Stuff I Couldn’t Use Firefox Without
Posted on Friday, September 8th, 2006
Continuing in my series of what I must have on a computer for it to feel like mine, I thought I might share with you my list of Firefox extensions that make a fresh install of Firefox feel alien to me now. They may not all be of use to everyone, but have a look and see if your missing out.
Firefox Extensions
- HTML Validator
- Check whether a site you are creating/visiting is valid HTML at a glance. HTML Validator is based on HTML Tidy, originally wriiten by the W3C. It can even tidy up your HTML at the click of a button. This little tool can also be used to visit other web developers’ personal/portfolio sites and snigger at the non-compliant code they are using, hilarious.
- IE Tab
- Why go through the pain of opening up IE to check what a site looks like in it (or even worse, because you can only visit a site using IE). IE Tab lets you open sites in IE within Firefox. The developers particularly like to boast that they ran Windows update using IE Tab.
- FoxyTunes
- Listen to music while you surf? I do, and I used to hate switching from Firefox to iTunes to see what was playing, to pause, to play or any of other 1000 things that causes you to swap windows. FoxyTunes sits in Firefox and, like a remote control, lets you sort out your media without moving. Look out for version 2 (in beta now), where FoxyTunes escapes Firefox altogether.
- Yellowpipe Lynx Viewer
- Not an essential tool, but one I would miss; the Lynx Viewer allows you to see any website you want as if you were viewing it in text only browser Lynx. This is useful as it lets you see how your site would appear without all the graphics and layout. It is also handy for giving you an idea what a screenreader would read out to blind users.
- Firesomething
- Also not essential, but it gets a giggle out of me everytime. Firesomething rebrands Firefox every time you open it, one day you could be surfing with SuperPanda, the next with IceGazelle, the choice is endless.
- Something I’ve been meaning to try: Web Developer Extension
- I don’t know what this extension does, but so many people use it that it must be good. Next time I think about it (I’m a little busy right now) I will be downloading it and having a play around.
Well, that’s my list of (almost) essential Firefox extensions, what am I missing? Is there anything else that would make my life easier (until coming across another computer without it, where I will then spend 10 minutes moaning about the lack of functionality)?
Oh, and if you download only one of these extensions, make it Firesomething, then tell me you didn’t laugh the next time you opened Firefox.
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1September 9th, 2006 at 4:19 am
Yvonne Says:I really loved FoxyTunes, until I discovered it was eating up my CPU … or whatever the heck you call it :lol: So yeah, it was slowing down my iBook quite a bit.
The sucky thing is, I upgraded to Firefox 2 beta, so now most/all of my fave FF extensions are incompatible. For now, I hope …
2September 12th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Geoff Young Says:Okay, I just tried Firesomething and it is pretty hilarious. As for Web Developer Extension, once you install it, you will wonder how you ever lived without it. Seriously. It’s an unbelievable time saver in developing sites — you can toggle borders on tables, divs, and other elements; view and edit CSS on the fly; toggle cookies; view source generated from dynamic pages; and just about anything else you can imagine from a single toolbar. I can’t recommend this one enough.
3September 12th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
Phil Says:Yvonne: I did think Foxytunes was a bit of a resource hogger, but most Firefox plugins slow it down eventually. The trick is to close the browser once in a while and let the poor computer claim back all it’s lost memory and recover!
How is Firefox beta 2? Is it worth trying out (apart from the lack of extensions)?
Geoff: Hi there! Thanks for posting. I knew at least one person would succome to Firesomething. I am back from my holiday now and will be trying the web developer extension without further ado. The features you briefly mention there have my web development glands salivating already! Thanks.
4September 13th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Yvonne Says:There’s nothing really new about FF Beta 2, Phil. Just pretty new tabs.
The Web Developer and CSS Viewer extensions (the two I rely on the most!) are incompatible, along with many others. Hell, I think the only compatible one I have right now is the Gmail one :lol:
PS: Phil, you should install the ‘Subscribe to Comments’ plugin. It works a treat for lots of people (that is, me) :P
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September 15th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
5November 16th, 2006 at 9:24 pm
Julius Says:Help me please…
I just installed Firefox 2.0, and all of a sudden, my username/password isn't being inserted in the signon window (it always was before). I tried the usual suspects–I did not mistakenly tell FF not to remember the password for this site; and I also tried the remember password bookmarklet, but all to no avail–FF will not ask me to remember this password. What do I need to do to get around this?
6November 17th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Darius Says:Please add firefox cookies/bad web sites immunization in next version!
Firefox 2 cannot reject third party cookies!!!!!!!!
7February 15th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
kyu Says:lol you can use poreable firefox from portableapps in this case :) so you shall always have YOUR browser with you :D
8February 15th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Phil Says:Hi Kyu,
Do you have a link to that? Sounds interesting!
9February 27th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
kyu Says:Hi. sure! Here
:) Hope it helps!
10February 28th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Phil Says:Thanks Kyu, that’s really interesting! I think I’ll be getting portable Firefox, and maybe more.
Thanks for the tip!
11February 28th, 2007 at 2:20 am
kyu Says:youre welcome :)