Firebug developer joins Chrome browser team

John Barton
Source: JohnJBarton.com Long-term lead Firebug developer John Barton is to withdraw from development work on the integrated web development tool for Firefox and will now join the Chrome browser team at Google. In a message to the Firebug Working Group, Barton explained that he is taking this step as he has been unable to convince IBM, his previous employer, to support him for a further year. At Google, Barton says that he will work on tools for web developers, including implementation of the QueryPoint debugger.

Barton's message consists of a homage to the Firebug team, which he believes made "a tremendous impact on the Web over the years when Firebug was the only decent Web debugger." Now, he notes, all of the major browsers have or will soon have their own built-in debuggers. The future for Firebug development is unclear. Barton appears to have doubts about this future, believing that the team is too small to keep up with the rapid pace of Firefox development. Expansion to mobile and other versions represents an additional development burden. Although he believes that the drive to "re-architect" Firebug is on the right track, it is a track which Barton will not be taking.

(crve)