Microsoft has just released a beta of their new IE Developers Toolbar. The toolbar offers many of the features that can be found in the popular Web Developers Toolbar for Firefox.
Too late Microsoft – as a developer, I’ve already switched to Firefox.
The problem with waiting so long to launch even an excellent product is that it’s much easier to get people to adopt a new product for which there is no comparable alternative than is to get people to actually switch to your offering if it’s late to market. Microsoft doesn’t seem to be able to figure out how to use its size to leverage opportunities to move quicker.
It is a profound shortcoming for bigger companies generally but in the realm of computers and software, where the playing field can change so rapidly, this is an example of how size can put a company at a serious disadvantage.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Why would a developer concerned enough with his code to want to tweak it on the fly, try to tweak it on a platform that doesn’t adhere to standards?
That’s like releasing a device that allows you to synchronize any clock in your house. But instead of synchronizing it to the atomic clock, the device would synchronize it to a cheap LCD wristwatch.
I’m of completely the opposite view. As a developer, I want to make sure that what I build works well in all browsers and any tool that makes my life easier for each or all browsers is highly welcome.
It’s not about making the browser easier to use for day-to-day browsing. It’s about making development easier.
like Jonathan, I think it’s a welcome addition, and like Jim, I feel it’s a little too late; but you know what they say about half-loaves :)
Personally, I would still develop on the mix of tools Firefox allows me, and use the IEView plugin to test for compatibility on IE… I’m too attached to my firefox now :)
I don’t see how this makes your life any easier, Jonathan—as David pointed out, you have a developer’s toolbar that checks for accuracy… in a browser that does not display it accurately. If that’s not a redundant mess, I don’t know what is.
I don’t use the toolbar to check for accuracy. The W3C validator does just fine for checking the accuracy of my code. As for troubleshooting display issues, I fail to see how any toolbar for Firefox or any other browser for that matter would make my life easier for troubleshooting issues in IE. And on the same note, I don’t use the IE toolbar to help me troubleshoot issues in any other browser.
If you’re a developer working on public sites, I’d hate to think you don’t double-check any of your work in IE.