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Early Progress in the Use of Firefox as a Semantic Web PlatformThe other day I posted a general status and statistical report on the growth and implications of Firefox extensions. This post presents more than 30 of those nearly 3,000 extensions that may have usefulness in areas related to the semantic Web. I welcome any additions.
These same extensions have also been added to an update of the Sweet Tools listing, which has now grown to more than 350 tools.
Please note that because the spreadsheet is hosted by Google, you must copy the URL to your address bar rather than clicking directly (direct clicking is anticipated in future versions of the Google spreadsheet; now works):
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AqUZpo78do-GcEdGU1NTWk1nUU56ZVBGbjc0LTJ4TlE&hl=en
I should mention that I have seen some commentary within the semantic Web community of the desirability of compiling “best of” or “Top X” tools listings for the semantic Web. While such lists have their place, they are no substitute for comprehensive listings. First, semantic tools are still in their infancy and it is premature to bestow “best of” in most categories. Second, many practitioners, such as me, are working to extend and improve existing tools. This requires more comprehensive listings, not narrower ones. And, last, what may ultimately contribute to semantic meaning on the Internet may well extend beyond semantic Web tools, strictly defined. An ivory tower focus on purity is not the means to encourage experimentation and innovation. Many Web 2.0 initiatives, including tagging and social collaboration, may very well point to more effective nucleation points for expanding semantic Web efforts than W3C-compliant efforts.
These are some of the reasons that I have been happy to include simple Firefox extensions or relatively narrow format converters for my listings. Who knows? You never know when and where you might find a gem! (And I’m not speaking solely of Ruby!)
[...] Again, using Mozilla data, extension downloads are on the order of 3 million per week, or nearly one extension per standard Firefox download. These extensions are growing in popularity and ubiquity and some users have documented adding 200 or more extension to their basic Firefox package. (Of course, such numbers are absurd per user, and rational means for managing and organizing multiple extensions are also emerging.) Indeed, I will shortly publish another list of about 30 extensions of specific benefit to semantic Web browsing and tasks. Extension bundles of benefit to every need and interest can easily be found. [...]