Best IDEs Every Developer Should Know

With 7-8 years of experience as a software engineer, I have explored various free and paid tools to enhance productivity. As developers, we should always be eager to learn new technologies and improve our development workflow.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best free and paid tools, including IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), error monitoring tools, and AI-powered coding assistants, to help streamline your development process.

1. Best Free & Paid IDEs (Integrated Development Environments)

Free IDEs

1.1. Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

A lightweight, feature-rich IDE with extensive extension support.
Key Features: IntelliSense, Git integration, debugging tools, built-in terminal.
Best For: Web development, Python, JavaScript, AI development, and more.
Download Link: VS Code

1.2. JetBrains Fleet

A lightweight alternative to JetBrains’ premium IDEs, supporting multiple languages.
Key Features: AI-assisted code completion, built-in collaboration tools, cloud support.
Best For: Developers looking for an AI-powered, smart IDE.
Download Link: JetBrains Fleet

Paid IDEs

1.3. JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA (Ultimate) – $149/year

One of the best IDEs for Java and Kotlin developers.
Key Features: Deep code analysis, refactoring tools, advanced debugging.
Best For: Java, Kotlin, and enterprise development.
Download Link: IntelliJ IDEA

1.4. PyCharm Professional – $99/year

A powerful IDE for Python developers with smart auto-completion and debugging.
Key Features: Django, Flask, and data science support.
Best For: Python developers working on web apps and machine learning projects.
Download Link: PyCharm

1.5. Codelobster IDE – $60/year

A dedicated IDE for PHP developers working with CMS and frameworks.
Key Features: Support for WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Laravel, Phalcon, Bootstrap, CakePHP, CodeIgniter, Symfony, Yii, and more.
Best For: PHP developers.
Download Link: Codelobster IDE

2. Best Error Monitoring Tools

Debugging and error monitoring are crucial for maintaining high-quality code, especially in large-scale projects. Here are some great tools to help track and fix errors efficiently.

2.1. Jet Logger

A Node.js error logging package.
Key Features: Supports multiple logging levels like info, warn, important, and error.
Best For: Node.js developers.
Installation Link: Jet Logger

2.2. Datadog APM – Starts at $31/host/month

A cloud-based error monitoring and performance tracking tool.
Key Features: Crash reporting, real-user monitoring, API tracking.
Best For: Mobile and web developers optimizing application performance.
More Info: Datadog APM

3. AI Tools for Auto Code Completion, Code Explanation, and Refactoring

AI-powered coding assistants are revolutionizing the way developers write and optimize code. Here are some of the best AI tools available.

3.1. Codeium – Free Version Available

A free AI-powered coding assistant.
Key Features: Supports 70+ programming languages.
Supported IDEs: VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, Jupyter Notebook, and more.
Best For: Developers looking for a free AI coding assistant.
Official Link: Codeium

3.2. GitHub Copilot – $10/month

AI-powered code suggestions that speed up development.
Key Features: Auto-generates code, suggests functions, integrates with VS Code and JetBrains.
Best For: Developers who want AI assistance for coding.
More Info: GitHub Copilot