how do you make a web browser that pleases everyone without pleasing no one? make it extensible. the only downside is that there are so many extensions available for firefox that it’s hard to know where to start. these are the ones i think are particularly interesting and useful.

last tab
hallelujah. makes ctrl+tab in firefox behave like alt+tab in windows (switches to recently opened tab). note: this indispensible xpi file must be downloaded and then opened with firefox to install.

user agent switcher
“user agent” is what the cool kids call their web browser. this extension allows you to trick web servers into thinking you are internet explorer to get around “this site only works in IE” racism.

web developer toolbar
cool functions: outline table cells, outline block level elements, and disable styles. this toolbar is really too cool for school.

live http headers
firefox musthave for web developers. see what is being sent to the web server and vice versa, in real time.

x (paranoia)
this is similar to a tool i’ve been thinking about creating that would allow you to flip a switch to prevent the browser from recording any history/cookies/cache until you flip the switch again. apparently in some circles this has been known as porn mode, but i think it would provide some serious privacy benefits. x (paranoia) is more like permanent amnesia.