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Essential CLI/TUI Tools to Supercharge Developer Productivity 2025

Essential CLI/TUI Tools to Supercharge Developer Productivity 2025

l1n0xl1n0x
Development on Linux

As developers, our terminals are more than just text interfaces—they're control centers for our workflows. While GUI tools have their place, CLI/TUI utilities offer unmatched speed, flexibility, and automation potential. This curated list cuts through the noise to bring you battle-tested tools that genuinely enhance productivity across key development tasks.

1. Kubernetes & Cloud-Native Tools

k9s: Kubernetes Cluster Management Reimagined

Why it matters: Transform chaotic kubectl outputs into an interactive dashboard with:

  • Real-time cluster visualization 📊
  • Single-key resource navigation ⌨️
  • Context-aware command suggestions 💡

Installation:

1# macOS
2brew install derailed/k9s/k9s
3
4# Linux
5snap install k9s --devmode  # or use k9s-<version>.tar.gz
6
7# Windows
8choco install k9s

kubectx/kubens: Cluster & Namespace Context Switching

Game-changer feature: Lightning-fast switching between 10+ clusters without memorizing context names

Pro tip: Combine with shell aliases for instant access:

1alias kx='kubectx'  
2alias kn='kubens'
3
4# Installation:
5
6
7
8# Debian/Ubuntu
9sudo apt install kubectx
10
11# Arch
12sudo pacman -S kubectx

kubescape: Kubernetes Security Guardian

Critical use case: CI/CD pipeline integration to catch vulnerabilities before deployment

Key capabilities:
✅ Helm chart scanning
✅ CIS Benchmark compliance checks
✅ NSA/CISA framework support

Installation:

1curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubescape/kubescape/master/install.sh | /bin/bash

2. Container Management Essentials

ctop: Container Metrics at a Glance

Perfect for: Quick diagnosis of resource-hungry containers

Visual advantage: Color-coded metrics for CPU/Memory/Network usage

Installation:

1docker run --rm -ti \
2  --name=ctop \
3  --volume /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro \
4  quay.io/vektorlab/ctop:latest

lazydocker: The Docker Companion You Didn't Know You Needed

Why developers love it:

  • Interactive container lifecycle management 🔄
  • Log inspection without endless docker logs commands 📜
  • Compose file visualization 📁

Installation:

1curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jesseduffield/lazydocker/master/scripts/install_update_linux.sh | bash

3. File & Text Processing Powerhouses

bat: Supercharged cat Replacement

Developer-friendly features:

  • Syntax highlighting for 200+ languages 🌈
  • Git integration showing line changes 📌
  • Paging support for large files 📚

Usage example:

1bat --line-range 50:100 config.yaml

ripgrep (rg): The Grep Killer

Performance stats: 5-10x faster than traditional grep on large codebases

Smart defaults:

  • Ignores .gitignore patterns automatically 🚫
  • Respects hidden/filetype restrictions 🔍

Pro search pattern:

1rg -tpy 'import.*requests'  # Search Python files for requests imports

4. Git Mastery Accelerators

lazygit: Terminal-Based Git Wizardry

lazygit is another great terminal UI for Git commands developed by Jesse Duffield using Go.

I don’t mind using the Git CLI directly for simple things, but it is famously verbose for more advanced use cases. I am just too lazy to memorize longer commands.

Life-changing features:

  • Interactive rebase visualization 🌳
  • Branch management without remote switching 🌐
  • Stash navigation made intuitive 💾

Installation:

1go install github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit@latest

5. API & Development Workflow Boosters

httpie — modern, user-friendly command-line HTTP client for the API era.

Don’t get me wrong, curl is great, but not very human-friendly.

HTTPie has a simple and expressive syntax, supports JSON and form data, handles authentication and headers, and displays colorized and formatted output.

Installation:

1pip install httpie

6. Network Diagnostics Made Simpledoggo — A command-line DNS client.

It's totally inspired by dog which is written in Rust.

In the past I would use dig to inspect the DNS, but its output is often verbose and difficult to parse visually.

doggo addresses these shortcomings by offering two key improvements:

  • doggo provides the JSON output support for easy scripting and parsing.
  • doggo offers a human-readable output format that uses color-coding and a tabular layout to present DNS information clearly and concisely.
1doggo @8.8.8.8 example.com MX  # Query specific DNS server
2
3#JSON output advantage:
4
5doggo example.com --json | jq '.answers[] | select(.type == "A")'

7. Terminal Environment Enhancers

btop: Resource Monitoring Masterclass

I can’t live without btop, and it’s installed on all my machines via my personal dotfiles. I rarely use now built-in OS GUIs to check the resource utilization on my host machine, because btop can do it much better.

Key bindings to learn:

  • m: Sort by memory usage
  • c: Sort by CPU utilization
  • p: Process tree visualization

Installation:

1sudo apt install btop  # Ubuntu/Debian

tmux/zellij: Terminal Multiplexing Showdown

Since I listed tmux here, it also makes sense to include a new competitor, Zellij, which has been gaining traction in the developer community. Both have their own unique features and purposes.

Compared to traditional terminal multiplexers, zellij offers a more user-friendly interface, modern design elements, built-in layout systems, and a plugin system, making it easier for newcomers to get started.

Starter command:

1zellij setup --check  # Generate recommended config

Level Up Your Terminal Game

These tools shine brightest when combined into personalized workflows. Start with 2-3 tools that solve immediate pain points, then gradually expand your toolkit. Remember: The best developers aren't those who memorize every command—they're the ones who master their tools.

Pro tips for adoption:

Add tools to your shell configuration files

Create descriptive aliases for complex commands

Schedule weekly "tool time" to explore new features

Final Thought: While these utilities boost productivity, avoid endless tool-hopping. Depth beats breadth when it comes to mastering development tools.

Ready to upgrade? Start with these recommended first steps:

Install bat and ripgrep for file operations

Set up lazygit for version control

Configure btop for system monitoring

Your terminal will never feel the same again! 🚀