A Smattering of Selenium #97 was a community link roundup by Adam Goucher, published on June 29, 2012. It collected links about browser testing, web performance, Python testing and HTTP tools, plus a brief update on .NET WebDriver packaging—not a Selenium release announcement or a standalone tutorial. Read the original post on the Selenium blog.
What was in A Smattering of Selenium #97?
The roundup ranged across testing and developer topics that touched Selenium or the surrounding web-automation ecosystem. Goucher opened by noting that he had missed a day after a run of consecutive posts, then pointed readers to:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Automated cross-browser JavaScript testing, including a section focused on Internet Explorer.
- Capturing HTTP Archive (HAR) files through a proxy or Firefox’s NetExport profile extension.
- Using AutoAuth with Selenium WebDriver to handle Firefox authentication.
- RoboHydra, an open-source tool for testing HTTP clients and stubbing services.
- Parametrized resources in pytest.
- Using Python’s
requestslibrary to communicate with RESTful APIs. - The state of NuGet packaging for the .NET WebDriver bindings.
- Git rebasing, Python generators and an update to Google Chrome’s beta and stable channels.
The post is best read as a snapshot of topics circulating in the Selenium community in 2012. It points to other material rather than reproducing the linked tutorials, so it should not be treated as a complete guide to any of those tools.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What did it say about capturing HAR files?
The post described two approaches: capture traffic through a proxy, or use NetExport in a Firefox profile to save the data locally or send it to a remote server. Goucher said he personally preferred the proxy route because it was cross-browser. That is his preference in 2012, not evidence that a particular proxy or NetExport setup is compatible with browsers today. The detail appears in the linked discussion, “Automate Page Load Performance Testing with Firebug and Selenium”.
#1 Best Overall
For a modern project, check current browser, proxy and automation documentation before adopting either historical workflow. The roundup does not establish whether those specific tools or instructions remain supported.
How does this relate to Selenium?
Selenium WebDriver is one thread among several, not the sole subject. The roundup included an item about automating Firefox authentication with AutoAuth and another about .NET WebDriver packaging, alongside broader subjects such as API requests, service stubbing and Python testing. Its value today is historical: it shows the range of practical testing and development links shared with Selenium readers at the time.
Rank #2
Capture a page screenshot without recreating the browser setup
If your current task is documenting a page rather than following one of the 2012 HAR workflows, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. Its API returns a screenshot or PDF from a single GET request. This is a different task from recording a HAR network trace.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchOne-call example
Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your key and set the URL you want to capture. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options and response details.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo removes supported cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups and chat widgets before capture; those cleanup steps can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info and capture_pdf tools for AI agents and MCP clients. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots.
Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month—no card required.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
