Modern trends and webapps have dramatically changed the way web developers can build. Obviously you need some type of IDE to code new files and save them for deployment. But what about just testing your code snippets? There are more tools available now than ever before!

In this article I want to outline 15 interesting web apps for testing your code online. All of these apps require an Internet connection, and some of the more advanced editors offer pro plans to upgrade your account features. But most of these tools will surely come in handy when you’re scrambling to debug a block of JavaScript or PHP.

Recommended Reading: Top 10 Free Source Code Editors – Reviewed

1. Codepad

Originally created by Steven Hazel, Codepad is a unique web app where you can share code syntax across the Web. Instead of just debugging, Codepad allows you to copy/paste important bits of code to share online.

The output screen displays any error messages associated with your code. The left-hand menu radio buttons allow you to change the parsing language from C/C++, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, and tons more. I would argue Codepad is really for software engineers who need to collaborate and debug their more confusing programs.

2. Write Code Online

The main website for WriteCodeOnline.com actually redirects to their JavaScript editor. You can choose among JS, PHP, and basic URL encoding. Their application is very safe to use and feels lighter than other alternatives.

What’s interesting is that you’ll see the output results directly underneath the text field. So when you hit “run code” it will parse through everything and display the result for you to see. It can be tough debugging some larger PHP scripts because you need to include other files.

However for just testing the waters on a new idea, you can get a lot of value from this application.

3. Tinkerbin

Tinkerbin may actually be my favorite online code editing resource. It supports web developers coding in HTML5/CSS3/JS and renders the output directly on-screen. The application is still in Alpha development, but most of the tools work perfectly and can quickly catch bugs.

The rendering engine also supports more obscure languages such as Coffeescript and Sass within CSS. Their console is very advanced and clearly supports many of the same trends you’d expect moving into the future of web design.

Another interesting note is how the most popular functionality actually supports keyboard shortcuts! This is something you hardly see on any webapp, let alone an in-browser source code editor. As you type new tags, the IDE will auto-indent new lines. Tinkerbin is truly the best frontend tool you can have in your web developer’s toolbox.

4. JS Bin

In a similar fashion as above, jsbin is a simple JavaScript debugging console. Their pitch involves a collaborative effort where you can share a private link with other developers and write together in real time.

Their interface may be a bit confusing to newcomers. The developers have setup some online tutorials which you can read through if interested. Basically you can select between any number of JS libraries – jQuery, JQuery UI, jQM, Prototype, MooTools, there are dozens to choose from.

As you’re coding different elements the drafts will autosave. You have the ability to download your final product or keep the source code saved online. Their system is much more advanced for exporting and keeping your code as a bare template.

5. jsFiddle

Anybody who has browsed through Stack Overflow must know about jsFiddle. Their interface is a whole lot difference compared to JS Bin, along with support for more complex functions.

Right away you can signup for a free account and start saving your code samples online. jsFiddle offers a short URL which you can share around the Web via Twitter, Facebook, even Stack. But notice you do not need an account to start coding. It’s just a handy feature to keep everything organized.

jsFiddle also supports the inclusion of libraries such as Prototype and jQuery. You can include additional external resources to JS/CSS files into each testing document. Incredibly their app even supports XHR Ajax where you can pass data back-and-forth between the server and client browser window.

6. CSSDesk

Moving from the world of scripting into stylesheet language, we have CSSDesk. You’ve got a similar setup like all the rest, with your source code on the left and final webpage render on the right. This webapp is great for building small webpage templates and testing the longer CSS3 properties with gradients and box shadows.

This app also allows you to download source code as files to your computer. It can be a solid replacement in situations where you’re working on a laptop without any IDE software. Or additionally, you can generate a short URL link to share online. Then other developers may come in and edit what you’ve already created – definitely an interesting solution!

7. jsdo.it

Here you can share JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3 code snippets. Their app is not as open as the others, requiring a much more formal registration process. This requires connecting into any other social network such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, or Github. Then you select a username and off we go to code.

Some of the apps appear to have Japanese writing which makes me believe it was originally created somewhere in Asia. But what I love about their interface is how you can actually upload files you’ve already created and store them into a project. It’s such an easy process to store full webpage mockups online where you can access and edit them from any computer.

8. Google Code Playground

I’m surprised how many developers are not familiar with the Google code sandbox. You have full access to their APIs and can debug all your code right from the same window.

When I talk about APIs I mean that you can pull data from the biggest Google products. Listing blog posts from Blogger, markers from Google Maps, and even video players directly from YouTube. As you click through these different examples the live preview box will update accordingly.

I would recommend saving this tool only as a resource. It’s not perfect for debugging everything you write. But Google is a huge company with a lot of open source API data. If you ever need to pull content from YouTube or custom Google Searches, this is the sandbox you want to use.

9. IDEOne

IDE One is another tool based around deep programming and software development. Their online editor supports syntax highlighting for some very prominent languages. These include Objective-C, Java, C#, VB.NET, SQL and dozens more.

What’s so great about their app is how you can quickly debug many different programming languages from the same page. You can also store this source code via a unique URL to share around the Web. However I do feel that their layout is very cluttered with ads and other content, it makes using their website difficult. It would be really cool to see the option of including alternate code libraries, such as Cocoa Touch for iPhone app development.

10. Viper7 Codepad

This webapp also named Codepad is hosted on a website viper-7.com, which also redirects to the same online editor. Their debugging tools are setup for PHP output where you can change between PHP5 and PHP4.

If you create an account you can use their service as a personal storage system. Much like other online editors, you can name each PHP project and keep them hosted online for free. It’s such a powerful code editor because you don’t need any software on your computer at the time. As you parse each script the editor will offer additional meta details, such as browser request & response headers.

11. JSLint

The self proclaimed JavaScript Code Quality Tool has to be JSLint. Their website is a bit strange, yet the code editor works exactly as you would expect.

You might find the options to be very confusing if you haven’t used their framework before. It’s possible to work with open source code such as Node.js if you have the skillset. But much of the source code doesn’t even support syntax highlighting, a big letdown when you have so many other options to choose from. I would check out JSLint if you have the time, but it may not become your go-to online JavaScript debugger.

12. SQL Fiddle

We saw earlier the power of a web application like jsFiddle. Now we can see SQL Fiddle which works in the same way, except for SQL database syntax. I have yet to find another alternative for testing database code and this is by far my favorite choice.

All of the output data from your SQL code will appear in a table beneath the editors. You can write some code to implement new data on the right and generate a schema on the left. This database schema is SQL code you can save to export your current database and re-install everything on a new server.

If you aren’t familiar with databases or SQL language then this app won’t be much assistance. But even for developers who are new yet interested in learning SQL, this is brilliant! Check out one of their basic code examples so you can get an idea of how the app works.

13. Cloud9 IDE

In my opinion Cloud9 is the best source code editors you can find online. It’s not just an editor, but an entire system of tools and resources and you can store all your code repositories on their servers.

Account signup is free for all public projects. But if you need private development space this costs $15/month which only adds up to $180/year. You can share these private code repos with anybody you choose. This brings the opportunity for collaboration between web developers on many different projects.

Each new project is stored in a subfolder where you can generate real physical files. HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, anything you need to code will be saved locally in your account. Then you can later export these files as a whole project and download them to your computer.

The amount of things you can accomplish with Cloud9 is extraordinary. I highly recommend toying around in a free account for even 10 or 15 minutes, you’ll be amazed at the UI performance. And their company is always growing so I’m expecting to see very cool features released in the next few years.

14. CodeRun

The CodeRun IDE is an online editor for any dynamic web application. Their text editor looks very similar to Microsoft Visual Studio, and you can even code in C# for ASP.NET. Their libraries include 3rd party resources such as Facebook Connect and Sliverlight.

But aside from Microsoft-based web applications you can also code in straight JavaScript or PHP. The application runs very similar to Visual Studio where you create a new Website Project and develop over individual files. Towards the bottom of the screen you’ll find debugging tools and output from the console window.

CodeRun is fantastic if you do have any experience working with Visual Studio. The interface behaves almost exactly the same, and you can even upload/download project files locally to your computer. This is another tool experienced web developers may consider bookmarking for future reference.

15. Compilr

Here we have another desktop-style online IDE Compilr with a similar template as Windows applications. You can work with open tabbed documents and edit files right on the fly. However you do need to register an account before you can create any new projects.

Since their layout is designed similar to a regular desktop application it’s much easier to work with having no prior experience. I don’t think any developers would struggle, although their tools do support true programming practices with C++, C#, and Visual Basic. If anything Compilr should be one more app you have in reserve for testing and debugging source code.

Final Thoughts

With more computers connected online, it’s getting easier for developers to work together and collaborate in the browser. We’re seeing more and more technologies shift from local applications, and who knows how far this trend will go?

I hope this collection of code testing tools can get you thinking about the modern development environment. It’s so easy to quickly put together an HTML/CSS web project and within minutes have a small demo preview. Remember these are only tools to help guide you along the path to constructing your final product. If you have any suggestions or questions about the article feel free to share your thoughts in the discussion area below.

The thing with electronic gadgets is that it is a display of your taste, your style and even your personality – from the decal you choose to put your Mac or iPad Mini, the favorite geeky T-shirt you wear to class or work, or even your choice of tablets. But now we can take this up a notch by putting on our favorite wearable gadgets that don’t just look good but works great as well.

We’ve compiled a series of functional and fashionable items that have the appearance of everyday apparel camouflaging simple but powerful gadgetry. Some of them are already in the open market, while others are still in the concept stages, awaiting to make its debut to excited fans.

Recommended Reading: Awesome Christmas Gifts For The Geek Fashionista In Your Life

1. Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses

Similar to the notion first brought to the stage by Google Glasses, the Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses was recently featured in CES 2013. The glasses pairs with your Android smartphone via Bluetooth and comes packed with Android 4.0, GPS, Wi-Fi and 4GB of storage.

Launch apps from your smartphone and watch everything displayed on the 800×400 pixel screen right before your very eyes (literally!). Enter the world of augmented reality with this cool wearable gadget.

2. Interactive T-Shirts

Geeky T-shirts aren’t exactly new, but put in some electronics, a few AA batteries, turn down the lights and you can actually have an equalizer dancing on your chest, reacting to the sounds around you.

Another kind of interactive shirt is one that makes sound – the electronic drum kit shirt has 7 spots that generate sounds when you push down on them. T-shirts like these are cheap to come by as they do not need high tech wizardry, just an electronic board that you have to remove before handwashing these T-shirts.

Recommended Reading: 80+ Creative Geek T-Shirts You Can Buy Online

3. Rusty’s Wired Series

Say goodbye to tangled earphones that take up space in your pocket. Rusty has come up with a hoody with earphones that double as the elastic strings of the hood. To plug your music device in, in one of the side pockets, where you can house your music device, there is a jack to plug in your tunes.

The earphones are machine washable (hence, waterproof – a very important feature for wearable gadgets) so you can skip the dreadful task of removing them and putting them back in. The Rusty clothing line has a lot of selections for men and women at various prices.

Recommended Reading: Taming Gadget Cables: 30 Holders & Organizers You Can Buy

4. Swarovski USB Necklace

Of the many out-of-the-ordinary flash drives, this one gives off a positive, almost classy vibe. Part of a line of crystal-studded USB drives, this 4GB USB necklace by Swarovski is proof that tech can also be sophisticated and elegant at the same time.

At a price tag of $75.00, the necklace is also available in Violet and Light Rose. This two-part heart-shaped necklace is the perfect Valentine’s day gift for the tech girl in your life.

Also read: 50 Exquisite Gifts For This Valentine’s Day

5. USB Cufflinks

Similar to the USB necklace, these cufflinks give a professional look to an already clean and formal look. Each cufflink carries 2 GB worth of storage, and is also available in gold and gunmetal.

To personalize this even further, there is an engraving service where you can put a monogram of up to 8 characters (pick from a range of fonts) on your cufflinks for only $8.00. Finally, a flash drive you can put your name on, at $100.00 a pair.

6. Nike+ FuelBand

The Nike+ FuelBand tracks your daily exercise and the calories burnt while doing those activities. For every activity, the LED will light up and let you know your progress. You can set these goals, view detailed progress, and unlock achievements to stay motivated, or share it with your social networks via its iPhone app.

The Nike+ FuelBand was also featured in our geeky gifts for him last Christmas together with the Jawbone UP which has similar features shown in our geeky gifts for her. If one of your new year resolutions is to maintain a healthly lifestyle, a health monitoring wristband like can really help.

7. I’m Watch

The I’m Watch is a smartwatch that has its own market of apps. It connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and once connected, it does what your smartphone does. You can receive notifications, read emails or messages, and make or receive calls.

The watch is touchscreen and can act as a hands-free device with its built-in microphone. It also has an app store, and programmers are able to build new apps for its unique ecosystem. Available in seven colors, it is on the market at $400 a pop.

8. Pebble Watch For Smartphones

Not a fan of smart glasses? Then, go for a smart watch instead. The Pebble is a watch that is paired with your iPhone or Android phone via Bluetooth. You can then receive push notifications such as Facebook messages and alerts for calls, messages and email. The magic behind the Pebble is that it is highly customizable and is great for use in the outdoors.

The E-paper technology ensures that you don’t have to fuss with the brightness of the display, and while you jog with it, you can toggle your music, track your distance and running time, and still receive alerts. To use it, you need to download the Pebble app into your smartphone but if you are feeling adventurous, there is an SDK for this watch, available at their blog.

9. iWallet

Whether it is because you don’t like having to change wallets once they are worn down, or if you don’t like the feel of leather on your skin, iWallet is a game-changer you’d want to take a look at. With a strong, hard casing, biometric access, and bluetooth technology to act as a deterrent against thieves, the iWallet is out to prove that it takes your security very seriously.

If the iWallet or your phone is too far apart from one another (more than 10-15 ft), your phone will sound, warning you of a pickpocket’s foiled attempt or if you have misplaced either of these important personal effects. Prices are in the $459 to $599 range and the wallets are available in carbon fibre and aluminium shell.

10. Nike Hyperdunk+

Athletes always want to improve themselves, and with this pair of Nike Hyperdunk+, basketball players can monitor their speed, jump height and their overall game performance. There are sensors on the shoe that transmit information to your smartphone via bluetooth.

You can even record videos of the play, then watch the videos with the matching display on screen. The videos and your stats can be shared on social media, or can be used to monitor your progress.

Bonus: 2 More Conceptual Gadgets

Because we live in an era with many creative and innovative people, concepts can sometimes come to life in a very short time. Here are 2 bonus conceptual wearable gadgets that we could probably see in the near future.

1. Bluetooth Gloves

The problem with wearing gloves while riding a superbike or skiing is that it’s impossible to reach for your smartphone with the thick outerwear. BEARTek was a Kickstarter campaign that had a great idea: a glove that communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth. It has 6 touch points, that you can use to answer phone calls, and even basic music controls.

2. Google Smartwatch

Google has it all, the operating system, the browser, the digital wallet and now, maybe, a SmartWatch. Here’s a concept by Adrian Maciburko of the rumored Google Smartwatch which features a touchscreen interface that allows y ou to swipe between time, calendar, weather info and your Google+. With Google behind this, the possibilities are endless and only time will tell what Google could pack into this futuristic timepiece.

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