Roles
What does your job need?
44 jobs in software and the tools each one needs: must have, every day, good to know.
People who write the product code, from first line to shipped feature. Not sure which job fits? Rate the tools you know and get your best match.
Backend Engineer
Writes the APIs and services behind the app, and the database they use.
Tools for this job
Must have
Docker DesktopDocker ComposeTestcontainersFlywaySQLAlchemy
Every day
Compose WatchWireMockGitHub ActionsSentrydirenvPrisma
Good to know
Flisk CLITiltLocalStackMinIOPact
A day: Builds and changes API endpoints · Writes database migrations and queries · Runs the service with its database and queue on a laptop
Frontend Engineer
Builds the screens people click on, and makes them fast and clean.
Tools for this job
Must have
VitepnpmNext.jsMock Service Workernvm
Every day
esbuildTurboreponpmVitestGitHub ActionsSentryRollup
Good to know
AstroPlaywright MCPNetlify CLIVercel CLI
A day: Builds pages and components · Calls APIs, or fakes them when the API is not ready · Fixes layout and speed problems in the browser
Full-stack Engineer
Builds the screen, the API and the database for one feature, alone.
Tools for this job
Must have
Next.jspnpmDocker ComposePrismaVite
Every day
Docker DesktopDrizzle ORMMock Service WorkerVitestGitHub ActionsSentrySupabase CLI
Good to know
Flisk CLIMailpitngrokcreate-t3-appVercel CLI
A day: Ships a feature from database table to button · Runs the web app, API and database together locally · Deploys and checks it in production
Mobile Engineer
Builds phone apps for iOS and Android, and wires them to a backend.
Tools for this job
Must have
Swift Package ManagerGradleMock Service WorkerMockoonngrok
Every day
ExpoWireMockFirebase Emulator SuiteGitHub ActionsHomebrewSentry
Good to know
MailpitToxiproxyConvexCloudflare Tunnel
A day: Builds screens and app logic · Points the app at a local or test backend · Tests on phones and fakes bad networks
Java / JVM Engineer
Writes server code in Java or Kotlin, usually with Spring or Quarkus.
Tools for this job
Must have
Spring BootMavenGradleSDKMAN!Testcontainers
Every day
QuarkusDocker ComposeFlywayLiquibaseJibGitHub Actions
Good to know
MicronautCloud Native BuildpacksDive
A day: Builds services on Spring Boot or Quarkus · Runs databases and brokers through Compose or Testcontainers · Tunes builds and fixes slow startup
Python Backend Engineer
Writes server code in Python, usually with FastAPI or Django.
Tools for this job
Must have
uvFastAPIDjangoSQLAlchemyAlembic
Every day
pyenvDocker ComposeTestcontainersMotoPydantic AIGitHub Actions
Good to know
A day: Builds API endpoints and background jobs · Manages packages and Python versions · Writes tests that hit a real database
.NET Engineer
Writes server code in C#, often several services that talk to each other.
Tools for this job
Must have
Entity Framework CoreNuGetAspireDocker DesktopAzurite
Every day
Docker ComposeTestcontainersAzure Functions Core ToolsGitHub ActionsBicep
Good to know
DaprSemantic KernelMicrosoft Agent FrameworkProject Tye
A day: Builds APIs and workers in C# · Runs the whole app host with its dependencies · Writes database migrations with EF Core
PHP / WordPress Developer
Builds sites and apps in PHP, Laravel or WordPress.
Tools for this job
Must have
LaravelLaravel SailComposerDDEVLocal
Every day
LandoLaravel HerdDocker ComposeMailpitGitHub Actions
Good to know
A day: Builds features in Laravel or a WordPress theme · Runs a local copy of the site with its database · Moves changes between local and live
Ruby / Rails Engineer
Builds web apps with Rails, from model to page.
Tools for this job
Must have
Ruby on RailsBundlerrbenvDocker ComposeForeman
Every day
OvermindMailpitGitHub ActionsSentryDependabotTestcontainers
Good to know
A day: Builds features end to end in Rails · Runs the app, jobs and database locally · Keeps gems and Ruby versions in order
Serverless / Cloud App Engineer
Builds apps out of cloud functions and managed services, with no servers to run.
Tools for this job
Must have
SSTAWS SAMLocalStackServerless FrameworkWrangler
Every day
AWS CDKMotoMiniflareMinIOGitHub ActionsFirebase Emulator Suite
Good to know
ArchitectNitricEncoreNetlify CLIVercel CLI
A day: Writes functions and wires them to queues and storage · Runs a fake cloud locally to test · Deploys with a few commands
Student / Junior Developer
Learning to code and ship. Needs tools that just work and do not break setup.
Tools for this job
Must have
HomebrewnvmpipDocker DesktopReplit
Every day
GitHub CodespacesCursorGitHub CopilotVitenpm
Good to know
uvClaude Codecreate-viteStackBlitzOllama
A day: Follows tutorials and builds small projects · Fights with installs and versions · Learns git and how to read errors
Indie Hacker / Solo Founder
One person building a whole product. Wants cheap, fast and few moving parts.
Tools for this job
Must have
Next.jsSupabase CLIPocketBaseVercel CLICursor
Every day
Claude CodeDocker ComposepnpmSentryngrokGitHub Actions
Good to know
Flisk CLIConvexWranglerMailpitOllama
A day: Builds everything from signup page to billing · Uses hosted backends so there is less to run · Ships fast and watches for errors
Founding Engineer
First engineer at a startup. Does a bit of everything, picks the stack.
Tools for this job
Must have
Docker ComposeGitHub ActionsNext.jsTerraformSentry
Every day
Claude CodepnpmSupabase CLIVercel CLIDopplerTilt
Good to know
Flisk CLIOpenTofuPulumiGrafanaLocalStack
A day: Picks the stack and sets up the repo · Ships features, fixes prod, sets up CI · Talks to users and turns it into code