Overview
Developer tools are the applications and platforms used by Polk County’s Software Engineering Team to build, test, deploy, and maintain software. These tools support the entire development lifecycle — from writing code and designing interfaces to automating workflows and integrating external services.
This section documents the tools currently used by the team, how they are configured, and recommended best practices.
Goals of This Section
Section titled “Goals of This Section”The purpose of this documentation is to:
- Provide a central reference for all developer tools used by the team
- Standardize recommended workflows and configurations
- Help new engineers onboard quickly
- Document integrations and usage patterns
- Capture best practices and conventions
Each tool page explains when the tool should be used, how it fits into the development workflow, and any relevant setup instructions.
Tool Categories
Section titled “Tool Categories”Developer tools are grouped into categories based on their purpose.
AI-powered tools assist with code generation, code review, documentation, and development workflows.
Current tools include:
- OpenAI Codex – Primary AI coding agent for development and code reviews
- GitHub Copilot – Performs code reviews for PRs in GitHub
These tools can improve productivity, accelerate development, and assist with repetitive tasks, but should always be used with appropriate review and testing.
Design
Section titled “Design”These tools help teams collaborate on UI/UX designs.
- Figma – Interface design, prototyping, and design system management
Development Environment
Section titled “Development Environment”Tools used for writing, editing, and navigating code.
- VS Code – Primary development environment used by the team
This documentation includes recommended extensions, configuration, and productivity tips.
Source Control and Collaboration
Section titled “Source Control and Collaboration”Tools used for version control, code reviews, and project collaboration.
- GitHub – Source control, pull requests, issue tracking, and CI/CD integrations
GitHub serves as the central platform for managing repositories and coordinating development work.
Communication APIs and External Services
Section titled “Communication APIs and External Services”These tools provide programmable communication capabilities used by applications.
These services are commonly used for features such as account notifications, alerts, and messaging workflows.