Tag Archives: extensions

FinderPath Extension for Alfred

I use Alfred for all of my application launching, number calculating and folder-finding needs. It usually does a good job at finding what I’m looking for, though sometimes you already have an exact file path in mind and want to jump right to it. One example is the Library folder. I find myself digging around in there regularly for whatever reason (retrieving Minecraft screenshots, diagnosing crashy apps, etc.) and it just takes too long to get there manually. Lion and Mountain Lion made it especially vexing, as it’s hidden by default. (And it re-hidden after each software update, even if you change the setting with a terminal command.)

So I made an Alfred extension that will open any supplied path in a new Finder window. No fancy searching, just a direct “open this.” It uses the standard “cd ~/Documents/GitHub” syntax experienced users of the command line will be familiar with. It even escapes spaces automatically.

Installation Instructions

  • Download the FinderPath extension
  • Unzip the archive and double-click the resulting FinderPath.alfredextension file
  • Alfred should do the rest

How to Remove the Bookmark Toolbar Icons in Firefox 4

Prior to Firefox 4, the Mac version didn’t display favicons beside items on the Bookmarks Toolbar, unlike its Windows counterpart. I’ve become accustomed to this behavior, as it uses significantly less space. (I tend to use the Bookmarks Toolbar not just for frequently-used links and bookmarklets, but as a sort of “in tray” for things I need to keep an eye on temporarily.)

Some people will probably be happy about the addition of the favicons in Firefox 4, but if you’re like me you prefer to cram as many three to five letter bookmarks in as possible, which is significantly less with the icons included. But what can be done about it?

Fortunately, someone has already whipped-up a handy extension to revert back to a text-based bookmark bar. You don’t even need to restart your browser after installing it.

Bookmarks Deiconizer [Firefox Add-ons]

Extensions are the Source of Slow Firefox Startup

Firefox 4 has made the browser faster and much more responsive, but its startup time can still be a bit on the slow end. According to Mozilla, the root problem is definitely extensions. In a new blog post, they stated that on average each add-on you install will increase startup time by 10%. So installing ten add-ons could double your browser’s startup time, assuming that none of them are real heavyweights.

They also released a list, based on automated performance testing, of the slowest performing add-ons. Apparently Firebug adds around 74% on to startup time and StumbleUpon 19%. (Unfortunately, it seems like a few of my favorite add-ons are on the list, the indispensable Firebug included.)

Mozilla plans to update their extension repository with warnings that display for add-ons that increase startup time by 25% or more.

The BuySellAds Browser Extension

BuySellAds has just released a new extension for Google Chrome (with a Firefox version on the way) that is aimed at advertisers. It displays a BuySellAds icon in your toolbar, which lights up red when a website you visit has BuySellAds zones available. Clicking it displays a popover dialog that shows the publisher’s zones and lets you buy them out.

I think it’s a neat idea. It makes it easier for advertisers to find and buy ad space, which could potentially result in smaller publishers having their ad space filled.

If you do any advertising, or just like seeing how much publishers charge for their ad space, you can download the Chrome extension here. (And don’t forget, Webmaster-Source has BuySellAds banners…)

OpenDNS Feeling Lucky Fixer For Firefox

Do you use OpenDNS?

I have for awhile, since my ISP’s DNS servers can be kind of flaky sometimes. The one thing I don’t like about the service is how it hijacks mistyped domains and I’m Feeling Lucky searches that Firefox would usually redirect to the site I’m looking for, sending me to an OpenDNS search page with some ads on it. Sure, it helps support the service, but as a Firefox power user, the added time-waste is frustrating.

Luckily there’s a solution. The Feeling Lucky Fixer extension for Firefox restores the functionality to the browser, allowing you to simply type a website’s name (e.g. “imdb”) into your URL bar and wind up in the right place. Huzzah!

OpenDNS Guide

Firefox Extension: The Web Developer Toolbar

Web Developer Toolbar is one of my favorite Firefox extensions. It makes design and development so much easier.

It can resize your browser window to a specified size (great for getting a rough idea of how a page will look at a lower resolution), check to see if your HTML, CSS, or RSS validate, easily disable JavaScript or CSS, make hidden elements visible, and much more. There are eleven menus full of useful tools. I don’t use half of them myself, because I forget they’re there…

One of my favorite features is Command+Shift+F (Ctrl+Shift+F on PC). It puts you into a DOM inspection mode where you can click an element on the page and get a variety of details, such as the element ID and class, the DOM path, and a multitude of CSS attributes.

If you do even a little bit of design or development, I guarantee you this add-on will make your life easier.

Essential Firefox Extensions For Webmasters

Mozilla Firefox is truly the best browser for web designers and developers. It’s Extensions system makes it possible to equip your browser with tools to make your life easier. But if you’re reading this, you probably already know that.

What extensions are the most useful for webmasters?

  • ColorZilla – Like having Photoshop’s Eyedropper tool in Firefox.
  • Lorem Ipsum – Generate Pseudo-Latin dummy text.
  • Firebug – “edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live in any web page.”
  • IE View – Open the current page in Internet Explorer.
  • MeasureIt – Drag a ruler across your browser’s viewport.
  • Web Developer Toolbar – One of my favorites, this extension adds dozens of useful options to your browser’s arsenal. You can disable JavaScript and CSS, resize your window to exact dimensions, and more. Here’s one of my favorite parts: Press Ctrl-Shift-F to toggle a “Element Inspector” tool. Forget the DOM Inspector, this is more useful.
  • YSlow – How fast is your website? How can you improve it? Requires Firebug.

Note: This list is in no meaningful order. :D