As a Magento developer, having the right tools and technologies at your disposal is crucial for efficient development and deployment. Here’s a look at the stack I use to streamline my workflow and enhance productivity.

Development Environment

Visual Studio Code

I primarily use Visual Studio Code as my code editor. The transition from PhpStorm was a bit strange at first, but after a while, it has proven to be worth it. Its lightweight nature, combined with a rich ecosystem of extensions, makes it an ideal choice for PHP development, and it just feels very smooth now.

Xdebug

For debugging PHP applications, I rely on Xdebug. It allows me to step through my code, inspect variables, and understand the flow of execution, which is invaluable when troubleshooting complex issues.

DBCode

For database management, I use DBCode as my SQL client, which is a Visual Studio Code extension. It provides a user-friendly interface to interact with my databases, making it easier to run queries and manage data.

Operating System

Ubuntu

I develop on Ubuntu, a popular Linux distribution. Its stability and compatibility with various development tools make it a preferred choice for many developers, including myself. I was impressed by the speed of the boot time after Ubuntu introduced a three-layer buffer during the boot process, which significantly enhanced my overall experience.

Containerization

DDEV

To manage my development environment, I’ve added DDEV to handle Docker Compose. This tool simplifies the process of setting up and managing local development environments, allowing me to focus on coding rather than configuration.

Version Control

GitHub

I use GitHub for version control. It not only helps me keep track of changes in my code but also facilitates collaboration with other developers on projects.

Deployment

Capistrano with GitHub Actions

For deployment, I still use Capistrano in conjunction with GitHub Actions. This combination allows me to automate the deployment process, ensuring that my applications are deployed consistently and reliably.

OpenAI as an Extension Arm

Recently, I’ve found that OpenAI has become an extension arm in my development process. Its capabilities in natural language processing and code generation have proven to be invaluable, helping me brainstorm solutions and streamline certain coding tasks.

Worth Mentioning

Brave has become my default browser. Its focus on privacy and speed has made my browsing experience much more enjoyable. Additionally, I use PHPCS for coding standards. You can find the public ruleset I am using here: Magento Coding Standard.

I also use Postman to check the GraphQL APIs within Magento 2, which makes testing and debugging much more efficient.

Conclusion

This stack has proven to be effective in my work as a Magento developer. Each tool plays a vital role in enhancing my productivity and ensuring that I can deliver high-quality applications. If you have any questions about my stack or want to share your own, feel free to leave a comment below!