When developing an e-commerce website, whether you are using Magento or creating a completely bespoke system or even if you are simply making a php-based website, you are always in need of the right tools. When you have the right tools you can do the job better, faster and stronger…maybe not stronger but you get my point. Without these tools you will find yourself lagging behind and getting increasing frustrated with the complexity that is ecommerce website design.

Here on our Magento Blog we aim to help people in all aspects of ecommerce design, whether this is from simple php tips to custom magento attribute callout thingymajigs, we couldn’t have done it without our favourite two developer tools.

One of these you will know – one you may not. Both are highly recommended. Both are free.

FireBug – For Firefox

Every Web developer who uses Firefox knows of the BUG. The big bad bug that makes developing websites that much easier. Firebug gives you a great advantage when designing websites. Including inline element checking, css editing and an in-depth error console. When it comes to php development make sure you check out FirePHP meant for AJAX development (also commonly used in shops).

There is little in this world that can rival the firebug for its expertise in finding our mistakes. No matter how hard you code or how hard you style a site – the bug will always tell you how it is, no sugar coating and no kind words – just the cold hard truth of the matter. Which is exactly how we should take it.

Use this in conjunction with the firefox web developer toolbar and you are laughing!

Web Developer – For Chrome

Not often we give Google chrome a mention…it’s not a bad browser – in fact it is really really good! But it takes an awful lot to nudge our foxy fox from the top spot and I’m not talking about Magento Fox, no, Firefox has been a firm favorite of a lot of peoples computers for the past few years – the fact that it is free and cross-compatible makes it even more popular with the masses.

Web Developer takes into account all of FireBugs features and then some – with a menu that is as clear as crystal. You know what you are getting with Web Developer and I strongly suggest you give it a try. Everything from disabling stylesheets to clearing forms, you can do it all! Edit CSS on the fly and test your browser in different resolutions. All is possible with the Web Developer Extension for Chrome. It is like having all the best features of FireBug combined with the web developer toolbar in one easy installation.

So why doesn’t anyone use it? I personally have no idea – it must be us clingers who prefer the old FireFox to the Shiny Chrome browser…will we ever change our minds or are we simply too wrapped up in the comfort security and simplicity of our beloved fox?