“The alpha release includes the initial implementation for the JavaScript Debugger, CSS Inspector, DOM Inspector, Command Line and the Error Console, as well as the Scope module, which allows Opera Dragonfly to communicate with the Opera browser.”

Developers get quick access to every open window in Opera this way. Tabs provide access to Scripts, DOM and the Console. It’s not yet on the same level as the Firebug extension for Firefox. What I really like in Firebug is the fact that I can click on elements in the website and that the CSS attributes of that element are then displayed.

The Opera team has released this alpha version mainly to receive feedback from the community to improve Opera Dragonfly. Feedback can be given at the Dragonfly Feedback Page.

I think that this is an interesting move by the Opera team which will surely help web developers. We will have to wait until May 6th to be able to test the functionality of this first alpha release but it surely will deliver what the team promises.

This first release has the intention to gather feedback from the web developer community for new features and changes that it wants to see implemented in the beta and final release of Opera Dragonfly.

The Dragonfly Is About To Land

But there was something missing. Opera has—until now—lacked one important piece of the jigsaw, but this missing piece is being added as you read. We are proud to announce Opera’s all-new developer tool — Opera Dragonfly. With Opera Dragonfly’s alpha release on the 6th of May, 2008, developers will have an array of new tools to debug Web sites and applications from within the Opera Browser.

Opera Dragonfly’s alpha release is still under active development as it matures to become ready for beta and final releases. We want your feedback and feature requests for the initial alpha release to make sure it fits your needs and makes your work easier. Over the coming months and years, we will continually develop Opera Dragonfly to realize our vision of first-class developer tools, and add even further functionality to the product. The alpha release is a first snapshot and foundation for that vision.

Opera Dragonfly will be available on the 6th of May at .

Check out the official Opera Dragonfly homepage that contains a countdown and will offer the download in less than 12 days.

At least that is what you get when you visit the website. You can signup for the Opera products mailing list by entering your name, email and a rather hard to read captcha. They also have a definition of a Dragonfly on that page, it reads: “A fast-flying long-bodied predatory insect of the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera. Valued by humans for their ability to spot and hunt down harmful bugs from great distances.”

You will receive an email after signup which will tell you that you successfully subscribed to receive email updates on Opera product
releases. I’m not sure what to make out of this, definitely not what I or anyone else have expected.

Update: Some of my readers pointed out that it could also be a way to increase usability and be a notification list when the real Dragonfly product will be released. Since there is zero information on this topic we are left to a guessing game though.