14 DAY TRIAL // Planning, debugging, writing declarative content (HTML/CSS), scripting and monitoring network traffic are all aspects and tasks inherent with the web developing process. John Hrvatin, Internet Explorer Program Manager has posted a list of seven web development tools designed to streamline creation and enable increased productivity. Hrvatin presented the list included in this article at Microsoft TechEd 2007 in Orlando.
"These lightweight tools don't provide full-featured authoring or deployment environments like Visual Studio or Expression Web, but do offer significant benefits: data comes directly from the browser so you see the browser's interpretation of the site instead of your own or the tool's, data reflects current site content rather than original since script may have modified the page, no round-tripping between Internet Explorer and a separate application and (you can) learn quickly because it's easy to install, load, and then inspect any site, not just one you authored," Hrvatin revealed.
Ajax View is the only tool not available yet, but just keep an eye opened, it will be worth it. Ajax View, according to its description, will instrument JavaScript in order to capture profiling data. The tool will act as a proxy either client or server side, between the web server and the browser.
Fiddler has made it to build 2 of the Fiddler Debugging proxy. It will help developers debug HTTP traffic for Internet Explorer. However, the tool is not limited to IE and can be used in concordance with Mozilla Firefox, Opera, etc.
The Web Development Helper has something to offer for both Ajax/JavaScript (client-side script-based) development but also for ASP.NET development. Worth your while for its tracing capabilities alone. DebugBar, like the Web Development Helper is also an Internet Explorer plug-in. This tool brings to the table a DOM inspector, a HTTP inspector and a JavaScript inspector along with a HTML validator.
IEWatch will deliver in your hands tools created to provide an insight into web pages. However, the IE plug-in will also offer not only the means to modify content, but also HTTP and HTTPS traffic debuggers, JavaScript and Ajax testing capabilities along with quality evaluation.
IE Developer Toolbar is a tool delivered directly by Microsoft, along with Visual Web Developer Express. The fact that both are free recommends them for your library of web development tools.