As I work on designing a website using my Mac, I find that the design looks great in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. However, I'm facing a challenge when it comes to testing the design on different versions of Internet Explorer, as I currently do not have access to a Windows machine. Can anyone offer suggestions on the most effective way to test a web design for IE while using a Mac?
When it comes to testing websites, I rely on BrowserStack.com, which I find pretty cool. However, I have noticed that the debugging tool, Firebug, tends to slow down significantly when used on IE7 and IE8.
If you're looking for a way to run IE7, 8, and 9 on your Mac, here's how:
1) Start by downloading and installing VirtualBox
2) Open the Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities/)
3) Choose the Internet Explorer versions you want to install - each version runs within a separate virtual machine in VirtualBox. If you wish to run IE 7, 8, and 9, you'll need to download three separate VMs. Copy the text below:
3.1) Install all IE versions: IE7, IE 8, and IE 9
curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | bash
3.2) Install IE 7 Only
curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | IEVMS_VERSIONS="7" bash
3.3) Install IE 8 Only
curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | IEVMS_VERSIONS="8" bash
3.4) Install IE 9 Only
curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | IEVMS_VERSIONS="9" bash
Paste the command into the Terminal and press enter to begin the download and conversion process. The time taken will depend on your internet speed and the number of IE versions selected. Launch VirtualBox, start Windows and Internet Explorer by selecting the corresponding virtual machine for the desired IE version, and click "Start" to launch the specific browser.
The default Windows admin password is "Password1", also provided as a hint within the VM in case you forget.
These commands are part of the ievsms script from xdissent, making the entire process easy and straightforward.
Use VM Snapshots to Bypass Microsoft's 30-Day Limitation Another benefit of this method is bypassing Microsoft's 30-day trial limit using snapshots in VirtualBox. This feature allows you to use the IE virtual machine indefinitely by reverting to the original snapshot once the 30-day period ends.
To continue using IE after the 30 days end, open VirtualBox, select the IE VM, and click "Snapshots". Boot from the original snapshot created to extend IE usage for another 30 days, repeating this process indefinitely for a perpetually clean IE test environment.
Source:
If you're looking to test out different browsers, you have a few options available. One option is to use a virtual machine like VMWare (). Another option is to use Wine ().
Both of these systems also give you the ability to test IE7 and lower versions by using tools like IETester. Personally, I've found IETester to be quite useful.
I have personally used both VMWare and Wine for my testing needs and they worked well for me.
Crossover is another interesting option worth exploring.
For more advanced features, you can try downloading Firebug Lite (). This tool allows you to inspect the DOM similar to Firebug, although it may not be as robust, it's still a valuable addition to Developer Tools in IE.
An option you might want to consider is utilizing the resources offered by Adobe BrowserLab.
Here are your various options, listed in terms of quality:
Get Crossover installed on your Mac to easily run Internet Explorer without the need for a full virtual machine.
I recommend trying out the trial first, as IE8 has a "Bronze" compatibility level which may not provide optimal performance.
When using Wine, it is recommended to set up separate prefixes for each version of Internet Explorer and ensure that all necessary pre-requisites are in place. For more information, search online.
While it generally functions well under these conditions, be aware that new updates to Wine may occasionally lead to crashes. Unfortunately.
Oracle VirtualBox is a fantastic tool that functions seamlessly. It offers a user-friendly experience and the best part is, it's completely free of charge:
If you require more detailed guidance, you can check out this Internet Explorer mac testing guide. There's no need to repeat all the information here as it is quite comprehensive.
Update October 2012:
In recent news, I stumbled upon browserling.com, a handy tool for testing websites. It offers basic tests for free, and for more in-depth examinations, there is a subscription option available.
Prior to this discovery, I used Parallels for testing purposes. However, the constant updates of Windows versions just for Internet Explorer compatibility became cumbersome. The idea of purchasing Windows solely for IE testing seemed unreasonable. Thus, opting for a subscription-based service like browserling.com appears to be a more practical solution.
While this may not be a new method, individuals who frequently engage in this activity can consider utilizing a service such as litmus.com. However, for those requiring it on a frequent basis, setting up an actual installation in a virtual machine is the optimal approach.
One effective method I discovered for running IE7-IE10 on a Mac is to utilize Oracle Virtual Machine and install all the browser versions. This approach is cost-free and operates independently of the browser, unlike some alternative methods.
The only drawback to this technique is that it requires substantial storage space.
For a step-by-step guide, check out the following tutorial:
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