Most useful web developer tools

When you are developing Rich Internet Applications or top quality websites, here's a list of most useful tools. Both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox have web developer toolbars and Javascript Debuggers. You can monitor the HTTP streams between browser and server in Internet Explorer, monitor JavaScript memory leaks in Firefox. With Lynx, you can also discover how search engines see your site.

JavaScript debuggers

Microsoft Script Debugger is a debugging environment that extends any Microsoft ActiveX® Scripting host application—for example, Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) or Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS). Download: microsoft.com

Firefox add-on: FireBug lets you explore the far corners of the DOM by keyboard or mouse. All of the tools you need to poke, prod, and monitor your JavaScript, CSS, HTML and Ajax are brought together into one seamless experience, including a debugger, an error console, command line, and a variety of fun inspectors. Download: addons.mozilla.org

Firefox add-on: JavaScript Debugger (Venkman) Venkman is the code name for Mozilla's JavaScript Debugger. Venkman aims to provide a powerful JavaScript debugging environment for Mozilla based browsers. Download: addons.mozilla.org

Developer toolbars

Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar provides a variety of tools for quickly creating, understanding, and troubleshooting Web pages. Download: microsoft.com

Mozilla Firefox Add-on: Web Developer by Chris Pederick, released on Jan 31, 2006. It adds a menu and a toolbar with various web developer tools. Download: addons.mozilla.org

Other useful tools

HTTP Watch HttpWatch is an HTTP viewer and debugger for IE6+ that integrates with Internet Explorer to provide seamless HTTP and HTTPS monitoring without leaving the browser window. Download: httpwatch.com

Mozilla Firefox Add-on: Leak Monitor by L. David Baron, released on Jun 27, 2006. This extension pops up an alert dialog to warn chrome and extension developers about one particular type of leak. It warns when chrome windows close but leave other code pointing at their JavaScript objects. Download: addons.mozilla.org

Lynx text browser is a very stable, fast, versatile and secure text browser for the Internet. It is released under the GNU GPL, and is free. Lynx is the one standard text browser and an absolute must for web designers to check their websites for accessibility, and although many valid alternatives are appearing, Lynx still is a reference point. Graphical browsers who offer an emulation of text browsers (Opera, for example, does) are not an alternative you could rely on. Browsing the internet with a real text browser still is a huge difference! Download: csant.info