9 Small Web Tools I Reach for Every Week as a Developer

toolharo — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:46:55 +0000

Every developer has a folder of bookmarks for tiny tasks: format this JSON, encode that string, generate a QR code for a demo. They are small jobs, but they interrupt your flow when you have to hunt for a decent tool each time.

Here are nine utilities I use regularly, all gathered on Toolharo, plus tips on when each one is worth opening.

JSON Formatter

You’ve pasted an API response, and it’s one unreadable line. A JSON formatter indents it so you can see the structure at a glance.

Use it when: debugging an API response, reading a config file, or writing documentation examples.

JSON Validator

Formatting shows you the shape, while validating tells you whether the JSON is actually correct. A JSON validator points out problems like trailing commas, missing quotes or unclosed brackets.

Use it when: a request fails with a parse error and you can’t spot why. The usual culprits are a trailing comma or single quotes instead of double quotes.

Base64 Encoder / Decoder

Base64 turns up in data URIs, basic auth headers, email attachments and token payloads. A quick Base64 tool saves you from opening a terminal for a one-off decode.

Use it when: inspecting a header or embedding a tiny image as a data URI.

Remember: Base64 is an encoding, not encryption. Never treat it as a way to protect secrets.

Password Generator

A password generator is useful for test accounts, staging environments and seed data. Choose long passwords with mixed character types.

Use it when: creating credentials for non-production setups. For real production secrets, use a proper secrets manager.

QR Code Generator

QR codes aren’t only for marketing. I use a QR code generator to share a staging URL with testers on phones, open a mobile deep link, or hand someone a Wi-Fi login at a meetup.

Use it when: you need to move a link from your laptop to a phone without typing it.

Robots.txt Generator

A mistake in robots.txt can quietly keep search engines away from your whole site. A robots.txt generator gives you the correct syntax for allow and disallow rules.

Use it when: launching a new site, or blocking admin and staging paths.

Always re-check the file before deploying. A stray Disallow: / is a classic launch-day mistake.

Sitemap Generator

For small projects, a sitemap generator is the fastest way to produce an XML sitemap you can submit to search engines.

Use it when: shipping a portfolio, landing page or small static site that doesn’t generate sitemaps automatically.

Text Diff Checker

Comparing two blocks of text by eye is slow and error-prone. A text diff checker highlights what changed between two versions of a config, a copy block or a log excerpt.

Use it when: you suspect a copy-paste changed something, or you need to compare two outputs outside of Git.

Image Compressor

Large images are one of the most common causes of slow pages. An image compressor shrinks files before you add them to a project.

Use it when: adding hero images, screenshots or thumbnails to a site. Compare the file size before and after, and check the result visually before shipping.

Honorable mentions

A few more that come in handy:

Case Converter for switching text between camelCase, snake_case, uppercase and more (confirm the supported formats before listing them)
Find & Replace for quick bulk edits on pasted text
Lorem Ipsum Generator for placeholder copy in mockups
Favicon Generator for turning one image into the sizes a site needs
A simple way to work with small tools

A few habits make these tools safer and more useful:

Don’t paste secrets. Even if a tool runs in your browser, avoid pasting real API keys, tokens or customer data into any online utility. Use dummy values. [Add a note here if you can confirm which Toolharo tools process data entirely in the browser.]
Verify the output. Treat generated results, like a robots.txt file or an XML sitemap, as a first draft and check them before deploying.
Bookmark a collection, not a hundred links. One organized place beats a messy bookmarks bar.
Wrapping up

None of these tools are glamorous, but together they save a lot of small interruptions. The best utility is the one that gets out of your way and lets you finish the task.

DEV Community: toolharo

9 Small Web Tools I Reach for Every Week as a Developer

What small tools do you use constantly that I missed? Drop them in the comments. I’m always looking for ones worth adding to the collection.