Firefox is awesome. It’s secure, it has great performance, and of course, it’s free. But one of the strongest reasons why people like this browser is the customization it makes possible. Firefox has more than 5000 add-ons to support the way different people use the web. Here’s a list of 15 Firefox add-ons I use and love.
Browsing the web
- Add to Search Bar allows you to add any website’s search box to the built-in browser search bar.
- Hit-a-Hint enables you to open links by typing the associated number on your keyboard. It’s great for keyboard-only navigation.
- Session Manager saves and restores the state of all windows when you want to, automatically at startup, and/or after crashes.
- Tab Mix Plus enhances Firefox’s tab browsing. Features include duplicating tabs, controlling tab focus, tab clicking options, and more.
Downloading files
- Download Statusbar allows you to view and manage downloads from a tidy status bar. It’s a great replacement for the standard download window.
- Flashgot integrates the browser with Flashget (an external download manager). You may download one link, selected links, or all page links together with a single click. The FlashGot Media command grabs video and audio clips while they’re playing.
Sharing on social media
- AddThis enables instant sharing and bookmarking of web content. There are over 50 supported services, including email, Blogger, Delicious, Digg, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Twitter, TypePad, WordPress, and more.
Saving information
- Evernote Web Clipper can add a selection or an entire web page to Evernote (a great note-taking application). If the desktop application is installed, the clips go there; if not, they go to the Evernote web application.
- Xmarks stores your bookmarks online and seamlessly synchronizes them among all the Firefox installations you use. It can also do the same with your passwords if you’d like.
Meddling with the web
- Adblock Plus allows you to block ads. You could manually select ads not to be downloaded, but the best way to use it is to select a filter subscription which automatically blocks most advertisements. Adblock Plus makes the web so much better.
- Greasemonkey allows you to customize web pages using JavaScript. You may download available scripts or write your own. Two examples of useful scripts: Facebook external apps blocker and Amazon Local Currency.
- Stylish allows you to customize web pages using CSS. You may download available styles or write your own.
Designing and developing the web
- ColorZilla gives you a color reading from any point in the browser. You can easily adjust the color and paste it in another program.
- Firebug allows you to edit, debug, and monitor HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on any web page. It’s an invaluable add-on.
- Web Developer provides tons of useful web developer tools. I mean tons. Another invaluable add-on.
And many more
There are lots of great add-ons available for use. Download, install, and enjoy.
Nice blog! i’m more surprised/delighted that you’ve finally gotten a Twitter account. No more security/privacy issues? Anyway, i followed you.
[...] did some searching and found Hit-a-Hint, which I recommended in my post on Firefox add-ons. After installing Hit-a-Hint, you can open a link using the keyboard by doing the [...]