Smarterware

Updates to Better Gmail 2 and Better GReader Now Available

Just posted updates to two of my Firefox extensions: Better Gmail 2 and Better GReader.

Better Gmail 2 users can now enjoy the new Hide Labels in Message Row script (which hides labels until you roll over the message), and a Hide Spam Count update that doesn't underline the Spam link when you have themes enabled. Bettter GReader users will like that the Preview Item script no longer conflicts with Google Reader's new notes capability; and Show Feed Favicons has been fixed (for Firefox 3.1 users only). Both extensions are now fully Firefox 3.1 compatible, no hacks required. I'm not going to open comments on this post--if you've got questions or feedback, join the Better Firefox Extensions mailing list, which is happily going strong. I've submitted both new versions to Mozilla Add-ons for approval as well. Enjoy the updates and fixes!

Greasemonkey Multi-Script Compiler Released (Programmers Only)

The code that generates my series of "Better" Firefox extensions--Better Gmail 2, Better GReader, Better Amazon, and the rest--is now publicly available.

The Greasemonkey Multi-Script Compiler (GMSC) is based heavily on Anthony Lieuallen’s Greasemonkey (single) script compiler. Unlike Lieuallen's compiler, which is web-based, you've got to download GMSC, set up your user scripts by hand, and run the compiler from the command line. (It's PHP and bash, so Windows users, you need something like Cygwin to use this.) I've posted a first draft of the user guide in the wiki, and intend to flesh it out as folks start trying it out and asking questions.

I've been building and using GMSC to generate and update the Better extensions for over two years now, but since it started out as a set of quick and dirty for-my-eyes-only scripts, it's still very rough around the edges. I'm nervous about putting it out there for public consumption, but my hope is that better programmers than I am will start forking the GitHub repository and helping improve things. Eventually I'd like to release an easy-to-use webapp that lets anyone compile a custom extension with multiple user scripts and skins and a tabbed options dialog. We'll see how it goes!

In the meantime, hardy PHP programmers with an interest in giving it a try can find it on GitHub: Greasemonkey Multi-Script Compiler.

Many thanks to all the Greasemonkey programmers and especially Anthony Lieuallen, not only for building the extension and the compiler, but for open-sourcing it. Without their work, schmoes like me would never be able to build Firefox extensions so easily.

Better Gmail 2 Fixes Now Available

Google rolled out some changes to the HTML that runs Gmail in the last few days that rendered several of Better Gmail 2's features completely busted. (Yes, that's the technical term).

So I just posted a quick fix-it version 0.7.3.1, which includes changes from the very speedy and helpful Arend von Reinersdorff. (Arend is responsible for Better Gmail 2's most popular features, Folders4Gmail and Hide Spam Count, and I know--because users flip out the moment they stop working. Thanks, Arend.)

Sadly I had to remove several scripts which have not yet been updated to work with Gmail's new markup. Update, Thursday, March 5th: All scripts have been fixed in version 0.7.3.2, which is available now! Thanks for your help.

In the meantime, download the new fix-it version 0.7.3.2 using the Download button on the right, from Better Gmail 2's homepage, or just using Firefox's Add-on boxes' "Find Updates" button. Thanks for your patience with the broken features the last couple of days.

Better Gmail 2 Gets Unread Message Favicon (and Cleaned Up)

Minutes ago I posted an update to the Better Gmail 2 Firefox extension, which adds all sorts of functionality to Gmail. Since Gmail Labs launched, there's been less of a need for Better Gmail 2 features--so this revision clears out a lot of redundant stuff and pares things down to the items Google doesn't offer (yet?).

My favorite addition to this new version 0.7.3 is the awesome Unread Message Count in Favicon script, which adds that helpful little red unread message count to your Gmail tab's favicon (shown above). Note: A similar script which includes chat alerts is Gmail FavIcon Alerts, which I'll try to get permission to include in future Better Gmail 2 versions.

Download the latest version of the extension using the button here, or hit the homepage to see the changelog for the nuts and bolts of what was added, removed, and updated.