After I praised Flashblock, a few people wrote in to suggest other handy Firefox extensions. Here's the list of what I've installed now to increase my browser joy:

  • Flashblock: Replaces Flash objects with a button you can click to view them (or NOT click to NOT view them, which is my favorite bit).
  • Dict: Right-click any word to query its definition. Best of all, this uses the DICT protocol, so it's fast and text-only (unlike rival options which open graphics laden dictionary web pages).
  • Go Up: Press alt + up arrow to remove the last segment from an URL. (example.com/one/two.html changes to example.com/one/)
  • ImgTag: Right-click an image to generate an xhtml <img> tag for it, including path, height, width, border, and a blank alt tag ready to be filled in. Big time-saver for web development.
  • Disable Targets For Downloads: Zaps those annoying target="_blank" links for file downloads from sites that obviously hate their visitors. I've added PDF to the list of extensions it guards. I'll probably add HTML next.
  • BugMeNot: Bypass web registration, and rejoice.
  • Download Statusbar: Downloads are displayed in an auto-hide status bar, which I find more convenient than a separate downloads window.
  • FLST: Focus on the last selected tab when a tab closes.
  • Nuke Anything: Allow hiding of almost anything with a click, for those times when a "block images from this server" just isn't enough…

There's a good list of Firefox extensions on Texturizer.net, with all of the above plus dozens more.

Song in my head: "Arias & Symphonies" by The Spoons