gLog

Ah, Firefox. You really have changed how I design and develop for the web. It’s been about 10 months since I’ve been working with you almost exclusively. Sure I occasionally have to associate with those browsers from Redmond and Cupertino but you always welcome me back with open arms and without judgment.

Here are a few of the reasons I enjoy working with you:

• Firebug - “… edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live on any web page.” Want to see how someone else implemented something? I used to download all the client-side source files, that I could find, to dissect how something worked. No more of that.
• YSlow - A complement to Firebug, YSlow grades your site on a number of criteria for high-performance websites. It also tells you how to improve your grade like a good teacher should.
• Screengrab! - Ever wanted to do a screen shot of an entire web page and not just what you can see in the browser window?
• ShowIP - Useful when you’re working on the same web site in multiple environments. Also useful when you want to do some server detective work.
• Web Developer - This and Firebug are the two plugins I couldn’t do without. Combined with Firebug’s debugging, Web Developer is great for getting other information about a web page. There is some overlap but you quickly discover which is more appropriate.

So thank you Firefox. I hope we’ll be friends for some time. *

* What? Don’t tell me you’ve never talked to a software product like this. At least I don’t have a Firefox tattoo… yet.

Posted in: Web Design & Development