own pace. Plus, since these courses tend to be more focused on individual skills training than their live counterparts, on-demand courses are a good way to narrow the focus of your training and target specific skills.

The drawback to on-demand courses is that, since they lack a live instructor, students will be on their own when addressing problems and concerns in their training. This can make on-demand courses take longer, especially for students who aren’t able to regularly practice their lessons. While students can overcome this extra burden, it is something that they will want to be aware of before enrolling in an on-demand course. In addition, many developer tools are open source and constantly receiving updates, so even highly reputable on-demand classes may risk falling behind and becoming outdated. You will want to be sure to check that a course isn’t teaching an older version of a software application.

Free Intro Courses & Tutorials

Those who aren’t ready to dive into a paid web development training course may want to consider exploring their options for free online tutorial courses. These classes will introduce students to the essential elements of web development and guide them through discovering the many different tools they can learn to use. These courses all tend to be pretty cursory, so anyone hoping to learn to use tools like Visual Studio Code or frameworks like React will need additional professional training. Still, these courses are a great way to become more comfortable with the foundational skills that go into professional web development.

Noble Desktop offers a wide array of free online web development courses, including an Intro to Web Development class which provides viewers with an overview of every significant aspect of web development, including the most common tools utilized in the web development process. It delivers a high-level look at all of the different aspects of web development they can expect to cover in an entire course, including programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, tools such as Git and Visual Studio Code, and libraries such as React. These training resources are a great place for future web development students to get their bearings in the field, and since they are taught by the same experienced Noble instructors, they are a great place to prepare for enrolling in a more immersive training program.

Some may also wish to look at the free training options available through service providers such as Coursera or Udemy. These providers, as well as others, offer an array of different introductory training courses. People who are interested in a specific tool or programming language may wish to visit the website where those tools can be acquired since many organizations that maintain those tools also provide users with free lessons on how to use their tools.

Read about more free developer tools videos and online tutorials.

Comparing Online Methods with In-Person Learning

Those who want to learn developer tools will have many options available, which some find to be more intimidating than helpful. Given that there are so many different ways to learn these skills (and there are many different skills to learn), aspiring developers will want to consider the various options available to them. While each student has different learning needs, each kind of course has enough general advantages and drawbacks to help each person make an informed decision about the kind of course they want to enroll in.

Many people prefer live training options since those courses assist students throughout their learning process. These classes pair participants with expert instructors who are present to help by answering their questions and providing them with feedback in real-time. These classes offer hands-on training and a structured learning environment. They are available both online and in-person at dedicated training centers.

In-person training courses let students work directly with their instructors in a classroom alongside a cohort of like-minded students. Some students prefer this structured space because it allows them to learn developer tools with the most direct assistance and the fewest outside distractions. These courses are, however, restricted to specific training facilities, meaning students may be limited in the options available to them.

Live online training courses allow students to learn from anywhere, greatly expanding their available options. In addition, many students find that they can learn skills more effectively on their own devices rather than needing to learn skills on random computer lab hardware. The drawback here is that students will need to supply and maintain their own hardware and software.

Some students need the added flexibility afforded by on-demand training courses. These classes let students learn developer tools at their own pace since there is no live component. Plus, students looking to learn narrow skills such as training in just GitHub or only Node.js can use on-demand classes to target the specific skill they want to learn. These courses tend to force students to rely on outside resources to address concerns and challenges that arise during their training.

Tips to Succeed When Learning Developer Tools Online

Students hoping to succeed in an online learning environment will want to take steps to ensure they position themselves best to meet their learning goals. While online learning courses can be as productive as in-person classes, the difference in learning environments can be noticeable for some students.

The most noticeable difference between in-person and online instruction is the lack of a dedicated classroom space for students. Many students don’t notice this until they are in their own workspaces and have to deal with external distractions drawing their attention away from their instructor. For some students, this won’t be an issue, but many find that they need to take steps to control the environment in which they attend an online class. This can be as simple as asking roommates to be quiet during a lesson or leaving your house during class.

Similarly, students tend to overestimate their ability to multitask, and live online classes are a very tempting space to attempt to work on multiple projects simultaneously. This can range from browsing social media during a lecture to trying to handle chores like folding laundry. Multitasking impedes students' ability to retain information and put that knowledge into practice. Students must honestly assess their likelihood of being tempted to do other work. They will want to mitigate this temptation such as blocking websites during lessons or completing household chores before class.

Finally, students should take the time to consider other potential venues for receiving assistance and answering questions, particularly if enrolled in an on-demand course. While live instructors help students, they may only be available during class hours. On-demand courses won’t have a live instructor, so it will benefit students to find alternative resources and online spaces where they can ask questions and find answers to common problems that may arise during their training.

Key Insights

• “Developer tools” refer to any application or framework primarily designed to optimize developer workflow and simplify the development process.
• Students interested in learning developer tools may want to consider an online training course since they can learn the tools on the devices they will be using as programmers.
• Students enrolled in an online course will want to work to ensure their environment is free from external and internal distractions.
• Students enrolled in an on-demand course will want to look for alternative places to receive assistance with their training because they won’t have access to live instructors.
• Anyone looking for a professional live online developer tools course will want to explore the options available through Noble Desktop.

Learn Developer Tools with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Those who want to optimize their web development skills may consider enrolling in a web development training program offered through Noble Desktop. These classes will teach students how to use these tools to become more efficient and productive programmers. Enrolling in a course through Noble Desktop means you receive expert instruction in real-time, regardless of whether you are taking a course online or in-person at Noble’s Manhattan campus. In either case, class sizes are kept small and students can interact directly with their instructors, making it easy to ensure that they don’t fall behind in their lessons. All students can retake their courses within one calendar year, giving them extra opportunities to train with these development tools. Plus, students who work in-person will be able to take advantage of Noble’s state-of-the-art computer lab.

For those looking to master the crucial tools that web developers use to streamline their work, Noble offers a Front-end Tools and Portfolio course that covers all of the most common web development tools professionals utilize in their daily work. This includes Git and GitHub for documenting and sharing code, Emmet for programming efficiency and shortcutting, and Visual Studio Code for compiling and editing code. These tools will significantly accelerate a student’s ability to bring projects to completion and are invaluable professional tools. This class assumes knowledge of HTML and CSS, so you must find other means of training if you need to cover those skills.

If you want a more complete web development training regimen that includes many of these tools and frameworks, you may want to enroll in Noble’s Front-end Web Development Certificate program or its Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. These career-focused courses provide training in every step of the development process, from basic coding skills with HTML and CSS to advanced JavaScript training. Along the way, you will learn the tools and techniques, as well as the specific programming libraries, that you will need to start a new career in professional web development. These courses are career-focused training options. In addition to receiving practical training in tools like Git and Visual Studio Code that make professional programmers more efficient, you will also receive professional training such as one-on-one career mentorship and dedicated portfolio-building seminars. They are an ideal place to learn every element of web development and embark on a new career path in this ever-changing industry.