Since I've been writing web applications that incorporate AJAX I've been frustrated by the development effort it requires. Specifically I've been frustrated by the debugging process involved.

First, I would use simple javascript alert() statements to see what was going on. Then I discovered Venkman and things got a lot easier. However, going back and forward between browser, debugger and Java IDE things could still get tedious at times.

Finally, this past week I was introduced to a tool that make my AJAX coding a lot easier. The new tool is called Firebug. It is a Firefox plugin and to speak plainly it kicks ass. Out of the box, so to speak, it gives the user a pane inside the Firefox bowser allows a developer to inspect the DOM, HTML and CSS on a page being viewed. It also allows a developer to debug JavaScript when the Venkman plugin is installed and spy on XMLHttpRequest traffic.

Since I was introduced to this tool I've been using it everyday. It is one of those rare tools in your toolbelt that you wonder how you ever lived without it.

Check it out