My new position has a thoroughly entertaining “new software” requisition process that I have to go through to get stuff installed on my laptop (because marketing types don’t get to have admin privs on their own machines). The process is three different forms, six weeks of wait time, and countless iterations of revised justifications. I just can’t begin to tell you how fun it is.
Anyway, the whole process forced me to sit down and figure out exactly which plugins I’m using on Firefox that I cannot live without. Normally, I don’t think much about all the stuff I’ve got plugged into my browsers, but it was a useful exercise to see exactly how Spartan of a set-up I could have and still get my work done efficiently and effectively.
Here’s what I told IT I needed…
- SEO for Firefox
This does so much it’s just easier if you click on it and go read about it. If I could have only one thing off my list, this would be it.
- Colorzilla
- Header Spy
- JSView
Here’s what I have installed on my personal machine that I like having, but didn’t feel I would die without…
Also, I use Lynx a lot, but not the Firefox plugin variety (Yellowpipe Lynx Viewer Tool)… I have lynx available on my server, so I just ssh over to that with Penguinet and use lynx from my shell. (Trivia: While one might assume I’m partial to c shell, I actually use bash.)
By the way, if anyone knows of any other super useful tools I ought to be using or at least trying out, please let me know!
I’ll need to check some of those out.
I would strongly encourage you to check out Portable Apps. http://portableapps[dot]com/
It enables you to install your browser onto a USB thumb drive. You will have access to all of your extensions, bookmarks and cookies on any computer. It’s great for going between Work and Home. It also eliminates the need to synchronize your bookmarks between several computers. (It’s still a good idea to back up your bookmarks once an a while just in case your USB drive winds up in the laundry.)
I have a similar post to this one over here.
http://hawaii-online-advertising[dot]com/blog/?p=38
SearchStatus is another really good one.
I also like Roboform, IE Tab, Html Validator, ForecastFox and Organize Status Bar (to make sure everything is in the order I want it).