browser-based developer tools
I've discovered - to my surprise - that a lot of developers aren't aware of tools like the Firefox Web Developer Extension. I guess I was assuming knowledge, against my own advice :) So anyway, I thought I'd mention a few useful browser-based tools for a wide range of testing and development. Feel free to comment with your own recommendations!
- Firefox Web Developer Extension (Firefox has a stack of developer extensions). Example features:
- enable/disable scripting, style, images, caching, cookies, etc
- resize window to 800x600 (or any other size)
- send current page to validation tool
- extract properties information about the page, image lists, links, etc
- Patrick Lauke has written an entire article on using Firefox for accessbility testing: Get Tooled Up:'Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility with Firefox', Ariadne Issue 44
- NILS Web Accessibility Toolbar (for IE/Win). Example features:
- enable/disable scripting, style, images, caching, cookies, etc
- resize window to 800x600 (or any other size)
- send current page to validation tool
- colour contrast checker
- Opera 8 (scroll down to Web Development). Opera natively includes many/most features included in other browsers' addons:
- enable/disable scripting, style, images, cookies, etc (tip: use F12 - Quick Menu)
- send current page to validation tool
- linearise page (ie. disable tables etc)
- small-screen testing mode
- reload from cache:
Edit the source of any open Web page and view the result instantly
...great for debugging.
So, what tools do you use?
Update: there is a developer toolbar for Opera, check out nontroppo.org/wiki/Opera.
Update: The good people at Vision Australia have released a version of their toolbar for Opera, check it out - Resource Center - About: WAT for Opera.