I switched my default browser to Firefox years ago for better security and faster browsing.
Over the years, I have become more dependent on Firefox for not only allowing me to view the Internet but also having such a large collection of user created add-ons that make the software even better. These add-ons have become an essential part of my web development practice.
Here are the best tools directly from my toolbox.
FTP Managers are huge advantages to any webmaster and even more so when it’s been packed into the same program you use to browse your website with. Great alternative to the normal desktop programs, it works like a charm.
Alexa is the number one source for finding information on website traffic in the world. The team has created a useful add-on, which allows you to receive traffic information about the site your current visiting without having to visit the Alexa site itself.
I use this add-on to check different sites backlinks and traffic trends. When using the add-on it will submit non-personal information to update its traffic information.
I have become a perfectionist about my site load times since adding YSlow to my toolbox. YSlow is an add-on developed by Yahoo that provides useful information about your sites memory usage, and then gives reports on how to lower the overall time it takes to load your website.
The lower you get the total memory usage means the more people that can view your website if you have a bandwidth cap placed by your web host. Another thing to note, Yahoo has packed the popular Smush.it tool in this package.
I use this tool the most out of everything in my designer toolbox. It allows you to make live changes to your websites CSS, HTML, or JavaScript. Microsoft has provided a similar tool for Internet Explorer but it does not match up to Firebugs abilities. If you decide not to add any of these add-ons, I would suggest to at least download this one.
HTML Validator is a tool used when building and maintaining any website. It gives you detailed reports of any errors or warnings it may have found while scanning your websites coding. They packed another feature inside making use of the Tidy service, which will automatically correct all errors and allow you to download the newly error free coding.
Basically, all this add-on currently does is measure. I find it excellent in finding out element and image sizes. They do plan to release updates to have a snap feature on CSS items, making this add-on even more useful.
When surfing the web or creating a website, I have often wanted to know the color of an object without having to go through the pain of downloading it and checking in Photoshop, this add-on solves that issue by allow you to use an eyedropper to get colors off anything in your Firefox window. It also contains an interesting feature that will pull a webpage’s most used colors and give you the pages color scheme.
CSSUsage is an add-on to FireBug; it is a rather unique tool by providing an ability to scan CSS files to find out if you have any unused elements located on your website. I use it often to clean out my CSS files in order to lower my total memory usage.
Foxy SEO Tool has compiled multiple tools found all over the Internet used to improve your websites optimization into a toolbar located underneath the address bar in your Firefox window.
smigl on January 25, 2010, 11:24 am
Good collection. Thanks
geoffreygordon on February 4, 2010, 6:32 am
Great List I use most of them, except the last one and dust me selectors, 2 very useful additions, thanks.
Patrick Heck on February 4, 2010, 7:34 am
I think it also should be mentioned that Alexa can be quite useful, but “contributing” to their data also means they are aware of EVERYTHING you do online. Not sure if that's a good thing.
Zach on February 10, 2010, 8:51 pm
I have updated the list for this year.
The Beginner’s Guide on How to Start Your Own Website | Netjelly on February 11, 2010, 1:17 am
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squidoo lens on February 19, 2010, 8:26 am
I searched on google and I had a hard time located the right info….until I found your blog.
press release distribution on February 19, 2010, 2:31 pm
Hey, Just wanted to let you know that your site isn’t loading properly on my iPhone. Do you know if there’s some setting I need to use to make it show properly? Everything is out of line.
human growth on February 20, 2010, 12:29 pm
Thanks for sharing! it is good to encourage people to comment, not just reading. The only reason I writing blog rather than diary is because of the feedback.
Tia on March 9, 2010, 8:57 am
Nice list. Thanks for putting it together. I didn’t know about ColorZilla, YSlow or Foxy SEO. Awesome. Although, I have to admit my fear is that using these tools will channel my inner geek and then I’ll spend more time toying with this stuff than I do actually blogging. =)
Nop on March 28, 2010, 10:57 pm
Good article, interesting to read, simple and most interest this article is usefull. Thanks for the info! wait for updated article
Kristeen Eisinger on May 1, 2010, 3:40 am
Hey! Just wanted to respond. I truly loved this blog. Keep up the great effort.
best wordpress plugin on May 16, 2010, 8:56 am
Good list! And i think you must add imacros, google gears, and fire bug. That tools its very useful and one thing….Thats free! Thanks!
Artical – List of Top Firefox Add-ons for Webmasters « Rebecca Farrell on June 20, 2010, 7:14 pm
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