Opera Dragonfly

Summary

Opera Dragonfly is a web development tool that was integrated into the Opera web browser from Opera versions 9.5 through 12.18, similar to Firebug and development tools built into Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

Opera Dragonfly
Developer(s)Opera Software
Stable release
1.2012.12.14.1 / December 14, 2012; 11 years ago (2012-12-14)
Preview release
1.2012.12.14.1
Operating systemCross-platform
LicenseApache License 2.0[1]
Websitehttp://www.opera.com/dragonfly/

It supports debugging JavaScript, viewing the DOM, monitoring network traffic, previewing resources, editing colors, etc. It also supports remote debugging, which allows using the features of Dragonfly to be used when debugging a mobile phone, TV, or another desktop computer.[2]

Opera Dragonfly must be downloaded on first usage, and functions offline thereafter. Opera Dragonfly automatically updates to the latest version available, when connected to the Internet.[3]

Opera Dragonfly is compatible with Presto 2.1 and later, specifically Opera Mobile 9.5 and above, Opera Desktop 9.5 and above, and Nintendo DS & Nintendo DSi Browser. The Scope transport protocol (STP) is used for communication between the Opera browser and Opera Dragonfly.[4]

History edit

Development of Opera Dragonfly started in May 2008. When the development started Opera Dragonfly was using the BSD license, but later on it was changed to the Apache License 2.0.[1]

On 21 September 2011, the Opera Dragonfly team announced that from then on releases would be more focused on improvements to individual components, e.g. the DOM inspector or the UI framework. As soon as a feature for a certain component was implemented, it would be put on the experimental path for some initial testing. As part of the new release strategy, they switched over Opera Dragonfly to a new version scheme: <major-version>.<year>.<month>.<date>.<today's-build>.[5]

Inclusion of Opera Dragonfly ended after Opera 12.x, when Opera switched from the Presto layout engine to Blink and a Chromium base. Subsequent versions included Chromium's DevTools instead. As of 2019, Dragonfly has not been reintroduced, although in 2013, indication was given that it might at some point return.[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Change of license from BSD license to Apache 2.0 license".
  2. ^ "Opera Dragonfly Features".
  3. ^ Herzog, Daniel (November 11, 2011). "Running Opera Dragonfly offline". Retrieved August 9, 2016. ... Opera Dragonfly still works while you are completely offline, updating itself to the newest version available when you go back online.
  4. ^ "Announcing release of Scope protocol specification".
  5. ^ "Opera Dragonfly Blog » New fast release cycle".
  6. ^ "Opera Features and the Release Cycle". May 29, 2013.