How to: Start Using Greasemonkey in Under 5 Minutes
Greasemonkey is a powerful Firefox add-on that lets you change the appearance and functionality of almost any page on the web. Most people don't know how to write Javascript, though, so we end up using the Greasemonkey scripts developed by other people who do. There are lots and lots of scripts that have been written and they are fun, useful and easy to run.
It's been downloaded 9 million times, but we believe many people still haven't heard of or taken the time to learn how to use Greasemonkey. So we recorded a 4 minute screencast showing you how to use the program and some things we like to do with it.
We hope readers will add comments with some of your favorite Greasemonkey scripts for people to check out as well.
What Is Greasemonkey?
Greasemonkey is a Firefox plug-in that allows you to insert Javascript into the local display of web pages in your browser. Nothing changes for anyone else, but images, links or text can be added or hidden automatically when you visit a web page that a script has been written for. Developers have written these little scripts to customize or improve the way different web sites are experienced. It's a powerful, lightweight platform that we think you'll really enjoy using.
For nontechnical users, "script" may be an intimidating word, but we think of it as a plug-in for the plug-in. The user experience is that simple.
How do I Use It?
Below you'll find a four minute screencast walking you through the process of setting up Greasemonkey and running some of our favorite scripts. Links and text are below the video. RSS readers can click here to view the video.
Thanks to Screencast.com for hosting the video above. (Flash version)
Install the Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in.
Find scripts to install. Most are at Userscripts.org but the ones we reference in the video above are:
AutoPagerize
Better GMail 2
FriendFeed User Profiles
FriendFeed Better Recommended
Greased Lightbox
There's a whole room in FriendFeed dedicated to sharing and discussing new Greasemonkey scripts.
We wrote about Greasemonkey Scripts for the Social Media Addict in May, but the options available grow fast and furious.
Questions? Suggestions?
If there's anything unclear about this, let us know and we or our readers will respond in questions. Likewise, if there are Greasemonkey scripts you think readers here should be sure to see - let us know what they are.
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Marshall, you are a screencast ninja
Posted by: Mike Doeff
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August 25, 2008 3:08 PM
Screenflow for the Mac is cool, huh? [I use it, too]
Posted by: David Risley
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August 25, 2008 3:11 PM
Thanks Mike. Yeah David, I am so in love with Screenflow! Best $100 I've spent in awhile.
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
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August 25, 2008 3:13 PM
SO that explains all the quicktime videos on past articles. Sorry, but I wont install that junk.
Jason, would you appreciate a link to a Flash version as well? Pick your proprietary codec, I guess. Or let me know about a better codec and I'll transcode and make available if possible. These QT videos come out looking really sharp though. I do wonder how many of our readers can't see them at all.
Quicktime has become the Real Networks of the new generation. Sneaky attempts to install unwanted software means No Thanks, Apple.
Posted by: Kip
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August 25, 2008 6:17 PM
If possible, please don't embed Quicktime. Prefer Vimeo or even Youtube.
Posted by: Jordan Hofker
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August 25, 2008 6:26 PM
Prefer Vimeo, thanks!
Posted by: satoko
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August 25, 2008 6:28 PM
+1 Kip
Posted by: Shey
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August 25, 2008 6:31 PM
If I post video clips on my own sites, I usually convert them to Flash Video, as I believe that reaches the widest possible audience. Of course, I can also upload them to Vimeo, YouTube, or Seesmic.
Posted by: Ian May
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August 25, 2008 6:34 PM
quicktime = big time negative for me. html 5 has [video], [/video] tags. i reckon this is gonna be a great addition. no more dodgy embedding of stuff that doesn't work, hopefully
Posted by: john conroy
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August 25, 2008 6:45 PM
I think it is fine. Most people have iTunes, so having a Quicktime plug-in for Firefox installed shouldn't be a big deal.
Posted by: Frank Sinton
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August 25, 2008 7:19 PM
<shameless plug>
I recently wrote a Firefox extension called Greasefire that integrates with Greasemonkey and automatically shows you which scripts from Userscripts.org are compatible with the site you are browsing. Check it out at:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8352
</shameless plug>
Fwiw, Quicktime looks SO much better than converted to Flash.
Quicktime from Screenflow looks SO much better than Flash transcoded
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
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August 25, 2008 10:53 PM
+2 Kip. Maybe alternate version, but certainly not 'only' version.
Posted by: Yuvi
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August 25, 2008 10:56 PM
/Like Kip's comment
Posted by: Voyagerfan5761
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August 25, 2008 10:57 PM
great introduction
Posted by: Christian Van Der Henst
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August 25, 2008 11:30 PM
While I can see them in this browser, you shouldn't embed Quicktime videos.
Posted by: Marcos Marado
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August 26, 2008 3:34 AM
I will say stick to flash videos, you can get high resolution flash videos too
Posted by: shinchi
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August 26, 2008 3:58 AM
For http://ffffound.com/ you could also use PicLens
https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/5579
I love this tool!