Whether you’re learning programming, studying networking, exploring cybersecurity, or preparing for internships and interviews, the right apps will accelerate your learning and help you build real projects. This definitive guide explains why each app matters, how to use them, recommended extensions and plugins, practical study routines, and curated learning resources to master each tool.
Why these apps? (Short answer)
Technology and software development require three things: practice, collaboration, and good tools. The apps in this list are chosen because they directly improve those three areas. They help you:
- Write, test, and ship code faster (code editors & terminals)
- Collaborate with peers and show your work (GitHub, cloud storage)
- Learn from experts and stay current (Coursera, tutorials)
- Organize projects and manage deadlines (Notion, Trello)
- Get AI-powered help for debugging, documentation and ideation (ChatGPT)
Top 10 Apps — Full breakdown
VS Code is the go-to code editor for millions of developers. For students, its speed, user-friendly UX, and rich extension ecosystem make it ideal for learning languages, building full-stack projects, preparing assignments, and demonstrating technical skills to employers.
Key features
- IntelliSense: Smart code completion for many languages
- Debugging: Built-in debugger for Node.js, Python and more
- Extensions: Thousands including Python, Prettier, Live Server, Docker
- Integrated terminal and Git support
Getting started
Download from the official site and install the following student-friendly extensions: Python, Pylance (if learning Python), ESLint and Prettier for JavaScript projects, Live Server for web development, and GitLens to visualise version control activity.
Study plan & tips
- Follow a 14-day mini-project: Day 1–3 setup + small exercises, Day 4–10 build a micro-project, Day 11–14 add tests & documentation.
- Use integrated terminal for Git workflows — practice commit, branch, merge, and pull requests.
- Customize keybindings to speed up common actions.
Recommended resources
- Official VS Code docs
- Youtube channels: freeCodeCamp, Traversy Media
GitHub is not just a place to store code. It’s the modern resume for developers. Recruiters and hiring managers check GitHub to evaluate coding ability, project structure and collaboration skills. For students, a well-maintained GitHub profile can dramatically improve internship and job prospects.
Key features & why students love it
- Private repositories for coursework and public repos for portfolio
- Pull requests, issues, actions (CI/CD) — real-world practices
- GitHub Pages for hosting static portfolios and project demos
Getting started
Create an account, set a clear bio and photo, and push your first repository. Include a strong README.md with project goals, tech stack, and instructions. Tag repos with relevant topics and add a demo link where possible.
Tips for students
- Keep a mix of small utilities and one or two complete projects to show depth.
- Write clear commit messages — they tell a story about your workflow.
Stack Overflow helps you solve concrete programming problems quickly. Rather than getting stuck for hours, learn how to ask good questions and search the archive of millions of Q&A posts. It’s a skill: learning how to extract answers from SO will save you weeks over your degree.
How to use it well
- Search first — often a similar question already exists.
- When asking: include minimal reproducible code and error messages.
- Use tags to find domain-specific knowledge (e.g.,
python,reactjs).
Formal coursework paired with hands-on labs gives you a direction. Coursera brings structured courses from universities and tech companies — great for learning data science, cloud computing, machine learning, and more. Many courses offer verified certificates that add value to your CV.
How to choose the right course
- Check syllabus and time commitment — aim for guided projects for hands-on practice
- Read reviews and check the instructor’s background
Study tip
Pair a short project with every course module to turn passive learning into a portfolio artifact.
Termux brings a Linux shell to your Android device. It’s invaluable for system administration practice, quick scripting, SSH work, or practicing Linux commands on the go. For students interested in cybersecurity, DevOps, or backend systems, Termux turns your phone into a lightweight workstation.
Practical uses
- Install
python,nodejs,gitpackages and run scripts - Use SSH clients and practice connecting to remote servers
Safety note
Only use Termux to practice legal, ethical, and educational tasks. Always respect privacy and systems you do not own.
Notion is the ultimate knowledge hub for students. Use it to maintain lecture notes, project documentation, reading lists, and task trackers. Its flexibility—databases, templates, and markdown support—makes it ideal for academic workflows and team projects.
Templates & workflows
- Class notes template: date, topic, summary, concepts, code snippets
- Project dashboard: backlog, in-progress, done, links to repos and resources
Collaboration
Share pages with teammates, add inline comments, and keep a single source of truth for group assignments.
Google Drive is the default sharing and collaboration platform for many universities. Use Drive to store datasets, collaborate on reports, and keep backups of your code and documents. Drive’s real-time collaboration features make group work painless.
Student-friendly tips
- Use version history to recover older drafts
- Organize files with clear folder structures and naming conventions
Both W3Schools and SoloLearn are excellent for beginner-to-intermediate learners. They deliver bite-sized lessons, code playgrounds, and quizzes that help you practice fundamentals in web development, Python, Java, and other key skills.
How to use them effectively
- Use tutorials for concept refreshers and SoloLearn for quick practice sessions
- Challenge yourself with daily coding streaks to build consistency
Trello uses a Kanban board approach, making it ideal for tracking tasks in individual or group projects. It helps teams visualize priorities, assign responsibilities, and track deadlines — key skills sought by tech employers.
Practical board layout for students
- Columns: Ideas → To Do → In Progress → Review → Done
- Use checklists inside cards for smaller steps and attach links to repositories for reference
AI tools like ChatGPT have changed how students learn and prototype. Use them for debugging, writing documentation, brainstorming features, and learning theoretical concepts. When used responsibly, ChatGPT accelerates learning by providing instant, context-aware explanations and code snippets.
Best practices
- Use ChatGPT to clarify concepts and draft code — always verify and test outputs
- Ask for step-by-step explanations and request code comments to learn reasoning
Ethics & academic integrity
AI can help you learn, but do not present AI-generated content as your own in assessed coursework unless your institution allows it. Use AI for ideation, learning, and drafting, then refine and add original work.
How to setup a student toolkit (30-day plan)
Getting everything installed and configured can feel overwhelming. Here’s a practical 30-day plan to set up your student toolkit, learn the tools, and produce portfolio-ready projects.
Week 1 — Foundations
- Day 1: Install VS Code, Git, and GitHub Desktop. Create your GitHub account and push a Hello World repo.
- Day 2–3: Install Notion and Google Drive. Create templates for note-taking and project planning.
- Day 4–7: Complete a short SoloLearn or W3Schools course and commit the example project to GitHub.
Week 2 — Build & practice
- Day 8–10: Start a small project in VS Code (e.g., personal website or ToDo app). Document progress in Notion.
- Day 11–14: Add README.md to the repo and deploy to GitHub Pages or similar host.
Week 3 — Expand skills
- Day 15–20: Take a Coursera guided project and implement a module into your project.
- Day 21–22: Practice Linux basics with Termux or a VM.
Week 4 — Polish & share
- Day 23–27: Prepare a README, add proper commits, and open issues for improvements.
- Day 28–30: Make a blog post or presentation summarizing your project and learning. Share on GitHub and LinkedIn.
Top extensions, plugins & CLI tools to add
Beyond the core apps, these tools and plugins streamline work and simulate professional workflows:
- VS Code: Live Server, GitLens, Docker, Prettier, ESLint, Remote - SSH
- GitHub: GitHub Actions (CI/CD) for automated tests and deployments
- Termux/CLI:
curl,wget,pip,npm,ssh - Notion: Use templates for projects and knowledge base; export weekly notes to Google Drive
SEO & Portfolio tips for IT students (quick wins)
Even as an IT student, making your projects discoverable online helps recruiters find you. These SEO and content tips will get your portfolio noticed:
- Use descriptive repo names and detailed README files with keywords (e.g., "react-ecommerce-demo").
- Create a short blog post or project case study for each major project — include headings, images with
alttext, and a short demo video. - Host a personal site or portfolio and add structured data (JSON-LD) to highlight projects and contact info.
- Share and link your GitHub repo from LinkedIn, student forums, and your CV.
FAQs — Common questions IT students ask
Q: Which app should I learn first?
A: Start with VS Code and Git/GitHub. They’ll be used across most classes and projects.
Q: Can I use ChatGPT for assignments?
A: Use ChatGPT as a learning aid — not a shortcut. Draft, debug, and seek explanations but ensure final submissions reflect your understanding and comply with your institution’s policies.
Q: Do I need to pay for these apps?
A: Most apps in this list have free tiers suitable for students. Paid plans add convenience or advanced features (e.g., more cloud storage or private CI runners).
Q: How do I keep my GitHub profile attractive to employers?
A: Keep projects small and complete, add clear READMEs, and show evidence of learning (commits, issues, tests, documentation). Contribute to open-source or maintain a blog showcasing your projects.
Final thoughts & next steps
Building a professional toolkit doesn’t require mastering everything at once. Prioritize learning by doing: pick a small project, use these apps to build it, document your progress, and repeat. Over months, the cumulative effect will be a strong portfolio and deep practical knowledge.