Top Developer Tools for 2025

AI, code quality, productivity and implementing effective CI/CD are areas which many developers will be focusing on going into the new year. 

Kick-off 2025 with the best software application development tools you need to easily succeed and enhance your projects. Below we highlight some of the top developer tools that should definitely be on your 2025 Wishlist.  

AI-assisted coding - GitHub Copilot  

Gartner predicts that 75% of software engineers will be using an AI code assistant by 2028. 

Powered by OpenAI, GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that assists developers by suggesting code snippets and entire functions in real time. It helps speed up the coding process and reduces the likelihood of errors.  

One of the things we love about GitHub Copilot is how well it integrates with Azure DevOps; you can experience seamless, AI-powered end-to-end development and deployment. GitHub Copilot for Azure helps you diagnose issues, answer questions about resources and costs, and even provision and deploy Azure resources through the Azure Developer CLI template. 

Black Marble's Richard Fennell loves GitHub Copilot:

GitHub Copilot makes it much quicker to become productive on a new codebase or one you have not worked on in a while, explaining and giving context sensitive suggestions to solve your business problems.

Watch the video case study below to see the benefits Lumen Tech has found from using these tools. 

Here is more information on Azure DevOps from Black Marble's Richard Fennell:

"Software development is a team exercise; for a team to collaborate, they need a shared space to work. Azure DevOps provides such a space, providing integrated tools that manage the complete DevOps software development lifecycle, from planning and work tracking to source control and package management, as well as build and release (CI/CD) pipelines. This is all done within a flexible security model backed by Entra ID."

Software supply chain – JFrog 

The JFrog Platform is a comprehensive solution designed to manage the entire software supply chain, from development to deployment. It integrates various tools and technologies to provide end-to-end visibility, security, and control over software releases. 

Learn more about the platform in this video.

One feature we love is the new GitHub Co-Pilot extension which enables you to query GitHub Copilot Chat for recommendations on artifacts, software packages, versions, and the security status. 

See how JFrog and GitHub work together below:

Static code analysis - JetBrains Qodana  

Many industries use static code analysis to ensure compliance with coding standards and regulations, such as MISRA for automotive software and ISO 26262. 

Qodana is a static code analysis tool developed by JetBrains. It integrates with your CI/CD pipeline to help maintain and improve code quality by automating code inspections. It also enhances productivity, helps maintain high code quality, and reduces the risk of bugs and issues in your software. 

Learn more about Qodana in the video playlist.

UI testing – Smartbear TestComplete 

A report by Aplitools found that most organisations automated less than 50% of their testing despite test coverage for every device being critical. Testing is essential for meeting industry standards, uncovers security vulnerabilities, and highlights bugs that need to be fixed. It also improves user satisfaction as the app has fewer errors and creates a more seamless experience. 

Smartbear TestComplete is a UI test automation tool we recommend as it tests every desktop, web, and mobile application. Get peace of mind that flaws are highlighted quickly so you can swiftly fix them.  

One of the features we love is that you can integrate TestComplete into your DevOps ecosystem with tools like Jenkins and Azure DevOps for continuous testing. 

Watch this video to learn more about TestComplete.

Data comparison – Scooter Software’s Beyond Compare 

Beyond Compare is a powerful but easy-to-use data comparison tool developed by Scooter Software. It allows you to compare files, directories, and even archives across different platforms like Windows, Mac, and Linux. Clients regularly ask us for this solution, and we understand why!  

We particularly love that you can customise rules to control which differences are flagged, making it easier to focus on relevant changes. 

Check out this video on Beyond Compare to learn more about this awesome tool. 

Low code development – Visual LANSA 

Low-code platforms can reduce app development time by up to 90%, according to a report by low-code provider, KissFlow. 

Visual LANSA is a low-code development platform designed to simplify and accelerate the process of building enterprise-grade applications. Create applications much faster and across more platforms than traditional coding methods by using pre-built, reusable components and a visual, drag-and-drop interface. This reduces the complexity and time required to maintain multiple versions of an app. 

LANSA is particularly strong in integrating and modernising legacy systems, such as IBM i (AS/400), making it easier to bring older systems into the modern digital landscape. Plus, while it simplifies development with low-code tools, LANSA also provides the option to write custom code when needed, offering a balance between ease of use and full control – what's not to love? 

Discover more about Visual LANSA in this video.

Database – InterBase 

InterBase is a high-performance, scalable, and embeddable SQL database developed by Embarcadero Technologies. It is designed to be secure, lightweight and low maintenance, making it an excellent choice if you’re a developer who needs a reliable database solution for your applications.  

A lot of our clients love the Change Views feature which allows developers to track changes in the database efficiently. It only retrieves the changes since the last access, which improves performance and reduces data transfer. 

InterBase can be embedded directly into applications, which is particularly useful for mobile and IoT applications. This allows for offline data storage and synchronisation when connectivity is restored. 

Our Embarcadero licensing specialist, Robin Ashby, interviewed Embarcadero's Stephen Ball to learn more about InterBase. Watch the interview below.

Ready to try some of these top developer tools? 

There are lots of developer tools to choose from – we've only listed a handful in this article. You might not know yet which ones are right for your current tech stack or your development methodology. That’s where Grey Matter can help you select the right tools you need to create amazing applications. 

We get to know your business, financial and technical requirements and can share trials, and demos, and discuss licensing options and pricing perfectly suited to you. 

Get in touch by completing the contact form below or message us on live chat.