Practical notes for everyday debugging tasks.
Learn the concepts behind common Dev Atlas tools, including how to avoid parsing mistakes, unit confusion, unsafe assumptions, and misleading encoded values.
Why these guides exist
The tools on Dev Atlas are intentionally small, but the debugging context around them matters. These guides explain when to use each tool, what common errors mean, and what not to assume from formatted, decoded, converted, or generated output.
API Debugging Checklist for Frontend and Backend Developers
A practical step-by-step checklist for debugging API responses, request payloads, auth tokens, timestamps, encoding issues, and reproducible examples.
Open JSON Formatter8 min readBest Free Developer Tools for Everyday Debugging
A practical guide to common browser-side developer tools for formatting, decoding, converting, testing, and generating debugging values.
Browse All Tools6 min readHow to Format and Validate JSON Safely
Learn how to format, validate, minify, and inspect JSON without confusing JavaScript object syntax with valid JSON.
Open JSON Formatter7 min readHow to Decode a JWT Without Trusting It
Understand JWT header and payload fields, time claims, and why decoding a token is not the same as verifying it.
Open JWT Decoder6 min readUnix Timestamp Seconds vs Milliseconds
Learn how Unix seconds, Unix milliseconds, ISO strings, UTC, and local time relate during API and log debugging.
Open Timestamp Converter5 min readBase64 Encoding Is Not Encryption
Learn what Base64 is for, how it differs from encryption, and how to decode small payloads safely.
Open Base64 Encoder6 min readURL Encoding for Query Strings and Paths
Learn when to encode URL components, why full URLs are different from query values, and how to avoid decode errors.
Open URL Encoder7 min readHow to Test Regular Expressions Online
Learn how to test JavaScript regular expressions, inspect matches, understand flags, and avoid common pattern mistakes.
Open Regex Tester7 min readMD5 vs SHA-1 vs SHA-256: Which Hash Should You Use?
Understand common hash algorithms, safe use cases, and why hashes are not the same as encryption.
Open Hash Generator7 min readCron Expression Guide with Examples
Learn five-field cron syntax, common schedules, and how to preview upcoming run times before shipping jobs.
Open Cron Parser6 min readHEX, RGB, and HSL Color Formats Explained
Learn when to use HEX, RGB, and HSL in CSS, how alpha values work, and how to compare color formats safely.
Open Color Converter6 min readWhat Is a UUID and When Should You Use One?
Understand UUID v4 identifiers, common development use cases, and when a UUID is not a replacement for security or database design.
Open UUID Generator