easier bookmarklet development

Question

Here's how I make develop a bookmarklet: I write a javascript function, pass that to Bookmarklet Builder to make a bookmarklet, add the bookmarklet to my browser, load my test webpage, test the bookmarklet, and then something doesn't work, so I try to find what's wrong and change my javascript function accordingly and the tedious cycle starts again.

How can I make this cycle less tedious?

Answer 1

use the firebug console to develop and test your function, and turn it into a bookmarklet once you've got it working like you want to.

Answer 2

These days I prefer to edit a file on my webserver, then load that using a bookmarklet. For example:

javascript:(function(){
    var newScript = document.createElement('script');
    newScript.src = 'http://hwi.ath.cx/javascript/wordcloud.js?dummy='
                     + Math.random();
    document.body.appendChild(newScript);
})();

The random parameter is useful for a script under development, to ensure the browser won't load an older version from its cache.

I find development with a text editor far preferable to the console, because I can take advantage of syntax highlighting, shortcut keys, and — you know — newlines.