Internet Explorer Developer Channel offers bleeding edge web experience

By Derek Kessler
published

Internet Explorer is getting a dev channel! Like Google's Chrome browser, those interested in trying out the latest bleeding-edge features in Internet Explorer will now have a developer version that they can use. The Internet Explorer Developer Channel offers numerous updates to the F12 developer tools, allowing those coding for the web to test their stuff on the latest and greatest version of Internet Explorer. Think of it as an opportunity to prepare for the future.

There are some visual tweaks here and there, but what's really important are the new developer tools. Console errors now get indicators on the icon bar, the F6 frame navigation tool has enhanced navigation tools, and CTRL + [ and CTRL + ] will let you go back and forward with the tools. You can even quickly access Document Mode from a drop-down menu at the top.

Console in Internet Explorer Developer Channel has also been improved, with time stamps, message clearing, more accurate autocomplete suggestions, and better cross-browser development behavior.

The DOM Explorer (the inspector that allows users to view the HTML and CSS that makes a website) has been improved with change bars in the computer styles pane. Users of the debugger will find they can now specify source maps, select multiple breakpoints, and set event breakpoints and tracepoints to be triggered by a specific event and not just code execution.

There are plenty of other changes for this first release of the Internet Explorer Developer Channel, and it's getting progressively further and further over our heads. This is not for the average Joe — dev channels are where companies test out new features, but they're not necessarily complete or even something that will see a public release.

Thankfully you can install the Internet Explorer Developer Channel right alongside the production release of Internet Explorer and not screw up your standard web experience. But it's still not for the Average Joe. Microsoft is promising that this is the first of many releases for the dev channel, and they are posting their roadmap for new features publicly.

Source: Microsoft

Derek Kessler
Derek Kessler

Derek Kessler is Special Projects Manager for Mobile Nations. He's been writing about tech since 2009, has far more phones than is considered humane, still carries a torch for Palm, and got a Tesla because it was the biggest gadget he could find. You can follow him on Twitter at @derekakessler.

62 Comments
  • Aardvarks will reign supreme.
  • Wellll....getting there eh MS
  • Has anyone tried out Chrome 64bit yet?
  • Yes.
  • Still as bloated as always. They should release Chrome Lite for those interested on a web browser instead a wannabe operative system.
  • Well said.
  • They'd better release IE12 soon
  • Or else...?
  • Or else he will post a very strong comment on an internet forum. Watch Microsoft tremble. ;)
  • What do you wish to see in Internet explorer 12?
  • Full integration with my Microsoft account. Much like chrome has with your google account. Extensions, as good as, or better than Firefox. Full html 5 and css3 compatibility. To name a few.
  • "Full HTML5 compatibility" means nothing whrn HTML5 isn't even a finished thing. Extension support is there, and Microsoft can't force people to make extensions for it. And the only thing IE is missing in the integration front is ... tabs, I think.
  • Is there a version for Surface RT?
  • Not that I can find.   The ZDnet article had a link for 8.1 and 7. The 8.1 version said you needed an intel chip.  
  • No, there is no version for Windows RT available, and don't expect it to come anytime soon. The Developer Channel only contains the desktop interface anyway.
  • Is it on fullscreen version or desktop version? I will check it out. Will see if this is even close to chrome's inspector.
  • I'll have to try it. I already use Firefox Nightly.
  • I use Internet Explorer Daily.
  • LOL! I saw what you did there ;)
  • i'm with you there buddy, ain't wanna get Scroogled!
  • I used Nightly for sometimes but then it started lagging for no reasons. Now back to Firefox release...
  • According to html5test.com, the Dev Channel version scores lower than the public release. Seems like Microsoft is continuing to strip away the older standards in favor of raw performance.
  • When is HTML5 scheduiled to be standardized?  Design by committee has got to be the slowest process ever.
  • You can't eliminate crappy code if you continue to give people the means to execute it.
  • Here, I get a score of 378 in IE Dev Channel, and 372 in IE11... Aside how trust worthy the HTML5Test is in the first place.
  • Didn't you guys read the article? The Dev Channel runs under virtualization, it will slow it down significantly.
  • I'm the average Joe.
  • I read entire article and no proof provided showing new ie is offering blazing performance. I don't expect half baked articles from WPCentral.
  • Don't you?
  • Do you?
  • What's with your name?
  • This is a preview running in a virtual environment, don't expect any performance improvements, like the IE Blog already said.
  • Cryio - IE 12?  Why?  Most pages haven't even caught up to IE9, yet!  Hell, IE 11 has given me more trouble with secure sites than any previous release.  It's been months and I still have trouble signing into bank sites and even IT channel distributor sites like Tech Data.  If MS keeps updating IE so quickly and drastically they will lose their industry standard standing.  I don't agree with it, but it seems web developers are more interested in a long-term solution they don't have to constantly update over constant "improvements", even if those improvements are in the security realm.  If consumers go to use the latest and greatest, more secure and functional version of IE that Microsoft tells them to download only to find it never works with their oft-visited sites, they'll abandon IE and go for something else, like Chrome or Firefox.  Microsoft has an, arguably undeserved bad reputation, already amongst most consumers who have little understanding of why they even think so, but constant changes won't help that do anything buy grow worse.
  • There are fuctional web browsers, then there's IE ;)  
  • I assume you're leaving Chrome and its love of "oh snap" and the new Opera with its love of oage crashing on Yosemite.
  • Not at all, I use IE.
  • Then what is the supposedly functional browser? :P
  • I find its hit or miss what they do with every release on wp on desktop you can @ least run in compat mode
  • YESSS!!! This is exciting!
  • Good to see them doing the right decisions lately
  • Pff why 2 different browsers. They could include this in IE11.
  • Who cares as long as it's an option you can select in visual studio.
  • Yeah! Let's put preview code into a browser that's supposed to work 100% correctly in profesional environments. What could possibly go wrong?
  • This is great news but MS are still treating Windows RT like the red-headed step child. At least with Chrome's Dev Channel, it's available on any device that can run Chrome (I'm aware IE Dev needs an Intel chip).
  • This is for debugging ONLY.
  • I know... Be nice to debug on ARM.
  • After installing this and rebooting, i try running the dev channel and get error 0xc0000022 anyone know what could be the issue?   "The application was unable to start correctly 0xc0000022 click OK to close the program"
  • Cant believe ie is used to lead the world with more than 80% market share, together with 90% destop OS. Now they have to play catch up games, terrible.
  • Catch up to what?  IE still has 60% market share.  Sure its down, but they still lead.  
  • Coz company programs and apppls are only internet explorer compatible.
  • The private networks that do not connect with the internet in most cases aren't going to make up for the 60% of all internet-enabled PCs in the world...
  • So ... they went with what worked best for them?   How terrible, they should have gone with what worked 2nd best.
  • Where to download it ?  
  • Why the Windows XP Update icon?
  • I was about to ask the same...
  • Does this mean we can have plugins for IE now?
  • as much as I like IE, I'd rather see a consumer centric version that does away with all the legacy business crap and gives us true modern browser and engine that can keep up with HTML5 and the competition. Things like in place updates without user interaction, extensive cloud functionality, and a focus towards user experience instead of backwards compatibility would make this new browser a challenge for chrome. and best of all, gets rid of the name IE which should remain a business curse word.
  • So aside from the name, basically IE11. gotcha.
  • Does this mean that Microsoft is planning to finally compete with chrome and Firefox?
  • You're doing it wrong, Microsoft. Seriously, everyone else knows how to do a Dev Channel correctly.
  • I know this is for windows8 but everything I want on windows phone 8.1 is full screen for mobile IE
  • GREAT JOB Microsoft!