I’ve been tweeking my use of Firefox a lot over the last few days. I’m in a fall cleaning mood: removing projects from my list that don’t really have to be done, organizing my papers at home, refining my GTD system. Apparently, this go around, I’m also refining my browser. Perhaps it’s because for the first time in a long time, I’m spending most of my time on one system. Or maybe it’s because I’m moving to do most of my work online and in the browser. In any case, I’m really looking at ways to make it the most effective system I can use.

My favorite extensions:
Better YouTube
I’ve just started using this one. My favorite part: videos no longer have to start playing the minute you open the page. You can also keep the extended information expanded. If you’re really into presentation there’s a fancy theater display option, too.
Faviconize Tab
This beautifully lets you minimize your tabs to just the favicon. I mean, really, who needs to see both that and the title?
Greasemonkey
This opens up a whole new world of add ons including customizing the look of specific websites. I’ve had some problems with a few, but I like having the option of adding greasemonkey scripts.
IE Tab
This lets you see what a page looks like in Explorer while still in Firefox.
Meebo
I love meebo. This extension lets you keep your meebo instant messaging list in your sidebar. Sure it takes up screenspace, but when you navigate away from your browser (or to another browser window) you’ll see the tell-tale sign of a flashing firefox window in your taskbar when someone sends you a message. It’s easy to turn on and off the sidebar, too.
Morning Coffee
You know all those sites you look at first thing in the morning every day? This fancy plug in lets you designate individual sites according to the days of the week you want to see them. Then, when you boot up, all you have to do is say “load my morning coffee” and all your sites come up. It’s really easy to add sites to your list as well.
PDF Download
This one gives you a number of options when clicking on a page that ends in “.pdf” GREAT for library work.
ScribeFire
Honestly, I rarely use it, but I love the functionality. When I do use it I like it a lot.
Session Manager
A life saver when your Firefox crashes or you accidentally closed a tab! Seriously reduces that stress of multitab browsing.
StumbleUpon
I don’t have time to use StumbleUpon very much, but when I have I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s a really neat site for true web surfing. As it gets to know you it recommends more and more interesting options. I’ve found some very interesting sites through this one.
Twitbin
As you may know, I LOVE Twitter. This plugin lets you view your friends’ tweet in the sidebar. It’s a little buggy, but it’s a nice one to have.
Web Developer
A fabulous toolbar with all kinds of interesting information about whatever site you’re looking at.
Zotero
Zotero is the open answer to Endnote or Refworks. It’s a Firefox plugin that collects bibliographic information, allows you to organize it, and outputs bibliographies. I’m using it all the time now. It’s seamless and wonderful.

Now, if you’ve read this far, you’re probably envisioning a Firefox with many toolbars and sidebars and very little screen real estate. Mostly I keep the sidebars closed and only open them as I need them. I only keep my navigation and bookmarks toolbar open, and open the web developer and stumble upon ones when I’m planning to use them. My Firefox is very clean.

So, any fabulous plugins I’m missing?