Tools for Internet Explorer

Sites often behave differently in IE than in other web browsers, so having debugging tools for this platform is important.

Microsoft Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar

The Developer Toolbar primarily provides a view of the DOM tree for a web page. Elements can be located visually, and modified on the fly with new CSS rules. It also provides other miscellaneous development aids, such as a ruler for measuring page elements:

• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e59c3964-672d-4511-bb3e-2d5e1db91038

Microsoft Visual Web Developer

Microsoft’s Visual Studio package can be used to inspect and debug JavaScript code:

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vwd/

To run the debugger interactively in the free version (Visual Web Developer Express), follow the process outlined here:

• http://www.berniecode.com/blog/2007/03/08/how-to-debug-javascript-with-visual-web-developer-express/

DebugBar

The DebugBar provides a DOM inspector as well as a JavaScript console for debugging:

• http://www.debugbar.com/

Drip

Memory leaks in JavaScript code can cause performance and stability issues for Internet Explorer. Drip helps to detect and isolate these memory issues:

• http://Sourceforge.net/projects/ieleak/

To learn more about a common cause of Internet Explorer memory leaks, see Appendix C, JavaScript Closures.