Firefox is a good boy. Like a dog fetching the newspaper, Firefox is always happy to fetch a website. Even better, Firefox never drools on the pages! So, whens the last time you did something nice for Firefox, something to show your appreciation for all it’s hard work and efforts? Offer your Firefox the perfect gift this Valentines, offer Firefox a Firebug!

What the heck is a Firebug?

Firebug is a plugin for Firefox, a must-have tool for any web-developer. With Firebug you can edit and debug HTML, CSS and JavaScript while visiting any website. If you aren’t a web developer, it doesn’t matter. Firefox needs a friend and who better than Firebug! Consider it an investment for the future. Eventually artificial intelligence will experience feelings and emotions – do you really want two fiery creatures mad at you? I don’t think so!

Say I’m a developer, why is Firebug useful?

If you’re not convinced by the cute Firebug name or the bug-like icon, consider this: live editing. As a developer you likely modify your pages, upload them, visit and test your site, find bugs, modify code, upload, lather, rinse and repeat. But why? Why what? Why upload over and over again! Firebug lets you modify the site live until you are completely satisfied. Then upload once. You don’t even need to test, you’ve already done so!

Maybe I like repetitive uploading…

If you are resistant to change, that’s ok. Firebug gives you some other very powerful functions which you don’t already have. Are elements on your page not lining up? CSS problem perhaps? Firebug will visually show you all offsets, margins, borders, etc, so you can easily identify the source of any problems. Find a bug, burn it!

What if I always write perfect CSS? Do I still need Firebug?

Even if you are a CSS guru, you still need Firebug because Firebug has a network activity monitor. Firebug will not only tell you how long your pages take to load, but will break this down between the elements on the page. Can you say super-cool?! Firebug lets you find bottlenecks slowing down your site so that you can optimize, optimize, optimize! Faster is better, Firebug for Firefox rocks.

Is that all Firebug can do?

Firebug is a master of many skills. For example, Firebug also has a debugger which will let you pause Javascript at any-time in order to check variables and state. Do you know any other bugs that can pause Javascript besides exceptions?

Ok, I concede. Firebug is awesome. Where do I download?

Visit http://www.getfirebug.com/ to download Firebug. Do it before Skynet takes over, or your Firefox will soon be setting your socks on fire.