As you know, I’ve decided to return to Firefox after an attempt to use Google Chrome as my main browser. One of the main drivers for this decision was the wealth of customizations that Firefox affords you, through the use of browser extensions. Here’s a simple list of the Firefox extensions I am currently running.
Adblock Plus – This is a required extension to survive surfing the Web these days. Automatically updates from a central list for blocking, but also lets you override ad blocking on sites you want to support (like Good Old Rock, maybe?).
BBCodeExtra – Simple extension that offers right-click functionality to format text as either HTML or BBCode (the formatting code used on popular web forum software such as phpBB). I love the ability for it to automatically format the code for an image or link based upon what is in your clipboard.
CustomizeGoogle – Provides some minor tweaks to the Google interface. One thing I like is that your search results in Google Images will point directly to the image, which is nice. Also filters out some annoying search results.
Firebug – If you’re a web developer, this is a must-have extension. Lets you do neat things like digging deep into the properties of an element on a page, but also runs a console that shows exactly what pieces and parts are downloading/rendering on a page, helping you figure out what portions might be slowing a page down.
Google Reader Notifier – Sticks a little icon in your status bar that tells you when you have new articles in your Google Reader feed. Useful!
Greasemonkey – I don’t use this as much as I used to, but it can be really helpful. Allows you to install “userscripts” which will customize the formatting and display of a website. For example, there are scripts that remove all custom formatting from MySpace pages, which is kind of necessary if you are going to view MySpace without clawing your eyes out.
Greasefire – Companion to Greasemonkey; when you are on a site that has a useful (or at least compatible) user script, this will inform you and let you install it right there.
Linkification – Isn’t it annoying when you view a webpage that has the text for a URL, but it’s not clickable? And then you have to copy it to your clipboard and paste it into the URL bar? Well, if you don’t find that annoying, this exension is useless to you. But, if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate how Linkification will automagically turn text links on a page into clickable ones.
RetailMeNot – Simple tool that will alert you to any coupon/discount codes available for the site you are currently visiting.
Tree Style Tab – I’m still trying this guy out. If you’re rocking a widescreen display, vertical screen real estate is at a premium. This extension moves your tabs from taking up valuable space at the top of the window, and puts them in a sidebar on either the right or the left side of the window, where space is plentiful. Definitely takes some getting used to, but I’m feeling pretty positive about it. I could see this being a lifesaver on a netbook.
Xmarks – Formerly “Foxmarks”, this is a bookmark syncronization service that keeps all of your bookmarks in sync on all of your computers. It can also (optionally) sync saved passwords and cookies, so your surfing experience does not skip a beat when moving from your work computer to home. I love this extension like a fat kid loves cake.
What are YOUR essential Firefox extensions? Which ones can you not live without? Let me know in the comments!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Good list Matt. Here are a few that I currently use:
Screen Grab – Lets you take screen shots of the whole screen or lets you select a certain portion of the screen.
Twitbin – If you don’t use a desktop application for Twitter, this is a nice addon that lets you tweet while you browse.
Dustme Selectors – More of a developer plugin. Let’s you scan a site for unused CSS selectors. Great for managing very large style sheets.
Finally..
Ubiquity – The future of browser addons. Another demo here . However this will be integrated in future Firefox versions so maybe it doesn’t count as an addon anymore
Cool list, Dan! I like Screen Grab, although all my Windows machines run OneNote, which includes a pretty useful screen grab utility (believe it or not!)
Well, for a simple twitter client – TwitterFox
If you do a lot of graphics whatnot – ColorZilla
Better GReader extension make Google Reader a much nicer experience.
Download Statusbar – gets rid of the downloads window and put it in a line in the bottom of all windows.
FfChrome – lets you trim the right click context menu to just items you want
Tabs Open Relative – Opens Tabs right next to the one you’re in instead of at the end of all tabs.
TinyURL Creator – automates creating http://tiny.url concatanated link addresses.
and I like the WebDeveloper add-on for analyzing pagesource.
Bonus points to ReadItLater which I actually use in conjunction with Xmarks even though the latter could do what the former does, it’s just part of my workflow to have that little check mark in the awesome-bar
What’s up Matt! I got sent here by @netchick…glad I found it. You’ve got some great reads and I’ll add some of these FireFox add-on’s as well.
@vojha’s last blog post..Sunday Night Video Flashback Pt. 35!!!
I immediately saw use for Tree Style Tabs on my netbook. It’s weird but I think I will get used to it.
Mine are quite basic, but get me through the day:
Bug Me Not
…for when I want to read news articles without having an account. Or porn.
Download Them All
…useful for content heavy sites or virtual directory listings when you have a bunch to download.
IE View
…when I code I can check how it looks in IE after launhing it in FF….saves me the trouble of bouncing back to Dreamweaver and launching a second browser…also, if a webpage looks funky, I can view it in IE to see it “properly”. *snort*
Image Zoom
…I think everyone has this, but when running at high resolutions (I typically am using 1600 x 1200 or 1920 x 1080 on each monitor) this allows me to zoom in on an image inline without reloading the page or opening it in a new window or downloading it.
Fire FTP
…I commonly have to push or pull media from clients FTP sites…and this does it within the browser.
How about firebug Nice web design assist.