Every developer eventually builds a private list of “go-to” sites — tools you reach for when prototyping, teaching, validating an idea, or just trying to move faster without unnecessary ceremony. This post is a curated snapshot of resources I’ve found genuinely useful over time.

Core resources

public-apis.io

A directory of free and open APIs, grouped by category. Ideal for learning, demos, interview exercises, or quick prototypes where standing up a backend would be overkill.

drawkit.io

Clean, modern illustrations that work well for landing pages, blog headers, and lightweight product mockups. A solid alternative to generic stock imagery.

css.gg

A lightweight icon library built entirely with CSS. Useful when you want icons without pulling in a large dependency or managing SVGs.

Newer additions

roadmap.sh

A practical set of learning roadmaps for developers — frontend, backend, DevOps, Android, and more. Especially useful for self-learners and mentors who want a structured reference without fluff.

freeCodeCamp.org

Still one of the best free learning platforms around. The curriculum, articles, and long-form tutorials make it a strong supplement to formal courses or self-paced study.

AI-assisted coding tools

Tools like GitHub Copilot and similar systems are increasingly useful for boilerplate, refactoring, and exploration. Best treated as assistants, not authorities — they amplify skill, not replace it.

Excalidraw

A simple diagramming tool that’s perfect for system design sketches, architecture discussions, and teaching explanations. Low friction and easy to share.

Regex101

An excellent playground for writing, testing, and explaining regular expressions. Especially useful when mentoring or debugging edge cases.

Note: This post was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2026 to reflect newer tools and workflows.

I update this list only when a resource proves useful more than once — the real filter that matters.