Beyond Git: Tools That Make Senior Developers Insanely Productive

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If you’re still thinking productivity = writing more code faster… you’re missing the real game.

Senior developers don’t just code more — they think better, automate smarter, debug faster, and collaborate effortlessly. And while Git is essential, it’s just one piece of the toolbox.

Let’s go beyond Git and dive into the secret weapons senior devs swear by (but rarely talk about).



🧠 1. Dotfiles: Your Dev Environment, Supercharged

Ever noticed how senior devs set up a new system in minutes and everything just works?
Their secret? Dotfiles.

Think of dotfiles as your personal dev setup — aliases, editor configs, plugins — all version-controlled and portable.

Here’s a popular starter repo you can fork:
👉 Mathias’s dotfiles

Want to try it yourself?

git clone https://github.com/yourname/dotfiles.git
cd dotfiles
./install.sh
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Now every new machine feels like home.



⚡ 2. Tmux: Terminal Multiplexing Like a Pro

If you’re opening 10 terminal tabs to run your servers, editors, logs — stop.

Use tmux to split terminals, switch sessions, and persist workflows even if you disconnect.

👉 Here’s a killer Tmux config to start:
https://github.com/gpakosz/.tmux

Combine it with Vim or Neovim, and you’ll feel like a hacker from the Matrix.



🔍 3. Ripgrep + Fzf = Instant Code Search

Forget grep, or clicking endlessly in VS Code search.

Use ripgrep with fzf for blazing-fast fuzzy search across projects.

Example usage:

rg "TODO" | fzf
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Find anything. Anywhere. Instantly.



🧪 4. HTTPie: Curl, But Human-Friendly

Curl is powerful, but painful.
HTTPie makes testing APIs delightful.

http POST https://api.example.com/users name='Bhavya' age:=25
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Readable. Beautiful. Debuggable.

Want GUI? Try HTTPie for Web & Desktop.



🧩 5. Postgres + PgHero: Know Your Queries

Great devs understand performance.
Use PgHero to monitor slow queries, index usage, and DB health without logging in to the DB.

Even better? Deploy it alongside your app with a simple config.

For a deeper dive:
👉 Postgres Indexing Explained



🛠️ 6. Task Runners: Just Automate It

# Taskfile.yml
tasks:
  setup:
    cmds:
      - npm install
      - cp .env.example .env
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Then just run:

task setup
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Works like magic across teams.



📦 7. Package Managers Beyond npm: Brew, ASDF & More

You probably use npm, but what about:

Run different Node versions per project? ASDF makes it easy:

asdf install nodejs 18.17.0
asdf global nodejs 18.17.0
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Boom! Version conflicts solved.



🔒 8. 1Password CLI or Doppler: Secrets Management Done Right

Stop pushing .env files into Git. Please.

Use Doppler or 1Password CLI to manage secrets securely across environments.

Bonus: Rotate secrets and manage team access with zero friction.



📚 9. DevDocs + Dash: Docs That Work Offline & Fast

Reading docs should be lightning-fast.

  • Use DevDocs (with offline mode)
  • Or Dash (Mac app for offline docs browsing)

Fast lookup = fewer tab switches = more flow state.



🔄 10. gh CLI: GitHub Power in Your Terminal

Why switch to browser when you can:

gh pr create
gh repo clone
gh issue list
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Explore GitHub CLI here.
Speed up reviews, issues, PRs, and release workflows — all without leaving the terminal.



💬 Ready to Go Beyond?

These tools aren’t just “nice to have.” They compound your productivity.

Pick just one or two from above, set them up, and you’ll feel the difference within days.

Which one have you tried before? Or is there a hidden gem you’d recommend that’s not on this list?

👇 Drop it in the comments!

👉 For more dev productivity tips, real-world engineering tools, and tech insights that go beyond the basics —
Follow [DCT Technology]for weekly content.

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