SitePoint's amazing reference add-on CodeBurner is breaking free from FireBug and later this week, it will become a full-fledged FireFox add-on. CodeBurner provides reference material for HTML and CSS such as syntax, code samples, live demos, and browser compatibility information all in a handy dock at the bottom of the browser and can also be a window on it's own.

[caption id="attachment_717" align="alignnone" width="718" caption="The new main window"][/caption]

The reference material is linked to SitePoint's Reference page. Clicking on a more link will open up a new browser window/tab for that item.

[caption id="attachment_715" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="The Reference Page"][/caption]

The new plug-in will continue to hook into the DOM crumbtrail, adding options to look up a selected item (ie. search for it in the Reference panel) or to view a sample code example.

[caption id="attachment_716" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="The new DOM view"][/caption]

Advantages over the FireBug version

• Specialized interface gives more room for the reference information
• works in Firefox 2 and has no other dependencies
• The new DOM can load any web site for referencing. Not just the current site. You don't have to leave your current site to do your research.
• No longer requires you to have FireBug installed.

Disadvantages over the FireBug version

• No longer follows the FireBug inspector.

The new FireFox plug-in is much easier to launch. Instead of going to FireBug then selecting the Reference Tab, now you can just simply click on the CodeBurner icon.

Final Thoughts

With the FireBug version recently selected as one of the 13 Firefox Add-ons For Web Development, and the new FireFox version will be no exception. A web development reference resource just got better. There's absolutely no need for those HTML and CSS Cheatsheets with CodeBurner at your fingertips. Searching through a PDF or printout takes so much longer than simply opening up CodeBurner and using it's brilliant search capabilities. Be sure to catch the new FireFox edition of the CodeBurner and get a free eBook Build Your Own Firefox Add-on later this week!