Introducing Dev Tools on This Site

I’ve added a new section to this site: Dev Tools. It’s a collection of free, browser-based utilities for developers.

What’s Available

So far, there are five tools:

  • JSON Formatter — Paste in your JSON and get it formatted and validated with a single click.
  • SQL Formatter — Same idea, but for SQL queries. Handy when you’re staring at a one-liner pulled from a log.
  • HTTP Server — A portable shell script that starts a static file server in your current directory. It auto-detects a runtime (Ruby, Python, Node, busybox, or PHP) and finds an open port.
  • Ruby REPL — Write and run Ruby code directly in your browser. Powered by ruby.wasm, everything runs client-side via WebAssembly.
  • Request Inspector — Captures and logs incoming HTTP requests locally. A portable alternative to cloud-based RequestBin services.

The formatters run entirely in your browser. The HTTP server script runs locally on your machine.

Why Build These?

I use formatters like these all the time during development. Most of the online options are cluttered with ads or require unnecessary sign-ups. I wanted something minimal that just works.

Since this site is already running on Hugo, it was straightforward to add interactive tools alongside the blog. Each tool is a single page with its own JavaScript — no frameworks, no build complexity.

What’s Next

I plan to add more tools as I find myself reaching for them in my daily work. If you have suggestions, feel free to let me know.

You can find all available tools on the Dev Tools page.