10 super useful tools for JavaScript developers

10 super useful tools for JavaScript developers

Published on June 27th, 2011 by Jean-Baptiste Jung. 10 Comments -

In recent years, JavaScript has proven that it has to be taken seriously because it can really enhance the web, not only provide some cheap effects such as blinking text. In this article, I have compiled the 10 most amazing tools and script for all JavaScript developers.

MicroJS

Need a piece of code quickly? MicroJS is a brand new site which aim to provide JavaScript code snippet for most common tasks: Ajax, Json, DOM, Object-Oriented JavaScript, and more. A true gold mine to have in your bookmarks!
Visit http://microjs.com/

Diva.js

Diva is a Javascript frontend for viewing documents, designed to work with digital libraries to present multi-page documents as a single, continuous item. It is designed to work with a IIPImage server and will be an awesome tool for those working on library or bookstore websites. A demo is available here if you want to have a look.
Visit http://ddmal.music.mcgill.ca/diva/

Bookmarklet Generator

As you can guess, this tool is a bookmarklet generator: Simply paste your regular JavaScript code, press the button and you’ll get a bookmarklet – ready to be installed on your browser bar.
Visit http://benalman.com/code/test/jquery-run-code-bookmarklet/

jQAPI

Like any other jQuery developers, I spend a large amount of time digging in the documentation. jQAPI is a website which provides the jQuery documentation in a more user-friendly way, so it is now my reference site when I need any jQuery help.
Visit http://jqapi.com

heatmap.js

Day after day, JavaScript continues to surprise me with its endless possibilities: For example, heatmap.js allows you to generate web heatmaps with the html5canvas element based on your data. Easy and efficient!
Visit http://www.patrick-wied.at/static/heatmapjs/

Respond.js

Remember my article about adaptable layouts with CSS3 media queries? Respond.js is a small script that allow you to use CSS3 media queries on browsers that do not support it yet (Yes IE, we’re looking at you…).
Visit https://github.com/scottjehl/Respond/blob/master/respond.min.js

Modernizr

Modernizr is a script that helps older browsers to work almost as good as newest ones, so you can build modern applications that will work on IE6 and 7. Your clients will love it, that’s guaranteed.
Visit http://www.modernizr.com/

YepNope

YepNope aim is pretty simple: It answers yep, or nope. For example, ask YepNope is Modernizr is loaded. If yes, ask YepNope to do this, and if not, ask YepNope to do that. That’s simple as that, and very useful in many cases.
Visit http://yepnopejs.com/

Ligature.js

Ligature.js is, unsurprisingly, a script that adds pretty ligatures to any kind of text. A must-have for all typography lovers out here!
Visit http://code.google.com/p/ligature-js/

FitText.js

FitText is a very interesting tool, that allows the automatic resizing of a text regarding the size of its parent element. Just have a look to the website and resize your browser: The text will fit. Another very interesting tool for modern websites and applications!
Visit http://fittextjs.com/