Hey devs! 👋
As a JavaScript dev, the right CLI tools can seriously boost your speed, code quality, and workflow. Here are my daily go-to tools — you might want them in your stack too! ⚡
📦 1. npm / pnpm / yarn
Package managers are essential — I personally use pnpm for its speed and disk space efficiency.
✅ Why I love it:
Faster installs
Better monorepo support
Strict dependency management
💾 2. nvm (Node Version Manager)
Switch between multiple Node.js versions with ease.
✅ Why it’s useful:
Test projects in different Node versions
Avoid global version conflicts
One-liner setup per project
🧪 3. Vitest / Jest
For unit testing in modern JavaScript and TypeScript projects.
✅ Why I use Vitest:
Lightning fast ⚡
Native ESM support
Works seamlessly with Vite projects
🛠️ 4. ESLint + Prettier
Keep your code consistent and clean — automatically.
✅ Why it's a must:
Catch errors early 🔍
Enforce coding standards
Integrates easily into CI pipelines
🌐 5. http-server / serve
Quickly spin up a local server to preview static files.
✅ When I use it:
Testing builds before deployment
Sharing demos without full backend
🧹 6. rimraf
A cross-platform alternative to rm -rf, perfect for cleaning dist or node_modules.
✅ Example:
rimraf dist
⚡ 7. Turbo / Nx / Lerna
For monorepo management — I use Turbo for its speed and caching.
✅ Why it's great:
Manage apps and packages easily
Speed up CI builds
Smart task scheduling
🐻 8. Zustand Devtools (CLI preview)
If you're using Zustand for state management, this CLI tool helps visualize store changes (or integrate with extensions).
🔍 9. tldr
Better than man pages — shows simplified command usage.
✅ Example:
tldr curl
🔐 10. dotenv-cli
Loads .env files into the environment when running scripts.
✅ Example:
dotenv -e .env.local -- node app.js
🚀 Final Thoughts
CLI tools are underrated productivity boosters. The right set of commands can help you:
Save time
Avoid bugs
Focus on code
🛠️ Got a favorite CLI tool that boosts your dev flow? Share it below — let’s build the ultimate toolbox together! 💬👇
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