Firefox and its extensions
Since many of my visitors are Firefox users, I want to introduce extensions to you (if you’re not already aware of them). They are a wonderful thing and offers great add-on functionality, not just for doing personalization and customization (which are two very different things), but they are also very competent tools I use in my day-to-day work.
The extensions I use are (in favorite order):
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Web Developer
Absolutely mandatory when developing web sites. My managers should pay the developer of this program for the time it saves me and the accuracy it leads me to in designing my code. -
Html Validator
This is a close runner-up giving you the possibility to get your code automatically validated when you choose View Page Source. With its new look showing the code validation errors in the statusbar, I wonder if this one should be in spot number one.
Unfortunately, it is for Windows only, so I think that’s what knocks it down to second place. -
Tabbrowser Preferences
Amongst other things, automatically opens links from other applications, bookmarks and those who have target=”_blank” in a new tab/new tabs. Brilliant! -
Sage
For reading RSS feeds in the sidebar without the need of changing to another program or navigating away from the current web page (I’m a RSS junkie). -
ColorZilla
A tool for instantly seeing the hexadecimal color of the element you hover in the current web page, displayed in the status bar. -
GooglePreview
A nifty extension showing (if available) thumbnails for each search result when doing a search on Google.
And these are two other extensions I found out about while doing research for this post, that I just have to try:
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JavaScript Console Status
Displays a statusbar icon for JavaScript errors. I guess it will be similar to the one in the Web Developer extension, but maybe positioned in a place where it’s easier to notice it? -
Fangs Screen Reader Emulator
Renders a text version of the current web page, to see how a screen reader would show it.
Amazing things for an amazing browsers! Extensions are just one of many reasons why I don’t understand why IE users persist in having it as their default browser.
Naturally, after I decided to write this post, I became aware of the fact that my friend Roger has written a very similar post. I hope they complement each other, and also that what you don’t find in my post you will find in his.
Happy extension downloading!
Surprisingly, I don't use any of the ones you mentioned. In favorite order as well…
Instead of the Webdeveloper toolbar I use the PNHToolbar. While several features in the Webdeveloper are welcome in my browser, I don't like the huge amount of features — PNHToolbar is a small, simple extension doing nothing more than I need.
I am also a great fan of Bookmark Synchronizer. I do most of my development and general work on a laptop, but game and design on my desktop system. With this extension I can easily grab my bookmarks from any place.
(I am waiting for a better version of Foxylicious , which might replace the aforementioned one completely.)
My last two small extensions are basically a bit of hacks. Download Manager Tweak rearranges / improves the download window. Disable Targets for Downloads kills annoying new, blank windows when the link is going to a file.
Finally, it's not an extension but a favelet. I use one called Mouseover DOM Inspector — really usefull.
You linked to some very interesting extensions. I don't use them, because I replace them through other means. I use Mozilla Thunderbird's RSS support for my dailing feeding.
For colorpicking I use a really handy tool called Higher Tendencies' Switch Color Picker. Very lightweight and able to 'pick' anything on your screen. I use Stanley Sy's skin with it.
Oh my, that's a lot of extensions!
I need to read up, I think! Interesting things, indeed.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Robert,
Thanks a lot for the post.
You should know that the extension works also on Linux and MacOs 🙂
You can download them here : http://users.skynet.be/mgueury/mozilla/download.h…
The reason that there is a version by OS, is that it contains a C library, and that
there is currently no way to make a multpliatform extension that contains
C libraries. (but good news, there is a bug for this, and it is beeing solved)
Marc,
Thank you for letting us now!
That is indeed good news.
Linux and Mac users, happy downloading to you too! 🙂
Well.. didn't find this post until now but I share my extensions anyway..
Web developer toolbar (no comments needed)
Tabbrowser preferences together with LastTab rocks my world and surfing, can't live without them..
ieview (an easy to open pages in ie from firefox)
Context search (only used it for a couple of days, but it's good.)
FoxyTunes (with this one I don't need to point the mouse at the taskbar icon of J.River Media Center every time I want to hear next song)
Martin,
Thanks for sharing!