Essential List and Resources on Firefox Extensions

September 19 by | 57 comments | Lifehack, Technology | Tags: , , ,


Update (2005/10/26): Added Download Manager Tweak.
Update (2005/10/22): Thanks for those readers who introduced Tab Mix Plus. It is quite a powerful tab extension. I am using it instead of Tabbrowser Preferences.

The best feature I ever wanted in a browser is the ability to load extensions which can do some little wonderful things. Firefox is the browser that give me this feature – in any platforms that it supports (Linux, Mac, Windows). I wanted to recommend some extensions that I frequently use here. Those are the extensions that I spared them from the fate of uninstallation.

Some of the extensions do slow down the Firefox browser, so I recommend only keep the one that you are using it, and uninstall the one that you find it less useful. Second, check and see if there are any updates for your extension by going to Tools -> Extensions -> Update.

Must Have:

  • Gmail Notifier – Check Gmail for new emails and notify you on status bar with a nice little icon.
  • Tab Mix Plus – I feel unorganize if I have new link opened in a new window. This extension help me to overcome that.
  • delicious – Provides very quick short cut key (Ctrl-Shift-S) of adding a site to your del.icio.us bookmark. Highly recommended.
  • GreaseMonkey – Able you to install user scripts to change any web sites’ behavior
  • Google Toolbar – Provides feature like PageRank, dictionary and spelling check. Spelling check provides similar function in Gmail to check spelling in any web forms.
  • FlashGot - Integrates Firefox to your existing download manager.

Should Have:

  • ForecastFox – Weather information at the corner of your Firefox browser.
  • ScrapBook – Save web pages to your local disk in a easy accessible collection format.
  • Sessionsaver – Restores your browser exactly you left it when startup with all loaded web sites. There are some problems of the extension where loading form data – The data in fields will be mixed up sometimes.
  • ScreenGrab – This is a very cool extension that can screenshot the whole web page into PNG file. Required Java 1.4+.
  • Foxylicious – Sync your del.icio.us bookmark to your firefox bookmark.
  • LiveLines – Modifies the Firefox RSS icon in the status bar to add RSS feed to services such as Bloglines.


Good to Have:

  • mozCC – Let you know if the page is distrubuted in Creative Commons license.
  • WebMailCompose – Redirect mailto: links to load your preferred Webmail Compose page.
  • StumbleUpon – Suggest and find web sites quickly among community.
  • FireFTP – A free FTP client in your Firefox! It is a bit slow but does the job well.
  • Download Manager Tweak – Tweak your Download Manager into separate window, the sidebar, or a tab. Tidy up your task list.

Want to showcase your favorite Firefox extension? Drop us a comment here! If you have a page which shows your extension, I am happy to link it below.

Related Resources and Other recommended List:

  • http://l33tminion.livejournal.com/ L33tminion

    Tab Mix (http://www.extensionsmirror.nl/index.php?showtopic=2291) is better than Tabbrowser Preferences by far. It’s all of the best tabbed browsing preferences extensions rolled into one (Tabbrowser Preferences, Swift Tabs, Tab Clicking Options, etc.)

  • http://127.0.0.1/ Josh

    I can’t believe Adblock isn’t in the MUST HAVE OMG FTW list.

    That said, not that I’m more than a random user, but here’s my list:

    Adblock Plus, del.icio.us, All-in-one-Gestures, TinyURL Creator, IE View, Add Bookmark Here (rather deprecated via delicious), Web Developer, Disable Targets for Downloads, Diggler, Download Manager Tweak, Sort Bookmarks (also deprecated), Paste and Go.

  • http://www.MaineCreative.com/blog.htm Tom McKay

    Agreed — I couldn’t live without Adblock!

    And don’t forget Scrapbook, my second favorite. It lets you grab and save pages (or pieces of pages) right in Firefox — then go back in and edit, add notes, highlight, etc. It’s great for writers (like me), researchers and other assorted anal retentives. ;-) Check it out at http://amb.vis.ne.jp/mozilla/scrapbook/

    Tom
    Attract More Customers blog

  • bayareakirk

    I agreee with comments: Tab Mix Plus is better and less prone to problems than Tabbrowser Preferences…and that Adblock is great.

    I have many I love but a usefull couple for most anybody that I can’t live without are: Autofill, which fills out forms including credit card info and Always Remember Password which fills in saved passwords.

  • http://sridhar.f2o.org/ Sri

    TabMixPlus is even better than TabMix.

  • http://blog.merlinox.com Merlinox

    I had a lot of formidable extensions installed.
    Now I installed new firefox (beta 1) and noone works :( I’m “desperado…”

  • gregmac

    The only “must haves” I agree with are Google Toolbar and Tabbrowser preferences (though I may have to look at this TabMix/TabMixPlus now)

    I’d put All-in-one gestures and Disable targets for downloads on the must-have list.

    For web developers: Live HTTP headers, User agent switcher (though this is good for everyone — there’s still some stupid developers that thing ‘Mozilla’ means Netscape 4), Add N Edit cookies. Google pagerank status was cool before Google toolbar (it shows the page rank in the bottom right of the status bar), though I still have it installed anyway.

  • http://www.lifehack.org/ Leon

    @Josh: I only introduced the ones that I am using. For AdBlock extension, I did not have it on my firefox setup because I like to give webmaster a chance for their efforts by viewing their ad in return.

    @Tom: Same here. I like Scarpbook a lot!

    @bayareakrik: I just found out about TabMix Plus and its address. I will give a look. Thanks for the pointer!

    How is the security measures on Autofill?

  • kewlceo

    ImageShack FireFox Extension v0.2.1 is a great extension that allows you to upload images to ImageShack directly from other websites by right-clicking the image and selecting “Upload to ImageShack.”

    http://reg.imageshack.us/content.php?page=extension

    @Leon: In Adblock, if you go to your preferences and select “Hide Ad” instead of “Delete Ad” the webmaster will still get credit for the ad impression even though you don’t actually see the ad.

  • bigfig

    Bug me not (www.bugmenot.com) is essential for sites requiring a logon. It provides other people logons to those pesky sites that demand marketing information from you.. Every once and a while there is a real account for a pay site too…

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  • jimmy

    You’re missing a couple of essentials: adblock and switchproxy to name two. AdBlock, of course, is the venerable wild-card image/content blocker, and Switch Proxy allows you to change proxy server profiles with ease and can even allow you to span multiple proxy servers (for anonymous browsing, etc.) Both must-haves in my Mozilla/Firefox.

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  • http://www.duzins.com Athomemama

    I posted a similar post earlier last week with my top ten firefox extensions. Hope you like :)

    http://www.gamingandtech.com/2005/09/10-firefox-extensions.html

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  • Iain

    For me, CuteMenu is essential: it inserts icons into the menu lists. Once you know what each icon signifies, it makes using the menus much easier and quicker than having to read the menu text.

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  • http://www.earlea.com EARLE

    all my fav extentions are listed here
    http://browseraddons.friendpages.com
    image zoomer
    accessibar
    customize google
    browster
    gmail delete button
    deskcut
    1click weather [though i prefer weather depot for more indepth display]
    http://mozilla.friendpages.com

  • thunder7

    saw u site at shellcity.net I will be back nice site
    Later Thunder7

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  • http://okki.en.wanadoo.es okki

    Nice post. I’ll have to put some time into getting competent with the DOM inspector and Venkman. Anyway, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best extensions here:
    http://db.rambleschmack.net/pc_tips/best_firefox_extensions

  • http://loadaveragezero.com/ Douglas Clifton

    I’ve been building and maintaining a list of must-have Firefox extensions designed for Web developers for awhile now, have a look at it here:

    http://loadaveragezero.com/drx/extensions

  • http://www.peacebyjesus.com daniel hamilton

    Hi, thank you for your list, but there are some extensions missing that are very critical, especially if firefox will suprpass IE (which often crashes and uses more precious resources on w/95 or 98se).

    First is the MAF ext., which allows you to save a page with all the images and links just as they were, which the “web page archive” .mht extension does in IE. A must for researchers. http://maf.mozdev.org/

    There is also an extension called savewithurl which can be useful also.

    To tweak firefox for faster preformance, there is fasterfox. http://fasterfox.mozdev.org/

    Also useful is the Print Preview right click ext., which missing from firefox. http://www.snide.com/freesoftware/
    so
    Next is /ieview, which allows you to open links in IE, in case bill gates is watching you. http://ieview.mozdev.org/

    And after you get many extensions, and find your right click menu going thru the roof, there is Menu Editor ( so now you can see “Open in new Tab”). http://menueditor.mozdev.org/

    Hope these help!

    Grace and peace thru the Lord Jesus.

    daniel

  • yagood

    My list:

    - All-In-One Sidebar, Paste and Go (if you switched to FF from Opera)
    - Download Statusbar (I don’t like FF’s full-blown Download Manager)
    - Image Toolbar (displays this nice toolbar over images like in IE with options to save it etc)
    - Restart Firefox (just for convenience)
    - IE Tab (use it instead of IE View – much better)
    - Tab Mix Plus (not much to say here – must have, no discussion)
    - Mouse Gestures (I find it better than All-In-One Gestures)
    - StumbleUpon (great community, another “must have” extension)
    - Enhanced History Manager (faster, better than integrated FF’s manager)
    - Copy Link Name (small, cool)

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  • Reveriee

    If you’re using Tab Mix Plus, you don’t need Session Saver~

  • catquas

    I prefer groowe toolbar. It doesn’t have some of the features of the google toolbar but it is better for searching google. Not only that, but it has a seperate toolbar setup for about 10 different search engines, and you change between engines with 2 clicks.

  • http://showcase.uworks.net Pep

    Well, have a look at my own extension… you might like it! You can use it to have a view of all your currently opened browsers, and make several operations from there. Get it at http://showcase.uworks.net !

  • ramu

    Also see 50 best firefox extensions for power surfing
    http://pchere.blogspot.com/2005/12/50-best-firefox-extensions-for-power.html

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  • ich

    I don’t understand how anybody can use Firefox without the “All in One Sidebar” and “Tab Mix Plus”….absolutely essential.

    Personally, for my needs, I really enjoy the already mentioned “Scrapbook”, which I discovered much too late and, for taking notes or writing mails “Performancing” (www.performancing.com) which is originally a bloggers tool.

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  • http://linksex.en.wanadoo.es/ Puik

    Nice post. I’ll have to put some time into getting competent with the DOM inspector and Venkman.

  • WayneMV

    Is “Disable Targets for Downloads” any bettern than Tab Mix Plus’s “Prevent Blank Tabs When Downloading Files” option?

  • http://linksex1.en.wanadoo.es/ Puik

    Anyway, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best extensions here:
    http://db.rambleschmack.net/pc_tips/best_firefox_extensions

  • http://willlangford.com will langford

    Hello, I have a list of Firefox Extensions. Please check it out!

    http://willlangford.com/geekpages/firefox/

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  • Sanctimonious Ape

    “Session Manager” really should replace Sessionsaver – it’s much more stable, more flexible, and certainly faster.

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  • http://www.homebusinessnmarketingguide.com Online Home Business | Residual Income Business Opportunity {dudung}

    Best Collection! i takesome extentions to instal on mine.Good Job! Congratulation..

  • Pat Drummond

    Couldn’t live without:
    1. Mouse Gestures – Left-right swipe of the mouse and the tab is GONE. Swipe mouse up and you’re at the top of the page. Swipe left and you’re Back one page.
    2. Super DragandGo – click and throw a link opens it in a new tab
    3. SmoothWheel – mouse wheel scrolling is now smooth and completely custom for me.

  • Ted

    Not to be forgotten, Adsense Notifier (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/500) that reports in real-time the earnings in the status bar.

    And also Subtile (http://www.subtile.net/) that allows webmasters to create their own Firefox extensions with a simple configuration without having to develop their own code.

  • The Intrepid Dodger

    I prefer using Google Bookmarks – once you’ve got an account, you drag the bookmarklet onto your browser bookmark bar. After that, it’s only a matter of clicking and filing when the little window pops up, and you’ve got a veritable epitome of productive bookmarking.

    May I also suggest the Download Status Bar extension? Instead of having an obtrusive download window pop up everytime you try to access a .pdf file (or whatever other thing you need to download), the progress bar sits down in the bottom of your browser. Pretty nice, and decreases clutter in your task bar.

  • Linux Geek
  • Amir

    I find it strange how Google make their bookmark extension so manual when in other products such as Gmail they encourage you never to save or file information – you just search for it instead.

    The WebMynd extension seems much more in tune with their philosophy since it records automatically and allows you to full-text search your history and replay it in a visual way.

    Check it out.

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