Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CodeKit VS Live.js

Compare CodeKit VS Live.js and see what are their differences

CodeKit logo CodeKit

CodeKit allows you to optimize the performance of your website by automatically and efficiently compiling a variety of popular languages.

Live.js logo Live.js

Live. js. one script closer to designing in the browser. Say goodbye to Alt-Tab. Live.
  • CodeKit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-12
  • Live.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

CodeKit features and specs

  • Easy to use
    CodeKit offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making it simple for developers of all skill levels to manage their projects.
  • Automatic Preprocessing
    It automatically compiles Sass, Less, Stylus, CoffeeScript, TypeScript, and other preprocessors, which saves time and reduces manual errors.
  • Live Browser Reload
    CodeKit features live browser reloading that instantly reflects changes in your code, enhancing the development and debugging process.
  • Built-in Optimizers
    The tool comes with built-in optimizers for images, JavaScript, and CSS, which help improve website performance by reducing file sizes.
  • Framework Support
    CodeKit easily integrates with popular frameworks like Foundation, Bootstrap, and others, allowing for seamless project setup and development.

Possible disadvantages of CodeKit

  • Mac-Only
    One significant limitation of CodeKit is that it is only available for macOS, which excludes Windows and Linux developers.
  • Price
    CodeKit is not free software. While it offers a lot of features, the cost may be a barrier for some developers, especially those who are just starting out.
  • Learning Curve
    Although CodeKit is user-friendly, new users may still face a learning curve when adjusting to its functionalities and interface.
  • Limited IDE Integration
    CodeKit does not integrate as deeply with IDEs compared to some other development tools, which might affect workflow for developers used to integrated environments.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, particularly with large projects. This may slow down the development process.

Live.js features and specs

  • Automatic Reload
    Live.js automatically reloads web pages whenever HTML, CSS, or JavaScript files are modified, which enhances developer productivity by immediately reflecting changes without manual refreshing.
  • Easy Setup
    The setup process for Live.js is straightforward, requiring minimal configuration. Developers only need to include a single script tag to start using it.
  • No Build Tools Required
    Live.js does not require any build tools or server environment, making it a lightweight option for quickly setting up live reload functionality without the complexity of integrating with other toolchains.
  • Real-time Preview
    Provides real-time preview of changes, which is beneficial for rapid prototyping and design iterations, improving the workflow for front-end developers.

Possible disadvantages of Live.js

  • Limited Feature Set
    Live.js offers basic functionality focused mainly on live reloading. It may not cover more advanced use cases or features that comprehensive development tools provide.
  • Inefficient for Large Projects
    For larger projects with many files, Live.js can become inefficient as it reloads the entire page, which might interrupt development flow and increase wait times.
  • Not Suitable for Production
    Live.js is meant for development environments and should not be used in production as it can expose internal file structures and is not optimized for performance.
  • No Customization
    Offers little to no options for customization or configuration, which might be a drawback for developers who need more control over the development environment behavior.

CodeKit videos

CodeKit Basics - How to Setup a Project & Pre Process CSS

More videos:

  • Review - CodeKit Overview
  • Review - CodeKit — GIVEAWAY + Features

Live.js videos

No Live.js videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CodeKit and Live.js)
Image Optimisation
76 76%
24% 24
Developer Tools
76 76%
24% 24
OSX
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Live.js seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CodeKit mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of CodeKit yet. Tracking of CodeKit recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Live.js mentions (3)

  • Can I skip the system checks?
    There's a crusty old script out there called Live.js. IIRC it sends a request to the server every second or so and if it detects a different content-length header it reloads the page. It's like a poor man's version of hot reloading. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Are there any lesser-known tools you use a lot in your work?
    Live.js - automatically refreshes the page when we edit the sources. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Is there a way to see your webpage while your edit it?
    Livejs (not tested it myself) looks like what your are looking for. Source: about 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing CodeKit and Live.js, you can also consider the following products

ImageOptim - Faster web pages and apps.

LiveReload - LiveReload 2 proudly presents… The Web Developer Wonderland. (a happy land where browsers don't need a Refresh button). CSS edits and image changes apply live. CoffeeScript, SASS, LESS and others just work.

Node.js - Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications

Prepros - Compile Less, Sass, Scss, Stylus, Jade, Coffeescript, Haml and Markdown with live browser refresh.

Ruby on Rails - Ruby on Rails is an open source full-stack web application framework for the Ruby programming...

Browsersync - Browsersync makes your tweaking and testing faster by synchronising file changes and interactions...