One of the things that I have come to dislike in recent versions of the Firefox web browser is the redesigned addon manager that Mozilla implemented some time ago. The core reason for the disliking is how the information are presented on the screen. This may not be a issue if you have a handful of add-ons installed in Firefox, but if you are working with dozens, you will notice that the screen estate, even on large computer monitors, is not sufficient to display them all at once on the screen. This basically means that you need to scroll in the addon manager which in turn reduces the overview and manageability significantly.
I have reviewed two extensions for the web browser in the past that deal with addon manager issues. The first, Firefox 4 Slim Add-on Manager has been discontinued some time after it was published by its author. The second,
As you can see, everything is lined up in a single row, with all functionalities still in place and directly accessible.
I’d estimate that you can display 30 or more extensions without scrolling in the addon manager with the help of the extension. Keep in mind though that this depends solely on your monitor’s display resolution.
Cleanest Addon Manager is a useful extension for Firefox users who have that many addons installed in the browser that they need to scroll to access them all.
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Responses so far:Midnight says:
One thing about Firefox add ons, that most users are aware of, or should be, is the more add ons you install, will affect the Browser’s performance, speed wise, therefore I have always made it a habit to limit the amount to less than 12.
Firefox is pretty much feature rich, only requiring basic add ons that enhance the Browser, without slowing it down.
Installing 30 or more add ons kind of defeats the purpose, then people wonder why the Browser is slow booting up and doesn’t perform as it should.
I use Slim Add on Manager to keep the real estate nice and neat, meaning no scrolling is required to view them all. :)
I try to keep the add-on count as low as possible.
Whatever I am trying, can not limit them to less than 70. :) I am serious.
I tried to minimize the count as well, but it’s impossible. I have 30 addons installed. I often move up and down the list, but almost each one is a must have to me. At least I’m not wondering about the browser being a little slower :D
Slim Add-ons Manager 9
Two comments, the second being a nod to Boris -
1 ‘Cleanest Add-on Manager’ has been all pro, no con. It’s been in my Firefox configuration for quite some time.
2 A lot of very handy add-ons seem to be pretty minor. I suppose I could be mistaken, but it looks like these featurettes wouldn’t use any RAM or anything unless they are in use performing their action(s) in that moment. Examples – Close Button; Copy Link Text; Copy Pure Text; deskCut; Menu Editor; OPML Support; RemoveTabs; Toggle Private Browsing; xclear – and I’ve made no claim to a complete list of this type of thing. The point is, some arbitrary limit on how many add-ons I have has never been my approach. But sure, I do watch what happens when I add a new one… if there’s a slowdown or other problem, I reconsider that one add-on.
Regarding “Toggle Private Browsing”: What’s the point of an addon for Ctrl-Shift-P?
I add this a while ago, it pretty cool
I’m using 40 add-ons right now.
‘Too many add-ons can slow down your Firefox’ that’s ridiculous, everyone has to have a ‘unit converter’ and an ‘integrated Google map’ or a ‘Youtube quality managed’ that sometimes doesn’t word at your disposal.
I read a while ago that Mozilla was planning on releasing a feature that would tell users exactly how much juice their add-ons are using up which I’m looking forward to but they still haven’t release that.
It’s not ridiculous, but a fact!
Check the Mozilla site and read for yourself. They recommend to keep the Add ons to a minimum to enhance the speed and performance!
If you don’t believe me, then believe the developers!!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Neighbor-Man says:I think ‘Slim Add-ons Manager 9′ should be on this list as well.
@Midnight
Oh no I believe you.
lol. I’m a bit of add-on hoarder myself, I like to pop into the add-on site to see what they’ve got on offer.
i think i have read once that for every add-on you have integrated into Firefox the boot time is bogged by a second (30 add-ons = 30 seconds), don’t take my word on that though.
I wish the developers could make their add-ons more efficient because adds-ons are really handy, I would also like to know why those add-ons guzzle so much juice.
I read that an add-on such as ‘FoxClock’ which simply tells you what time it is around the world apparently wastes quite a considerable amount of system resources.
Aaaaaah! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Mozilla’s design team is screwing up their browser by emulating Chrome. If i want Chrome, I’ll use it, but I will not use a Chrome substitute branded with Firefox. The tipping point for moving to Chrome as primary browser is approaching.
In Nightly, they now have a preference to make Options an ugly, unusable tab, much like the Add-on Manager. If they force that as default/only mode, that could be the last straw.
These slim view addons are nice! There are alternatives for those of us that have Stylish already installed – http://userstyles.org/styles/42112/firefox-4-or-newer-compact-addons-manager is my favourite :-)
