When you’re juggling lectures, freelance work, side projects, and still trying to figure out adulthood — the right tools can keep you sane.
As a student developer building real-world apps and running ZoomaLens on the side, here are the 5 tools I use almost every day to stay sharp and organized.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
1. Notion – My Brain in a Box
From class notes to blog outlines to freelance deliverables — Notion is my second brain.
- I track projects, content ideas, and side hustle plans
- I use a simple Kanban for school work
- It’s where I journal and store “shower thoughts” that turn into products or blog posts
If you’re a student dev and don’t use Notion, you’re basically winging it.
2. VS Code – Still King for Dev Work
I’ve tried other editors, but Visual Studio Code hits the sweet spot:
- Fast, customizable, and supports every language I touch (JS, Python, Go, etc.)
- Extensions like Prettier, GitLens, and Tailwind IntelliSense save me hours
It’s the one app I open before checking WhatsApp in the morning.
3. Raycast – The Developer’s Spotlight
If you’re on macOS, stop everything and install Raycast.
- It’s like Spotlight on steroids
- I launch apps, search docs, trigger scripts, and manage GitHub issues — without touching the mouse
- You can even run API calls or ChatGPT prompts straight from it
Raycast is easily the most underrated dev productivity tool right now.
4. Bun – Faster Than Node.js for Local Dev
I recently switched many of my local projects from Node to Bun, and it’s wild:
- Runs faster
- Installs dependencies in seconds
- Built-in TypeScript, bundler, and test runner
If you’re working on side projects or solo apps, try Bun. Especially if speed + simplicity matters.
5. ChatGPT – My Coding Co-Pilot (and Therapist)
I ask it to:
- Debug errors when Stack Overflow is confusing
- Generate code snippets or functions faster
- Help plan blog outlines and feature ideas
It’s not perfect — but knowing how to prompt gives you serious edge.
👀 Bonus Mentions
- Figma – for mocking UI quickly
- Todoist – clean task manager with recurring reminders
- Toggl Track – tracks how much time I waste “just checking Twitter for 5 minutes”
🎯 Why This Matters
You don’t need fancy gear or 30 SaaS apps to be productive.
You just need a few reliable tools — and the consistency to use them well.
The tools above help me:
- Think clearly
- Work faster
- Avoid burnout
- Keep building
If you’re trying to make your dev + student life sustainable, pick tools that reduce friction and give you flow.
Which tools are you using daily as a dev or student?
Drop yours in the comments or tweet me @ZoomaLens.