Design for Devtools

Most consumer app design patterns break when applied to developer tools. Developers are expert users who need different interfaces than casual consumers. Evil Martians design developer tools that feel native to technical workflows—not like dressed-up consumer apps.

Understanding Developer Context

Developer tools have no “happy path”—users jump randomly between panels and features based on their current task. We design for three contexts: immediate (fixing bugs in a file), intermediate (building a feature), and broad (shipping to production). Each context needs different interface considerations.

For developer tools like Akeero, we prioritize the primary work area front and center. For balanced tools like HTTPie, we create layouts that reflect how users actually switch between components.

Friction-Free Interfaces

Developers use tools for hours daily, so tiny inconveniences compound into major frustrations. We design with radio buttons over dropdowns, sliders with precise text inputs, and panels that adapt to context. Every interaction is optimized for expert users who value efficiency over hand-holding.

We eliminate unnecessary dialogs, optimize spacing to reduce scrolling, and design customizable layouts that adapt to different workflows—because what seems like an edge case might be someone’s main workflow.

Professional Tool Patterns

We apply patterns that work for creative professionals: resizable panels, pinnable files for quick switching, independent zoom controls, and persistent interface states. These aren’t consumer app patterns—they’re designed for people who live in their tools.

Let’s design developer tools that feel like they were built by developers, for developers.