Rave

Note: Have a quick read under the loadaverageZero announcements if you're curious why the paragraph below has since been edited.

~~I know this much, you're not viewing this page if you're running IE. You wouldn't bother because it simply will not render correctly~~ due to IEs non-compliance with web standards — namely CSS.

Anyway,

Onto a Brighter Note

Hands down, Firefox is the best thing that's happened on the client-side in, well, forever. Yes, yes, I know, Mozilla has been available on other platforms for quite some time. But if you're running XP like me, you've been stuck with IE for years now. Or you could install NS along with all of it's AOL crappola and wait a week for the sucker to load. Then there's Opera, not a bad browser if you like wading through 20 million menu options. Run, don't walk and get yourself an install of Firefox 2.0.

As a web programmer, with the combination of this browser and extensions such as Web Developer installed, I am able to do things so easily that it's almost frightening. Almost. Grab LiveHTTPHeaders and add another power tool to your collection. I honestly don't know how I managed before. My skills and productivity have shot through the roof. If you like aesthetics, try NOIA. I do, I did, I like it. There are countless other extensions and themes (aka skins) to play with.

Visitors interested in learning more about what this browser has to offer can find an entire category of drx devoted to Firefox Resources, including an index just for Firefox Extensions designed for Web developers. I’m such a fan of these extensions I even share a list of the ones I currently have installed. Another suggestion is to have a look at all resources that are tagged with the keywords firefox, mozilla, extension and xul. At the bottom of every resource category are many external links to additional resources, and a search feature to help you with locating more items within the drx index.

I stopped using IE over a year ago. Guess what? The last few times I ran my spyware/anti-virus software they found exactly...drum roll...a big fat gOOse egg worth of invasive code on my box.

News and Links

Oct·25·2006: The long-awaited Firefox version 2.0 has been released. There are too many features to list here. Consult the release notes for additional details. Note that if you are running a version of Firefox that supports automatic updates (1.5.x) then there will be no need to download and install the software (although you certainly can if you are impatient). Also keep in mind that some of your existing Firefox Extensions may be disabled until they have been updated by the developer to work with the latest version. Also keep in mind that some of your extensions will no longer be necessary due the same functionality that is now built into the browser. Feedview is one that comes to mind, as RSS/Atom feed preview is now part of the core functionality of the browser (on top of some other exciting features for subcribing to new feeds).

Sep·14·2006: Firefox 1.5.0.7 is a security and stability update that is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience and they recommended all users should upgrade to the latest version.

Aug·2·2006: Firefox 1.5.0.6 is a stability update that fixes an issue with playing Windows Media content. It is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe and stable Internet experience and they recommended all users should upgrade to the latest version.

Jul·27·2006: Firefox 1.5.0.5 is a security and stability update and includes changes to the Frisian locale (fy-NL). It is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience and they recommended all users should upgrade to the latest version.

Jun·1·2006: Firefox 1.5.0.4 is a security and stability update that is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience and they recommended all users should upgrade to the latest version.

May·2·2006: Firefox 1.5.0.3 is a security update that is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience and they recommended all users should upgrade to the latest version.

Apr·13·2006: Firefox 1.5.0.2 is a stability and security update that is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience and they recommend all users upgrade to the latest version. Also notable in this release is native support for Mac OS X running Intel Core processors.

Mar·31·2006: Today marks 8 years since Netscape opened their source code, jumpstarting Mozilla.org and the eventual creation of Firefox. Thanks Netscape! More information and links are available on my blog.

Mar·21·2006: The Mozilla team has been hard at work on the latest version of Firefox (2.0). Code named Bon Echo, today they released the first alpha version of the browser for testing and evaluation. Read more about it at on my blog under the post Bon Echo Alpha 1 Released.

Feb·1·2006: Firefox 1.5.0.1 is a stability and security update that is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience, and they recommend all users upgrade to the latest version.

Nov·30·2005: I am glad to announce, on behalf of Mozilla.org, the official release of Firefox 1.5. This is a big upgrade, and you should seriously consider installing it whether you are a long-time user or new to Firefox. Lots more information can be found at blogZero, posted as Firefox 1.5 is Official.

Nov·9·2005: Happy Birthday Firefox!

Sep·19·2005: Firefox Surpasses 100 Million Downloads!

Aug·15·2005: Please take your stats with a grain of salt: Firefox Market Share Shrinks!.

Jul·21·2005: mozilla.org has revised their version numbering system and roadmap for Firefox. What this boils down to is 1.1 as alpha releases (current), followed by 1.4 (Deer Park beta in August), followed by Deer Park (1.5 final) in September. Confused?
Jul·20·2005: Due to changes in the API in 1.0.5 that broke some extensions, mozilla.org is now suggesting you upgrade to Firefox Release 1.0.6. I wanted to take a moment here and share with my visitors the policy I have on all of these releases, perhaps you can benefit from this advice. I always wait at least a few days before installing them for this very reason. In fact, I’m still running 1.0.4. I rely on a many Firefox extensions for productivity, and until I’m sure the latest version of the browser is stable, I remain patient so I can avoid these pitfalls. Not to mention their servers are getting slammed in the first day or two after a release announcement anyway.
Jul·14·2005: mozilla.org has released another security update: Firefox Release 1.0.5. Deer Park aka Firefox 1.1 is now in beta and should be out very soon. Firefox surpasses 70 million downloads. Wow.
Jul·10·2005: Firefox rolls in as #4 in the CNET Top 10 downloads of the past 10 years.
May·13·2005: mozilla.org has released another security update: Firefox Release 1.0.4
May·7·2005: If you’re interested in what is in the near future, have a look at this Firefox 1.1 Preview.
Apr·29·2005: Watch that counter folks, we should be hitting 50 million very, very soon!
Apr·18·2005: BoingBong: Firefox is #1!
Apr·17·2005: mozilla.org has another: Firefox Release 1.0.3
Apr·12·2005: By linking this URI: http://houseofdesign.de/cgi-bin/firefox/logo.cgi?s=2
to an image, you can add a dynamic Firefox download counter like this one: Oops, apparently this counter is now MIA. I will have to try and find another one.
Mar·23·2005: mozilla.org today releases Firefox Release 1.0.2. This is another security and stability release. All users are encouraged to download and install it.
Mar·13·2005: Asa Dotzler defends mozilla.org’s decision to concentrate on Firefox development in his blog entry: My seamonkey past and future. You have to respect a guy that put that much effort into the Mozilla Suite.
Mar·8·2005: I can’t think of a better place to keep track of what’s new with Firefox development than Ben Goodger’s (lead engineer for Mozilla Firefox) own blog: the Inside Track on Firefox Development.
Mar·7·2005: Whoa! I don’t like the sound of this, mozillanews.org reports there may be no Mozilla Suite 1.8 Final: Seamonkey’s Fate Unclear.
Mar·6·2005: Nice introduction, background and history from howstuffworks.com: How Firefox Works.
Feb·24·2005: The Mozilla Foundation (mozilla.org) announces a Firefox Update. Version 1.0.1 is a security update, and all Firefox users are encouraged to download and install it.
Feb·22·2005: vnunet.com reports that Firefox Hits 25 million downloads.
Feb·3·2005: Interesting article from Westciv titled: Tipping Firefox across the Chasm.
Jan·26·2005: Breaking news from Wired magazine: the Firefox Explosion.
Dec·19·2004: WebSideStory Press Release on Firefox’s Market Share.