> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://braydie.gitbook.io/how-to-be-a-programmer/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://braydie.gitbook.io/how-to-be-a-programmer/en/2-intermediate/personal-skills/10-heavy-tools.md).

# Heavy Tools

As our technological culture progresses, software technology moves from inconceivable, to research, to new products, to standardized products, to widely available and inexpensive products. These heavy tools can pull great loads, but can be intimidating and require a large investment in understanding. The intermediate programmer has to know how to manage them and when they should be used or considered.

To my mind right now some of the best heavy tools are:

* Relational Databases,
* Full-text Search Engines,
* Math libraries,
* OpenGL,
* XML parsers, and
* Spreadsheets.

Next [How to analyze data](/how-to-be-a-programmer/en/2-intermediate/personal-skills/11-how-to-analyze-data.md)