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.