GreaseMonkey is a Firefox extension that allows you to insert javascript into any web site you browse to in order to customize the interface or add/remove/change functionality.
I’ve known of its existence for a long time, but I’ve never used it, despite my interest and experience with javascript. A recent change in iGoogle gadget functionality made me take another look, and now I’m hooked.
GreaseMonkey is not complicated, like I assumed. It’s simple. Very few API functions to learn, and you don’t even need to learn them to do most things. If you know enough about javascript, you can be up and running in no time.
Once its installed, I found the GreaseFire extension is also useful. It keeps a local database of GreaseMonkey scripts from userscripts.org and lets you know if there are any existing scripts available for the sites you are viewing.
For my first proof of concept, I created a user script for Facebook that will pin the notifications window to the upper right corner for easy access. No need to go down and click on it when it’s red. The script can be accessed here:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/46272
Most scripts out there are primitive, from what I can tell. The first thing I looked for was an existing library to easily manage user preferences, so a single script could offer the user multiple options. For example, what to hide, what to show, colors to use, etc. Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything that already existed, so I guess I’ll have to build my own. Maybe.
I also assumed there would be an easy way to upload and maintain scripts on userscripts.org, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case. It’s manual upload, so if I update my local version I have to go in and manually update the site. What a pain! Hopefully someone will improve this so updates to local scripts can be mirrored to the repository quickly and easily.
I’ll post more as I create them, I assume. I have more ideas for Facebook and for iGoogle, for sure…
I’ve officially started tweeting (username – @matt_kruse) if for no other reason than to stay current with web trends and pop culture. I also created a short presentation that I will use to introduce some others to the joy that is Twitter.
Like many Firefox users, I have a number of add-ons installed that customize the browser and make my work/browsing easier. Since these are very useful to me, I thought I would share my list in case anyone is interested in trying them out.