Comments on: Firebug – Dream or Nightmare?

By: WebMack

WebMack — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:55:39 +0000

Like Joe above mentioned, making things easier for someone with the intention of ripping code is not enough to justify your title ‘dream or nightmare’

By: Devlounge | Friday Focus #8

Devlounge | Friday Focus #8 — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 20:20:48 +0000

[...] Firebug is our tool of the week. It’s a must have Firefox extension for any serious web developer. Pick it up today. [...]

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:33:01 +0000

I very much agree with Ryan. I’ve personally taught myself HTML, CSS, PHP, and now WordPress CMS integration all by viewing code and reading tutorials online. The fact of the matter is that if someone has the will to “rip” a style, they will file thru and find the image links, the css and js files too.

To my understanding, code, is not copyrightable in the sense of markup languages using it to display a page…Clearly if it was, designers would be strapped for creativity.

By: jon

jon — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 07:23:15 +0000

It’s a useful tool for developers, but also those wanting to get up to scratch very quickly with how xhtml and css combine.

Sure, it might encourage some to tweak designs but that’s all part of the learning process. Bottom line: the majority of web users aren’t that interested in code. People wanting to learn CSS will benefit from the insight it gives, but it’s not going to teach you how to design a site from the ground up.

It’s a nifty piece of software.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 05:32:18 +0000

Why is it that most developers are all for open source and sharing code resources and all designers think they have some big magic secret to hide?

I’m sorry but worrying about developers (the people the created CSS) taking your basic CSS code thats easily created within any CSS capable editor is laughable.

The only nightmare for the designer is that one of 1 billion other sites may have a similar style. Oh no!

By: fazel3

fazel3 — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 04:47:29 +0000

No offence but it’s hardly a nightmare for designers. Finding a CSS file is hardly rocket science. I think you might have got a little to carried away there with the article.

It sounds like a neat little tool though.

By: Justin Kistner

Justin Kistner — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:56:24 +0000

Firebug is such a great tool! I can’t believe I ever made websites without it (sorry BBEdit). I’d say the drawbacks to people ripping off code are almost not worth mentioning. If people want to “steal” my code and claim it’s theirs, I don’t care. If I have any sort of reputation in the community, people will know the work is mine. If it’s content they are stealing, I’ll let copyright laws and crawlers work that out.

By: aj

aj — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:01:50 +0000

Sorry about, fixed

Kick ass tool by the way. Maybe you’d be up for an interview right before Parakey launches whenever that might be. Just throwin’ the idea out there

By: Blake

Blake — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 23:51:23 +0000

Thanks for covering Firebug. A clarification about this: “Firebox is built by Parakey Inc, which if you haven’t heard is the source of some web based magic being built by the “Firefox Kid” himself, Blake Ross.”

Joe and I are the cofounders of Parakey, but Joe is the creator of Firebug (not “Firebox” .