Checking Website Browser and Platform Compatibility
Checking website browser and platform compatibility is key, if you want your site to appeal to the target audiences using them. Since I got a few emails about the topic, both from people asking me what I use and those suggesting their services, following is a list of online and offline tools you can use to check your site
Platform screen-shots and/or ready-made virtual machines
- Net-Renderer - Internet Explorer screenshots.
- Browsrcamp – Mac screenshots. There’s also a paid virtual machines service with a Demo.
- Browsercam – All platforms virtual machines.
- CrossBrowserTesting - All platforms, virtual machines, free for 5 minute sessions. Demo.
- BrowserPool – All platforms, virtual machines, free test account.
- Browsershots – All platforms, screenshots.
- IECapture - Internet Explorer screenshots.
Software
- Just download everything and run from your local machine (example), maybe through using virtual machines (like VMWare).
- Microsoft VNCs.
- Multiple IEs – Internet Explorer installations.
- IETester - Internet Explorer installations. (through TipTrickMod)
- Sizer - Test different resolutions.
I was also made aware of a Smashing Magazine article that has some more details and tools in “Browser Tests, Services and Compatibility Test Suites”. IBM also has a few more in “Cross-browser Web application testing made easy”.
What do you use?
I use IEtab plug-in for Firefox. Allows you to change rendering engine to IE from within Firefox!