The Firefox extensions I use & their functions

27Oct06

In light of Firefox 2.0 finally being released, I thought I should write something. So extensions it is. Before you continue, please download Firefox 2.0 and set it as your default web browser, because you really should. Only fools wouldn’t.

I’ve been using Firefox for ages now, since version 0.6 or so, well it was before the lovely logo (designed by Jon Hicks - read his blog entry for a nice description) came along, which was introduced in 0.8.

For me this is the very best web browser available today and, in my opinion, the entire history of web browsers. It’s flexible, robust, stable, cross-platform, fully customisable and can render a web page in the way it’s meant to… all of which aren’t offered by the piece of crap that Microsoft offers in the form of IE.
I wish people were more technologically savvy and didn’t just stick with the default and usually sub-standard options and choices, but that is for another topic of discussion and not here.

As usual I’m getting sidetracked by my annoyances of peoples’ ignorance.

Back to the topic in hand. Extensions. For Firefox. OK.

If you’re not aware, Firefox offers the ability to fully customise the functions that your browser can perform, from adding great features like Advert blocking and RSS readers to FTP managers and variously good tool bars. These add-ons are called Extension (update: from Firefox 2.0 they are called Add-ons) and you can get 100s here.

Here is my list of Extensions or Add-ons:

Adblock

My most used and probably most forgotten extension is Adblock Plus. It sits in the background blocking all those horid banner ads, be they images / flash or text.

It can block anything you like it to. It synchronises it’s blacklist every now and then, to block all the new fangled ways advertisers try to entice you, so you don’t have to… don’t worry if you like some ads, you can of course add them to your ‘Exception list’.

Session Manager

This was until version 2.0 of Firefox my favourite, and in my opinion, the best extension available. Sadly Session Manager has ceased development as of version 1.5x, someone has hacked the .xpi to work in version 2.0, but unfortunately it crashes my system… you can try it here.

This extension allows you to save the current state of Firefox (history, text data, cookies, tabs) and return to that state at any later moment. Besides the manually saved states, Session Manager automatically stores the current state in case of a crash. Also very useful if you’re in the middle of some serious research, with a million tabs open… just save it and come back to it later. Please Zeniko (the developer), please update this to work in 2.0. It’s so useful, that I’m in two minds about whether to go back to 1.5.0.x.

Web Developer

The Web Developer toolbar is an essential extension for any web developer, can save you hours in your development time… especially in times of troubleshooting (real time CSS rendering, just for starters).

Web Developer adds a menu and a toolbar with various Web developer tools to the browser. The tools allow the user to disable, view, and edit cookies, CSS, HTML, forms, and images; validate pages; and much much much more.

Download Statusbar

Manage your Internet downloads from a tidy toolbar with Download Statusbar, without the download window getting in the way of your Web browsing. Despite its compact size, Download Statusbar packs in more useful features than the standard download window.

The fully customizable interface auto-hides when not in use, allowing full control without interruption.

Focus Last Selected Tab

Pretty simple, but very useful extension this, FSLT can really save time searching for the last tab you had selected… simply click on the current tab and it takes you back the last focused tab. Genius.

Duplicate Tab

Pretty self explanatory this. Duplicate Tab adds to the right-click context menu of the tab a few options for copying.

Foxmarks Bookmark Synchroniser

Bloody useful extension if you use multiple machines or systems. Foxmarks Bookmark Synchroniser keeps all your tasty bytes of web synchronised and handily backed-up.

Once you’ve created an account, which is free, it sits silently and happily in the background.

Reload Every

Reload Every adds an item to the right-click menu & the reload button, offering you the option to update any tab at any set interval of time. Useful if you’re watching an ebay item, for instance.

Auto Copy

Auto Copy does exactly that. Automatically copies selected text and allows you to paste it easily with a middle click, if of course you have a mouse with a wheel.

Well there you have it. I had a few more extensions in 1.5.0.x, but they, like session manager, no longer work. If I’m missing some vital extension action, please enlighten me. I like enlightenment.