“Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark of spirit, compassion, love, and understanding.” (Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.)
Web development tools are a group of tools which enable developers to debug and test the codes that they have written and produced. Web Development tools differ from the common website builders and IDEs in the fact that these tools do not help in the direct creation of a webpage instead, these tools are used for testing the user sided interface of a website or an application. Web development trends provide associated information about web development tools.
Web development tools mainly come as add-ons, extensions or built-in features of the common web browsers. The commonly used web browsers like Safari, Opera, Google Chrome and Firefox; they come with built-in features that mainly aim at helping web developers. Many additional downloads can also be found for these web browsers in their respective plugin download centers.
The main function of these web development tools is the fact that these tools allow developers to work with a huge array of web technologies ranging all the way from CSS to JavaScript and other various small components which are handled by the Web Browser. Due to the increase in expectations from web browsers to perform in every category, web browsers are now getting geared with additional web tools to aid the developer’s community.
The top five web browsers have built-in support for web development tools which allow web developers and designers to take a look at the make-up of their web pages. These tools are all built-in to the web browser and do not require the user to go through the hassle of adding additional plugins and modules or changing the configuration of the browser.
Google Chrome -Web Developer Tools
Internet Explorer - F12 Web Developer Tools (As of version 8)
Safari - Safari Web Development Tools (As of version 3)
Firefox - Web Developer Toolbar
Opera - Opera Dragonfly
The built-in tools can be commonly accessed by hovering through to the elements of a web page and selecting the “Inspect Element” or any similar option from the context menu. Alternatively the F12 key functions as another common shortcut.
The common features included in the Web Development Tools are:
HTML and DOM viewer and editor
HTML and DOM viewing and editing feature is commonly included in the built in web development tools. The difference between HTML and DOM viewer and the “view source” option is the fact that the former allows you to see how DOM was rendered and in addition to that it also allows you to make changes in the HTML and DOM values. Once the changes are made, they will be reflected on the page and allow you to assess it properly. In addition to viewing and editing, HTML element panels will also display properties of the DOM object such as display dimension and the CSS properties.
JavaScript Debugging
JavaScript Debugging is another feature commonly included in the web development tools. Web development tools commonly include a panel which allows developers to debug scripts and add watch expressions, breakpoints, step over, step into and other functions.
A JavaScript console is also included which lets developers type in commands, call functions and view errors which might occur during the execution of the script.
Extensions and Plugins
Present-day web browsers also allow and support the addition of plugins and extensions which augments the functionality of the web development tools. There are many popular plugins available which add many extra features that allow disabling of JavaScript and CSS and editing of cookies.
“Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” (George Herbert)
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