Browser suite for developers
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Browser suite for developers

This post is a list of browsers that are good to have installed for testing web sites while developing, including a brief information and download links to major versions. There are a lot of more browsers available, but most of them uses the same core as the major ones. I also posted some info about installing multiple versions which is necessary in most cases to be backwards compatible. I have listed mac OS X first and windows later, and all browsers are sorted by popularity.

Safari

  • Core: webKit / KHTML / Konqueror
  • Multiple installs: Sort of. Use the latest webKit nightly build instead of the public download.
  • Archive: not available.
  • Download links:
    • Safari 1
    • Safari 2 (Install from CD’s or run the uninstaller in the version 3 package)
    • Safari 3 Nightly Builds

Firefox

  • Core: Gecko
  • Multiple installs: Yes. Set different profiles for each version. More explained here.
  • Archive: link (version 1 not included)
  • Download links:
    • Firefox 1
    • Firefox 1.5
    • Firefox 2

Internet Explorer

  • Core: Tasman
  • Multiple installs: no (deprecated browser)
  • Archive: link
  • Download links:
    • Internet Explorer 5

Opera

  • Core: Presto layout engine
  • Multiple installs: yes
  • Archive: link.
  • Download links:
    • Opera 9
    • Opera 8
    • Opera 7.5
    • Opera 6

Netscape

  • Core: version 9 and up uses Gecko, 6 and 7 uses the Mozilla Application Suite. Version 8 is not available for OS X.
  • Multiple installs: Yes
  • Archive: link
  • Download links:
    • Netscape 9
    • Netscape 7
    • Netscape 6

Internet Explorer

  • Core: Trident
  • Multiple installs: yes. Install version 7 and then the Multiple IE application from Tredosoft.
  • Archive: link
  • Download links:
    • IE 7
    • Multiple IE version 3-6

Firefox

  • Core: Gecko
  • Multiple installs: yes, but you can’t run them simultaneously. Set different profiles for each versions like explained here.
  • Archive: link (version 1 not included).
  • Download links:
    • Firefox 1
    • Firefox 1.5
    • Firefox 2.0

Opera

  • Core: Presto layout engine
  • Multiple installs: yes
  • Archive: link
  • Download links:
    • Opera 9
    • Opera 8
    • Opera 7
    • Opera 6

Netscape

  • Core: version 8 and up uses Gecko, 6 and 7 uses the Mozilla Application Suite.
  • Multiple installs: Yes
  • Archive: link
  • Download links:
    • Netscape 9
    • Netscape 8
    • Netscape 7
    • Netscape 6

Personally, I have all of the browsers above installed on two machines. Depending on the project, I focus on maybe three or four of them but I still check the site in all just to make sure it can be readable. Some projects like public sector sites demands a higher consistency and that’s when this list is indespensable.