Software Engineering Design Category Tools

There are tons of Software Development tools and selecting the best could be a challenge. Following is a curated software tools list of the top software development tools.

We have covered the best Software Development tools in the following categories:

Best Recommended Software Development (Developer) Tools
IDE (Integrated Development Environment)
Best Software Development Frameworks
Cloud Tools for Software Development
Data Science
Source Control
Prototyping
Best DevOps Tools / Programs
Notifications
UML

Best Recommended Software Development (Developer) Tools

1) RAD Studio

RAD Studio is a Powerful IDE For Building Native Apps on Windows, Android, iOS, macOS and Linux. It enables you to design Beautiful Desktop and Mobile App UIs with less coding effort. Write once, compile everywhere.

Features:

Single Code Base for all major platforms
Connect to over 20 databases natively with FireDAC's high speed direct access
Up-to-date user interface controls, WinRT APIs, HighDPI-related features and Windows Store support
Use the HTTP and REST client libraries, available on all platforms, to invoke REST services or AWS and Azure components
Powerful CData Enterprise Connectors to access 70+ data sources

2) Embold

Fixing bugs before deployment saves a lot of time and energy in the long run. Embold is a software analytics platform that analyses source code and uncovers issues that impact stability, robustness, security, and maintainability.

Features:

With the Embold plugins, you can pick up code smells and vulnerabilities as you code, before making commits.
Unique anti-pattern detection prevents the compounding of unmaintainable code.
Integrate seamlessly with Github, Bitbucket, Azure, and Git and plugins available for Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA.
Get deeper and faster checks than standard code editors, for over 10 languages.

3) Collaborator

Collaborator is a peer code and document review tool for development teams that take quality seriously.

Comprehensive Review Capabilities – Review source code, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio Diagrams, Adobe PDF, Images and Simulink models all in one tool.
Enhances the code review process for GitHub, GitLab, BitBucket, and Azure DevOps
Supports 11 version control tools including Git, SVN, TFS, Perforce, CVS, ClearCase, RTC and more.
Proof of Review – Ensure proof of review with electronic signatures & detailed reports to meet auditing and regulatory compliance standards (ISO26262, 21 CFR Part 11, DO-178C, AS9100, OWASP).

4) Studio 3T

Studio 3T for MongoDB helps you to build queries fast, generate instant code, import/export in multiple formats, and much more.

Query MongoDB faster with our Visual Query Builder, IntelliShell, or SQL Query tool.
Our Data Masking tool enables data compliance and bolsters security with powerful field-level data obfuscation.
Import to MongoDB from JSON, CSV, BSON/mongodump, and SQL, and get a preview of your output documents as you make changes.
Migration from MongoDB to SQL (or vice versa) has never been easier with our Migration tools."

5) Linx

Linx is a low code IDE and server. IT pros use Linx to quickly create custom automated business processes, integrate applications, expose web services and to efficiently handle high workloads.

Easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interface
Over 100 pre-built functions and services for rapid development
One-click deployment to any local or remote Linx Server directly from the IDE
Input and outputs include nearly any SQL & NoSQL databases, numerous file formats (text and binary) or REST and SOAP Web services
Live debugging with step through logic
Automate backend processes via timer, directory events or message queue or expose web services, and call APIs via HTTP requests

6) GeneXus

GeneXus provides a unique platform that captures the needs of users and generates applications for present and future technologies, without the need to learn new technology. Allows pragmatic developers to evolve quickly, responding to market and technological changes in an agile way.

Features:

AI-based automatic software generation.
Multi-Experience apps: Model once, generate for multiple platforms (responsive and progressive web apps, mobile native and hybrid apps, Apple Tv, chatbots & virtual assistants).
Highest flexibility: The largest number of databases supported in the market.
Business Process Management Support: Digital Process Automation through integrated BPM modeling.
Deployment flexibility: Deploy apps on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid scenarios.
Application security module included.
No runtime for generated applications, price by developer seat.

7) Kite

Kite is Software Development tools that automatically completes multiple line codes. This editor supports more than 16 languages. It helps you to code faster with no hassle.

Features:

It offers Java documentation.
This editor provides a function signature as you type.
You will get a tooltip on mouse hover.
Provides support in email.
Uses machine learning models for Java language.

8) Access Rights Manager

Access Rights Manager is a tool that can manage your audit access rights across IT infrastructure. This application helps you to detect compliance by detecting changes. It enables you to generate audit-ready reports instantly.

Features:

This application can act on high-risk access.
Offers accurate and fast account provisioning.
Helps you to manage access rights with ease.
It can minimize the impact of insider threats.

9) DbSchema

DbSchema is a visual database designer & manager for any SQL, NoSQL, or Cloud database. The tool enables you to visually design & interact with the database schema, design the schema in a team and deploy it on multiple databases, generate HTML5 diagram documentation, visually explore the data and build queries, and so much more.

Features:

Design schema in the team and deploy on multiple databases
Compare different versions of the schema, generate migration scripts
HTML5 Documentation , Interactive Diagrams, Relational Data Explorer & Visual Query Builder
Schema Synchronization, Random Data Generator, Data Loader, Database Reports
SQL Editor with autocompletion

IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

10) NetBeans

NetBeans is a popular, Free, open-source IDE. It is one of the best application development tools that allows developing desktop, mobile and web applications.

Features:

Support for fast & smart code editing
Easy & Efficient Project Management process
Rapid User Interface Development
Helps to write bug-free code
NetBeans IDE offers superior support for C/C++ and PHP developers
It can be installed on any OS which supports Java, from Windows to Linux to Mac OS X systems

Download link: https://netbeans.org/downloads/index.html

11) Cloud9 IDE

Cloud9 IDE is an online integrated software development environment. It is one of the best software design tools that supports many programming languages like C, C++, PHP, Ruby, Perl, Python, JavaScript and Node.js.

Features:

Allows to clone entire development environment
Built-In Terminal for command-line wizard
Code Completion suggestions helps software developers to code faster and avoid typos
The Debugger helps developers to set breakpoints, and inspect variables of any JS/Node.js app
Simply drag any file or Terminal to create multiple split views
Developers can select an extensive set of default Runners to execute app, such as Ruby, Python, PHP/Apache

Download link: https://c9.io/pricing

12) Zend Studio

Zend Studio allows software developers to code faster, debug more easily. It is next-generation PHP IDE designed to create apps for boosting developers' productivity. It is one of the best developer tools which scales according to the DPI settings of the underlying operating system.

Features:

Code faster with up to performance improvements in indexing, validation, searching for PHP code
Offering debugging capabilities with Xdebug, Zend Debugger, and Z-Ray integration
Extensive plugin provided by the large Eclipse eco-system
It is one of the best programming tools that supports development tools including Docker and Git Flow
Deploy PHP applications on any server for Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure

Download link: https://www.zend.com/downloads

13) Atom

Atom is a solid all-around text-editor. It is fully free and open source. This software development tool can be customized to do anything but without a need of modifying the config file.

Features:

Atom works across many popular operating systems like OS X, Windows, or Linux
It helps developers to write code faster with a smart, flexible autocomplete
Easily browse and open whole project or multiple projects in one window
It is possible to split Atom interface into multiple panes to compare and edit code across files
Find, preview, and replace text type in a file or across the entire project

Download link: https://atom.io/

14) CodeLobster

Codelobster streamlines and simplifies PHP software development. process. It supports CMS like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and Magento.

Features:

PHP, HTML, JavaScript, CSS code highlighting
Autocomplete of tags, attributes for a current tag, closing tags.
Inspector makes it simple to find HTML elements and their styles buried deep in the page
Autocomplete of style property names and values
It allows autocompleting of keywords, DOM elements, and their properties
It offers PHP Advanced autocomplete

15) CodeCharge Studio

CodeCharge Studio offers the fastest way to build applications. This tool helps to develop data-driven Web sites or enterprise Internet and Intranet systems.

Features:

Avoid costly errors and misspellings by generating consistent, well-structured code
Eliminate time-consuming programming tasks and build scalable, robust Web Applications
Helps to convert any database into a web application in very less amount of time
Analyze and modify generated code to learn web technologies and take on programming projects in any environment

Best Software Development Frameworks

16) Bootstrap

Bootstrap is a responsive framework for developing with HTML, CSS, and JS. It is one of the best software programming tools that has many in-builds components, which you can easily drag and drop to assemble responsive web pages.

Feature:

Bootstrap enables utilization of ready- made blocks of code
It ensures consistency irrespective of who's working on the project
It offers extensive list of components
Base Styling for most HTML Elements
Bootstrap can be customized according to the specific need of the project

Download link: http://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.0/getting-started/download/

17) HTML5 Builder

HTML5 Builder is a software solution for building the web and mobile apps. It can develop an app using a single HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and PHP codebase. It helps to target multiple mobile operating systems, devices and Web browsers.

Features:

It is the fastest way to develop cross-platform Apps with flexible Cloud services
Increased speed of development with a single visual framework
It is one of the best tools in software that brings Designers and Developers in a Collaborative Workflow
Create Enterprise or ISV web and mobile apps
Create location-based browser and mobile applications using geolocation components in HTML5 Builder

Download link: https://www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-studio/start-for-free

18) Visual Online

Visual Studio Online is a collection of services. It is fast and easy to plan, build and ship software across a variety of platforms. It is one of the best tools for software developers that allows organizations to create the perfect development environment.

Features:

Track and manage all ideas on kanban or scrum boards with agile tools
Improve code quality and catch issues early
Build, manage, secure and share software components
Automate and simplify Azure deployments
Tools for manual, performance and automated testing
It offers a centralized version control system with free private repositories.

Download link: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/

Cloud Tools for Software Development

19) Azure

Microsoft Azure is widely used by developers to build, deploy and manage web applications.

Features:

It supports wide range of operating systems, programming languages, frameworks, and devices
Allows to build apps quickly and easily
It easily detect and mitigate threats
Rely on the most trusted cloud
Allows to manage app proactively
Helps to deliver mobile apps seamlessly

20) Kwatee

Kwatee Agile Deployment is a software development tool. It is one of the best software developer tools that automates applications or micro services to any number of servers. It fully automates deployments of text and binary files from any number of target servers.

Features:

It allows managing environment-specific configuration parameters for your application
It allows generating command-line installers to be used for deployments on environments
This software development tool eliminates the need for installation & configuration. It also takes out many operational risks in the software development process
It is a friendly web interface lets configure deployments efficiently and painlessly
It supports a broad range operating systems including Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, Solaris, etc.

Download link: https://github.com/kwatee/agiledeployment

Data Science

21) Data studio

Dataiku DSS is a collaborative data science software platform. It is used by data scientists, data analysts, and engineers to explore, prototype, build and deliver their data products.

Features:

Profile the data visually at every stage of the analysis
Prepare, enrich, blend, and clean data using more than 80+ built-in functions
Bundle whole workflow as a single deployable package for real-time predictions
Build & optimize models in Python or R and integrate any external ML library through code APIs

Download link: https://www.dataiku.com/product/get-started/

Source Control

22) Github

GitHub allows developers to review code, manage projects, and build software. It offers right tool for different development jobs.

Features:

Coordinate easily, stay aligned, and get done with GitHub's project management tools
Easy documentation alongside quality coding
It is one of the best software dev tools that allows all code in a single place
Developers can host their documentation directly from repositories

Download link: https://github.com/

23) BitBucket

Bitbucket is a version control tool. It facilitates easy collaboration amongst software development team. It integrates very well with JIRA, a famous project and issue-managing app.

Features:

Branch permissions access to ensure that the only right people can make changes to the code
It is one of the best software tools examples that helps development team to focus on a goal, product or process by organizing repositories into projects
It can display build results from CI system
Integrate into existing workflow to streamline software development process

Download link: https://bitbucket.org/

Prototyping

24) Axure

Axure provides the capability to produce wireframes, prototypes, and create documentation. This tool is used by business analysts, product managers, and IT consultants around the world.

Features:

Axure RP generates prototype in HTML and provides link for sharing
It is one of the best dev programs which allows multiple people to work on the same file at the same time
It can runs on Microsoft IIS with a MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server database
It helps to create and maintain widget libraries

Download link: https://www.axure.com/

Best DevOps Tools / Programs

25) Codenvy

Codenvy automates applications or micro services to any number of servers. It is one of the best software developing tools which fully automates deployments of text and binary files from any number of target servers.

Features:

It allows managing environment-specific configuration parameters for your application
It allows generating command-line installers to be used for deployments on any environment
This software development tool eliminates the need for installation & configuration.
It takes out many operational risks in the software development process
The friendly web interface lets configure deployments efficiently and painlessly
It supports a broad range operating systems including Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, Solaris, etc.

Download link: https://codenvy.com/

Notifications

26) SendBird

Sendbird is used as a messaging and Chat API for Mobile Apps and Websites. It offers scalability for a massive audience. It also prevents spam flooding of chat rooms.

Features:

Read and track the status of the messages sent to users
Integrate bots to assist with customer support and product recommendations
Offers Push Notifications & Callbacks
Read Receipt & Delivery Status
Automatically split or merge chat rooms on the audience volume to offer continues engagement

Download link: https://sendbird.com/

UML

27) Enterprise Architect

Enterprise Architect is a requirement management tool. It integrates seamlessly with other development tools by creating requirements in the model.

Features:

Allows to build robust and maintainable systems
It loads extremely large models in seconds
Collaborate effectively globally
Offers complete traceability
Improve business outcomes
Model and manage complex Data effectively
Supports Single click HTML and document generation
Code execution to visual diagrams

Download link: http://www.sparxsystems.com/products/ea/

Best Software Designing & Development Tools

Name	Platform	Link
RAD Studio	Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux	Learn More
Embold	Windows, macOS	Learn More
Collaborator	Windows, macOS	Learn More
Studio 3T	Windows, macOS	Learn More
Linx	Windows	Learn More

FAQs

❓ What is Software Development?

Software Development is a step-by-step structured process of creating, designing, building, deploying, and maintaining a software application or product. In Software development, several other components like frameworks, documentation, testing, and bug fixing are also involved.

⚡ What is Software Development Tool?

A Software Development Tool is an application or program which helps developers to create, maintain, test, build, debug, fix and support a software application or product. Software development tools also allow users to streamline and automate different software development tasks in order to improve efficiency and performance.

✅ Types of Software Development Tools

Software Development Tools can be categorized into the following types:

IDE (Integrated Development Environment) – Helps to edit, debug and run the source code
Frameworks – Provides a platform to develop software applications
Cloud Tools – Offers various software development services to build software applications quickly and easily
Data Science Tools – Provides detailed analytics to improve software application product
Source Control Tools – Offers easy management of source code for software development projects
Prototyping Tools – Allows creating software prototypes
DevOps Tools – Helps to manage and automate the software deployment process
UML Tools – Helps in software documentation

💻 Which are the best Software Development Tools?

Here are some of the best Software Development Tools:

RAD Studio
Embold
Collaborator
Studio 3T
Linx
GeneXus
Kite
Access Rights Manager
DbSchema