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Essential CLI/TUI Tools to Supercharge Developer Productivity 2025

Essential CLI/TUI Tools to Supercharge Developer Productivity 2025

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Development on Linux

As developers, our terminals are more than just text interfacesโ€”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 ๐Ÿ“Š
  • Single-key resource navigation โŒจ๏ธ
  • Context-aware command suggestions ๐Ÿ’ก

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:
โœ… Helm chart scanning
โœ… CIS Benchmark compliance checks
โœ… 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 ๐Ÿ”„
  • Log inspection without endless docker logs commands ๐Ÿ“œ
  • Compose file visualization ๐Ÿ“

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 ๐ŸŒˆ
  • Git integration showing line changes ๐Ÿ“Œ
  • Paging support for large files ๐Ÿ“š

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 ๐Ÿšซ
  • Respects hidden/filetype restrictions ๐Ÿ”

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 donโ€™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 ๐ŸŒณ
  • Branch management without remote switching ๐ŸŒ
  • Stash navigation made intuitive ๐Ÿ’พ

Installation:

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

5. API & Development Workflow Boosters

httpie โ€” modern, user-friendly command-line HTTP client for the API era.

Donโ€™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 โ€” 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 canโ€™t live without btop, and itโ€™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 commandโ€”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! ๐Ÿš€