Safari For Windows: Best Extensions For Developers

Even though Safari for Windows is not receiving updates, it used to be a favored option for developers looking for a fast and efficient browser. Its distinct characteristics and compatibility with macOS made it a valuable asset for web development. Despite its short existence, Safari for Windows provided a variety of extensions that greatly improved the development process.

Apple’s Safari for Windows was an effort to introduce their browser to the Windows platform. Even though it is no longer officially backed, numerous developers previously used it for its distinct characteristics and compatibility with macOS. This manual delves into extensions that improve development tasks, helping with everything from debugging to performance analysis.

The top extensions for Safari on Windows were designed specifically for developers’ requirements. From tools for fixing errors to ensuring accessibility, these extensions offer the necessary features to help develop top-notch web apps. If performance is the priority, web standards compliance, or accessibility, an extension is available to assist with streamlining the workflow. Although modern browsers have improved, knowing how the tools are used to enhance Safari for Windows can still benefit developers aiming to improve their work on all platforms.

This article will help to explore more about Safari for Windows, followed by features of Safari for Windows, various advantages and disadvantages, and lastly, it will help to understand how Safari for Windows is the best extension for developers.

Understanding Safari for Windows

The Safari for Windows version was initially launched on June 11, 2007, and has been compatible with all subsequent OS versions after the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2. Nevertheless, assistance for this Windows browser has been terminated. The final version for Windows was Safari 5.1.7, which was released on May 9, 2012.

Safari is an Apple web browser that doesn’t cost anything. The software product offers users all the essential tools for fast and secure internet browsing. At one point in time, Safari for Windows was among the top web browsers used on the OS.

Safari for Windows was unveiled during the Worldwide Developers Conference in 2007. Once Safari was launched, Apple Software Update automatically chose Safari for installation, labeling it as a “Recommended” program, bundled with QuickTime and iTunes for Windows. By default, the option to install Safari was selected when users manually ran the updater. John Lilly, the then-CEO of Mozilla, was critical of this, describing it as being close to practices of distributing malware. In 2008, Apple Software Update no longer automatically installed new software but still included Safari in the list of available programs. Safari for Windows was no longer supported after version 5.1.7, which came out in May 2012.

Features of Safari for Windows as the best extension for developers

Although it’s important to remember that Safari extensions are primarily meant for macOS and iOS environments, the web browser does contain some useful extensions for developers. Previous versions of Safari for Windows were not compatible with Windows, as Safari for Windows was terminated after version 5.1.7. On the other hand, when it comes to Safari on macOS or iOS, the following features and extensions may be helpful to developers:

• Web Inspector:

The Web Inspector is one of the most useful built-in developer tools in Safari for troubleshooting and examining web pages. Developers can use it to examine and alter the DOM, monitor network traffic, troubleshoot JavaScript, examine CSS styles, and more.

• Safari add-ons for macOS and iOS:

For Vue.js developers, Vue.js Devtools: Provides the ability to examine Vue components using Safari’s developer tools.

• Redux DevTools: Monitors state changes over time to assist in debugging Redux applications.
• JSONView: Facilitates the reading and debugging of JSON responses from APIs by formatting and highlighting JSON documents right within Safari.
• AdGuard or uBlock Origin: AdGuard and uBlock Origin are two ad blockers that developers can use to test their web apps in an environment free of advertisements.
• React Developer Tools: Devtools for React applications that are comparable to Vue.js Devtools.
• User-Agent Switcher: Developers can test how webpages display on various devices by swapping the user agent with the help of the User-Agent Switcher.
• Pinned Tabs:

Developers who frequently want quick access to particular websites or web apps may find Safari’s tab-pinning feature especially helpful.

• Reader Mode:

Although not a development tool, Safari’s Reader Mode is useful for removing distractions from the text of an article or documentation.

• Privacy and Security:

Developers who are worried about user privacy and security may want to take into account Safari’s well-known privacy features, like Intelligent Tracking Prevention.

Advantages of Safari for Windows as the best extension for developers

Because Apple stopped Safari on Windows several years ago, it has generally been less popular among developers than alternative browsers like Chrome or Firefox. But if we were to talk about the potential benefits of Safari for Windows as a developer extension, we might discuss the following:

• Browser testing: On macOS and iOS devices, Safari is the default browser. When creating web applications for these platforms, developers must make sure they function properly on Safari. Developers could test their websites and online apps in a setting akin to that of macOS users if Safari was available on Windows.
• Development of WebKit: Safari utilizes WebKit for its rendering. For developers looking to contribute to or better understand WebKit features, optimizations, or bugs, having Safari on Windows could be helpful for testing and debugging.
• Familiarity with the ecosystem: Developers who are already accustomed to Safari on macOS might choose to use the same browser on Windows to maintain consistency in their browsing experience and access to debugging tools.
• Feature specificity: Safari’s distinct features or behaviors can be valuable to consider and utilize in web development, particularly when catering to a Safari-dominant user base.

It is essential to mention that Apple no longer provides official support or maintenance for Safari for Windows, the most recent update. Developers usually use macOS or remote testing services with Safari installed to conduct testing on Safari. For daily development and troubleshooting tasks, browsers such as Chrome and Firefox provide extensive toolsets and developer-friendly extensions/plugins.

Disadvantages of Safari for Windows as the best extension for developers

As compared to other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, Safari for Windows has fewer features and less strong support, which might be a drawback when using it as the main browser for developers. Here are a few particular disadvantages:

• Outdated version: Since 2012, Safari for Windows is no longer subject to active development or updates. This indicates that it is incompatible with a large number of current web standards and technologies used by developers.
• Restricted developer tools: Compared to Chrome or Firefox, Safari’s developer tools are less feature-rich and easier to use. They might not have all the functionality developers require for testing, performance profiling, and debugging.
• Compatibility issues: Safari may act differently in certain cases from other browsers, especially the most recent versions when it comes to websites and web applications. This may result in more time being needed for debugging and cross-browser testing.
• Security Issues: Using an out-of-date browser version may leave users and developers vulnerable to security flaws that haven’t been fixed. When working on projects that call for secure development standards, this is particularly dangerous.

Techniques used by developers to enhance Safari for Windows as the best extension for developers

In contrast to other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, Safari for Windows no longer obtains active support from Apple, and therefore does not have a contemporary ecosystem of extensions. As such, developers cannot install typical “extensions” to improve Safari for Windows. However, while utilizing Safari for Windows or testing, developers can enhance their workflow by utilizing the following common tools and techniques:

Remote debugging on macOS: Safari on macOS can be used for testing and development if one has access to a macOS device or a Mac virtual machine. Strong developer tools i.e. Web Inspector are built into Safari on macOS and are indispensable for debugging JavaScript, examining HTML and CSS, keeping an eye on network activities, and other tasks.

Safari technology preview: Apple provides developers with a preview version of Safari to test new web technologies and features. Despite being primarily available for macOS, Safari Technology Preview gives users early access to features and enhancements that will eventually be included in the stable version of the browser.

Cloud services or Virtual computers: Make use of cloud services or virtual computers to access macOS environments. Use a virtual computer such as Virtualbox or VMware. Testers can utilize these websites to access the real-time Safari browser.

MacOS Safari extensions: Safari is compatible with additional features that can improve your productivity and surfing experience. While extensions like Grammarly, AdBlock, and Pocket can make surfing easier overall, they might not have a direct positive impact on the development environment.

Cross-Browser Testing Tool: Online cross-browser testing platforms like LambdaTest can be utilized as cross-browser testing tools. These platforms enable the testers to evaluate the web applications on many operating systems and browsers, including various macOS Safari versions. This guarantees the web applications’ functionality and compatibility in a range of contexts.

Although Safari for Windows might not be supplied with integrated extensions or development tools, developers may still test and optimize their web applications across the Safari browser with these methods. Ensuring compatibility and functionality across numerous operating systems and browsers serves as essential for delivering a seamless user experience.

LambdaTest is cross-browser testing platform that operates in the cloud and enables developers to test their web applications across multiple browsers including different Safari browser online versions without requiring any physical access to each browser or operating system.

LambdaTest is an AI-driven platform for test orchestration and execution. It is a cloud-based platform for continuous quality testing that speeds up the delivery of code by developers and testers. Users can execute manual and automated tests of web and mobile apps across more than 3000 distinct browsers, real devices, and operating system environments using its browser and app testing cloud.

Without requiring physical access to several devices, developers may efficiently test their online applications on Safari browser online, including Safari on macOS and other platforms like Windows, by utilizing LambdaTest. This guarantees thorough testing for cross-browser compatibility and assists in finding and fixing problems before release, thereby improving the user experience across various browsers and devices.

Conclusion

Even though Apple no longer actively supports Safari on Windows, developers can still use it for certain testing circumstances. Cross-browser compatibility checks can benefit from its historical rendering accuracy and JavaScript efficiency on Apple devices, especially for applications targeting Safari users. With the use of virtual machines or cloud-based testing services, developers can use Safari for Windows to simulate Safari environments and identify possible problems early in the development process.

This guarantees that web-based applications retain their functionality and visual appeal across various operating systems and browsers, including previous versions of Safari. For this reason, developers usually rely on more actively maintained browsers for complete development environments and effective workflow support, even though it’s still a useful tool for evaluating Safari-specific characteristics.

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