What's the best way to test cross-browser compatibility?

Question

Since the portable versions of IE are no longer supported (and never fully worked) I'm trying to find a way to test sites in a number of different browsers.

The lag on something like browsershots.org is far too high to be practical, plus you can't test functionality.

I'm looking at using VMWare images of XP with different versions of browsers installed, but it seems like a right pain.

Anyone have any other method of testing CSS compatibility on browsers?

Edit: Edited :D

Answer 1

The best way is to actually install theses browsers, and really use them to test. Tou may use virtual machines in some cases (when you want to test IE6 on a mac for example).

Answer 2

if running windows, for IE try IETester http://www.my-debugbar.com/wiki/IETester/HomePage or IE Collection http://finalbuilds.edskes.net/iecollection.htm. They contain all the versions of IE.

Answer 3

Like Flakron Bytyqi suggested, the easiest way is to use IETester or similar software. Using IETester for a year, I never saw any difference between its IE6 implementation and the rendering by real IE6.

Now, having multiple virtual machines can be a good idea, since:

• You have to install three VM only,
• You may test other browsers. For example, install side by side IE6, Firefox 2 and Opera 8,
• There is no doubt: you are using real browsers, so everyone using the same browser will have the same result if the same browser options are specified.

Since installing three VM and buying three Windows licenses is not funny, I personally suggest using IETester, as said before, or using services of companies like Litmus (but it's true, you can't test functionality).

Answer 4

Have you tried adobe BrowserLab?

But for functional testing i'm afraid you will have to do it in browsers. If you are using linux, what you can do is have an XP with (IE8, Safari, Chrome) on virtualbox on a linux machine (IE8 has an option to behave like IE7) testing. And do IE6 testing on wine in linux. Checkout playOnLinux for running IE6 on linux