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Quickstart guide

Get up and running with TryDevUtils in minutes. This guide will walk you through accessing the platform and using your first developer utility.

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Choose your platform

TryDevUtils is available on three platforms. Choose the one that fits your workflow:

Web app

No installation required—use instantly in your browser

Desktop app

Native apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux

Chrome extension

Access from your browser toolbar

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Installation

1

Web app

Simply visit trydevutils.com in any modern browser. No installation required.Supported browsers:
  • Chrome/Edge 90+
  • Firefox 88+
  • Safari 14+
2

Desktop app

Download the native app for your operating system from the GitHub releases page.macOS
  1. Download the .dmg file
  2. Open the downloaded file
  3. Drag TryDevUtils to Applications
  4. Launch from Applications folder
Windows
  1. Download the .exe installer
  2. Run the installer
  3. Follow the installation wizard
  4. Launch from Start menu or desktop shortcut
Linux
  1. Download the .AppImage or .deb file
  2. Make it executable: chmod +x TryDevUtils.AppImage
  3. Run the application
The desktop app works completely offline after installation. All utilities function without an internet connection.
3

Chrome extension

Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.
  1. Visit the Chrome Web Store link
  2. Click “Add to Chrome”
  3. Confirm the installation
  4. Click the extension icon in your toolbar to open TryDevUtils
Pin the extension to your toolbar for quick access by right-clicking the extension icon and selecting “Pin”.

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Using your first utility

Let’s walk through using the JSON Toolbox to format and validate a JSON document.
1

Open the command palette

From the TryDevUtils homepage, open the command palette using one of these methods:
  • Press ⌘K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows/Linux)
  • Press / from anywhere on the homepage
  • Click the “Search” button in the header
  • Simply start typing any letter from the homepage
The command palette allows you to quickly search and navigate to any of the 22 available utilities.
2

Find the JSON Toolbox

In the command palette, type json to filter the utilities. You’ll see the JSON Toolbox appear in the results.Use arrow keys (↑/↓) to navigate and press Enter to select, or simply click on “JSON Toolbox”.
The search works across utility names, descriptions, and categories. Try searching for “format”, “validate”, or “encoding” to discover utilities.
3

Paste your JSON

In the JSON Toolbox, you’ll see a text input area. Paste or type your JSON data. Try this example:
{"name":"TryDevUtils","type":"developer utilities","features":["fast","private","open source"]}
The JSON Toolbox automatically:
  • Validates your JSON in real-time
  • Highlights syntax errors
  • Shows formatting options
4

Format and validate

The JSON will be automatically formatted and validated. The JSON Toolbox provides several features:
  • Format: Beautify with proper indentation
  • Minify: Compress to a single line
  • Validate: Check for syntax errors
  • Diff: Compare two JSON documents
  • Schema: Generate JSON Schema
  • Query: Use JSONPath to query data
Press ⌘Enter (Mac) or Ctrl+Enter (Windows/Linux) to quickly execute the current action in any utility.
5

Copy the result

Once your JSON is formatted, copy it to your clipboard:
  • Click the “Copy” button
  • Or press ⌘Shift+C (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows/Linux)
You’ll see a confirmation toast notification when the content is copied.

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Exploring more utilities

Now that you’ve used your first utility, explore the other 21 tools available:

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Quick access methods

Command palette

Press ⌘K or / to search all utilities by name, description, or category

Homepage grid

Browse all 21 utilities organized by category on the homepage

Favorites

Click the heart icon on any utility to add it to your favorites for quick access

Direct navigation

Bookmark specific utilities—each has its own URL (e.g., /base64, /jwt)

Base64 Converter

Encode and decode Base64 strings. Perfect for API work and data transmission.Try it: Open command palette → type “base64” → paste encoded dataUse case: Decode Base64-encoded API responses or encode binary data for JSON payloads.

JWT Decoder

Decode and validate JSON Web Tokens to inspect claims and verify signatures.Try it: Open command palette → type “jwt” → paste your tokenUse case: Debug authentication issues by inspecting JWT headers and payloads.

RegExp Tester

Test and debug regular expressions with real-time matching and highlighting.Try it: Open command palette → type “regex” → enter your patternUse case: Validate regex patterns before using them in your code.

Hash Generator

Generate MD5, SHA1, SHA256, SHA512, and Bcrypt hashes from text.Try it: Open command palette → type “hash” → enter text to hashUse case: Generate checksums for file verification or test password hashing.

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Keyboard shortcuts

TryDevUtils is designed for keyboard-driven workflows. Learn these shortcuts to boost your productivity:

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Global shortcuts

ShortcutAction
⌘K or Ctrl+KOpen command palette
/Open command palette (from homepage)
?Show all keyboard shortcuts
EscReturn to homepage or close dialogs

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Utility shortcuts

These shortcuts work within any utility:
ShortcutAction
⌘Enter or Ctrl+EnterExecute/format/convert
⌘Shift+C or Ctrl+Shift+CCopy output to clipboard
⌘L or Ctrl+LClear all inputs
⌘Shift+V or Ctrl+Shift+VPaste from clipboard
Press ? anywhere in TryDevUtils to see the complete keyboard shortcuts reference.

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Tips for power users

Use favorites

Click the heart icon on utilities you use frequently. They’ll appear at the top of your homepage.

Bookmark utilities

Each utility has a unique URL. Bookmark /jwt, /base64, etc. for instant access.

Master the command palette

The command palette supports fuzzy search. Type “b64” to find “Base64 Converter”.

Theme preference

Toggle between light and dark themes using the theme button in the header. Your preference is saved.

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Extension features

The Chrome extension includes additional features:
  • Sidebar navigation: Browse utilities by category in the left sidebar
  • Compact layout: Optimized for smaller windows and side panels
  • Same privacy: All processing happens locally, even in the extension
  • Sync with web: Your favorites and preferences work across platforms
The extension requires Chrome or Edge version 90 or higher.

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Desktop app features

The desktop app provides additional benefits:
  • Offline support: Works without an internet connection
  • Native performance: Faster startup and execution
  • System integration: Appears in your application launcher
  • Auto-updates: Automatically checks for new versions
  • Platform native: Follows your OS theme and conventions

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Getting help

If you encounter any issues or have questions:

Report a bug

Found a bug? Report it on GitHub with details and we’ll fix it.

Request a feature

Have an idea for a new utility or feature? We’d love to hear it.

View source code

TryDevUtils is open source. Browse the code, contribute, or self-host.

Privacy policy

Learn more about our privacy-first approach and data handling.

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Next steps

You’re now ready to use TryDevUtils! Here’s what to do next:
  1. Explore all 21 utilities by browsing the homepage or using the command palette
  2. Mark your favorites by clicking the heart icon on utilities you use often
  3. Learn keyboard shortcuts by pressing ? to boost your productivity
  4. Try the desktop app if you want offline access and native performance

Back to introduction

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