Test Dozens of Browsers All At Once

Posted by Jonathan Allen on Jun 08, 2007

Sections

Architecture & Design,

Development,

Enterprise Architecture

Topics

Ruby ,

Design ,

.NET ,

Debugging ,

Java ,

Web 2.0

Tags

Java EE ,

ASP.NET ,

Rails

A new project called Browsershots allows web designers to see what their site looks like in a multitude of browsers and platforms with a trivial amount of effort.

When you go to Browsershots, all you have to do is enter a website and check the browsers you want to test. It supports 31 Linux browsers, 6 Windows browsers, and 2 Macintosh browsers. These counts include both variants such as MSIE 6 and 7 as well as rare browsers such as Iceweasel and SeaMonkey.

A collection of computers running the various operating systems and browsers open the provided site and take screen shots. These are then presented to the designer, if he is patient enough to wait for them.

A serious problem with Browsershots is that it can literally take hours to get back all of the screenshots. There is a publically available queue to let you know where you are in line, but unless it is really short you should use the maximum timeout on your request. Currently that is 4 hours.

The service currently describes itself as a Technology Preview and is free of charge.

1. Back to top

   (subjects for comments are lame)

   by ℙ∊ŗⓁƏ ̯̯̯̯̯̯̯

   Umm, Browsershots is at least 2 years old... it's been a "technology preview" for that entire time. Not to say it's not cool.

   Reply

2. Back to top

   browsercam

   by Simon Groenewolt

   I've always used www.browsercam.com/ for that - but you'll have to pay after the trial period (of only 24 hours).
   
   A problem with screenschots is that you can see what it looks like, but not if the interactive parts will work - which could be a problem if you use javascript.

   Reply

3. Back to top

   Totally off topic...

   by Bruce Rennie

   But 31 browsers for Linux !?!?!? Too funny.

   Reply

• Older >