Many developers tend to use the best Windows laptops to code and create apps. However, since the best Chromebooks can run Linux apps without issue, coding and developing on a ChromeOS is also an option. Some development apps and services even work on a great ChromeOS tablet for developers who like to test touch-screen apps or programs. Six software development tools work well on a Chromebook, and we've listed them here for you.

You'll want to enable Linux on ChromeOS for the best experience with software development on a Chromebook. We have a guide explaining how to start with Linux apps on ChromeOS.

1 Git

Great for source code management

Topping our list is Git, which is one of the most popular DevOps tools. It's also a version control system many developers use for source code management. It has a reputation for being well-performing and quite secure. It's also flexible since it supports nonlinear development workflows and works with smaller and larger projects. In fact, Git is one of the most broadly adopted tools across the development industry. If you want to use Git on a Chromebook, there's not much to it. Your Linux container already supports Git. Launch a terminal, choose penguin, and type the following command to get started:

git –version

2 Visual Studio Code

User-friendly with tons of cool features

Visual Studio Code is another popular tool that combines a code editor with other developer tooling and debugging tools. It's cross-platform and supports various programming languages, like Java, C++, and even Python. Visual Studio Code also has features like syntax highlighting and bracket matching, and you can enable languages by installing relevant plugins. There's even a keyboard shortcut support to help speed up workflows. Visual Studio Code's user interface should also feel friendly, as it's simple and easy to understand. Download the DEB file from Microsoft's website to install Visual Studio Code, then double-click to launch it.

Download Visual Studio Code

3 Sublime Text

A great text editor

Sublime Text is a simple text editor used by many developers across Linux, Mac, and Windows who primarily use interpreted languages like JavaScript or Python. On a Chromebook, you can install the Linux version for free, but you must eventually purchase a license for long-term use, though there's no enforced time limit. It's quite speedy and offers great levels of customization, with support for many different programming languages like Java, C, and Python. You even get plug-in support. You can get the Linux version of Sublime Text by clicking the link below, downloading the DEB file, and double-clicking to launch it.

Download Sublime Text

4 Android Studio

Build Android apps

Android app developers will be happy to know that ChromeOS supports Android Studio, the officially integrated environment for Android app development. Android Studio has some great features, like built-in support for Google Cloud, C++ and NDK support, Lint tools, testing tools, code templates, GitHub integration, and even an Android emulator. On a Chromebook, you can install the Linux version of Android Studio by clicking the link below, scrolling down to Android Studio Downloads, and choosing ChromeOS.

Download Android Studio

5 Kitty Terminal

A nifty terminal app

A session of Kitty Terminal running on ChromeOS but empty and without any active text and just a blank cursor

ChromeOS has its own terminal app that can be used for Chromebook app development, but if you want to replace it with something fancier, KittyTerminal is an excellent solution. KittyTerminal is a terminal emulator that is more customizable and has more theme support. It's also a GPU-based terminal, so it offloads rendering to the GPU for lower system load, can use threaded rendering, and even supports emojis and hyperlinks. You can download the Linux version of Kitty with the code below.

sudo apt install kitty

6 TablePlus

Manage your databases

TablePlus can be used on ChromeOS to replace MySQL Workbench for managing databases. It's quite lightweight, and the client has a sleek graphical user interface with tools like inline edit, advanced filters, code reviews, support for multiple tabs, and a smart editor that can help you understand what's on the screen. It's currently in beta on Linux, and you'll need to pay for the app.

Download TablePlus

There's more (if you want!)

While these are six of our favorite tools, there are plenty of others you should check out. There's Docker, which can be used to manage containers, and there are even cool tools like (pardon the language!) The Fuck, which can be used to correct errors in console commands. You can develop Chromebook apps in many ways, and many tools can support that development, too. So, there is something for you out there regardless of your project.