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VS gives an error message saying JS isn't enabled on Firefox, even though it is (to the best of my knowledge)

I have a Lenovo running on up-to-date Windows cause god knows we don't have a choice. I recently installed VS to run simple console programs with C++ and haven't been able to do so much as "Hello World." because whenever I try to run my program, a pop-up appears that says to agree to their developer terms. I do, but then another pop-up appears that says:
Microsoft account requires JavaScript to sign in. This web browser either does not support JavaScript, or scripts are being blocked. To find out whether your browser supports JavaScript, or to allow scripts, see the browser's online help.
I used about:config to make sure JS was already enabled, and it was. I don't think there are any limitations. Am I maybe oversimplifying the developer agreement? Any tips/advice with IDEs in general or specifically VS is more than welcome, thanks in advance

Intellij IDEA, run Javascript code right in the editor

After having written large amounts of code in Intellij Idea Ultimate edition, I often want to test a method, or big pieces.
I often resort to having to paste the code in firebug in firefox, a small annoying cramping space, with no editor features. If the code needs adjusting I need to do it there, test again, copy and insert into Intellij Idea.
Is it possible to run firebug like console code, right in Intellij ? Similar to in Java debug mode with the Inspect tool ? It would have been really useful, even more useful just to highlight some code and press run.
Browser support is not important, any browser will do.
Is this possible already? Is there an Intellij plugin for this? Why not? :(
Thanks!

If the browser is not important, you could use the node.js plugin as a javascript repl / debugger. Keep in mind that it will not provide an HTML DOM so if your code makes jQuery calls, it will not run out of the box. Otherwise, if it's just plain javascript, it will run just fine.

Just stumbled over this. A bit late but anyway:
Debugging Javascript, editing values, etc. works fine using intelliJ with its Chrome Plugin.
See https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/webhelp/configuring-javascript-debugger.html or
http://blog.jetbrains.com/idea/2011/03/intellij-idea-debugging-javascript-in-google-chrome/
You can set breakpoints to stop where you want and can from there evaluate expressions and all the other stuff you would like to do.
Hope this is what you wanted to know.

How to debug a Thunderbird addon/extension's JavaScript

I want to develop a Thunderbird 12 addon. I have written a simple JS function. (File: "chrome\content\myApp.js"). This file is called by a xul-'onclick'-event. I have packed my addon as a .xpi file and then I have installed it. (All ok, it's working!)
Now I'd like to debug my JS functions. But I can't find a working JS Debugger.
I have tried this addons:
"Javascript Debugger"(0.9.89). Not working: The thread doesn't stop at my breakpoints.
Firebug(1.7.2) + Chromebug(1.7.2). Not working: I can't enable the JS debug tab. (Update: I also can't set/change a "context")

Happily we once again have a debugger for Thunderbird! You need a newer/nightly version, but hanks to Philipp Kewisch's summer of code project we can use the Firefox debugger to remotely debug Thunderbird. More details at the following links:
http://kewisch.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/thunderbird-developer-tools-wrapup/
http://kewisch.wordpress.com/2013/06/13/the-thunderbird-remote-debugger-is-alive/
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=876636
If you are really committed to TB12, you can debug on the nightly then test on TB12.

Unfortunately there's no such thing as a decent debugger for chrome (addons) javascript. Chromebug has been long abandoned, venkman doesn't work, addon authors are a little bit stranded there. A new debugging API called JSD2 is in the works at Mozilla, but it looks from the wiki that it's mostly targeted at content (webpage) javascript, not chrome (addons) javascript, at least not in the short term.
Fortunately, a very recent effort seems to have paid off: there's now a way to execute easily small snippets of javascript in a decent console-like window. See http://mikeconley.ca/blog/2012/05/11/scratchpad-ported-to-thunderbird-kinda/ for the details :).

Browser Independent JavaScript debugger?

Does anyone know if a browser-independent debugger exists...
For example I have been using Firebug in Firefox but if the web developers use other browsers - nothing.
I was wondering if there is some kind of "global" debugger that can attach to any browser and just debug?
Any ideas?

The makers of Firebug also make Firebug Lite, a JavaScript file that you can include in your webpage. They say that it works in IE, Opera, and Safari.
Steve

Since each browser has its own engine with its own quirks and such, it's more or less impossible to have a universal debugger.
Aptana, which is really just a rebranded Eclipse for web projects, has a debugger built in to the IDE, and comes closes to that ideal--in theory. It uses the Eclipse platform's debugging interface, but it still needs to be plugged into a browser. In Firefox, this works by plugging into...Firebug's JS debugger. But, it allows you to set breakpoints and step through code directly from the IDE (quite helpful for external JS files). For IE debugging, you need to purchase the Pro version, so I can't vouch for its quality. AFAIK, it doesn't support other browsers.

Nearly all the browsers have there own JavaScript debugger. Simply because they don't provide the same API (if they provide some) for accessing the JavaScript engine.
So, to complete your list, you have DragonFly for Opera, and WebInspector for the browsers based on WebKit (like Safari).

For IE you can also use Visual Studio to debug JavaScript - and it's better than the Microsoft Script Debugger. I'm not sure if the express editions are also capable of this.
Added: Both VS2005 and VS2008 are capable of JS debugging, although the newer product is better of course.

I run a Webservice that allows developers to "debug" their Javascript in the sense of finding bugs via a Javascript validator. See the HTML5 IDE guide for details to set it up with the "global" vim editor.

You can debug javascript with express edition of visual studio. Look here for details

Short answer: I don't believe so, but I hope you find one because I'd love to have one.
However, if you haven't been following IE development lately, IE's JScript debugging is alot less painful now with IE8; it includes, by default, some dev tools that do pretty much everything that Firebug does with the exception of AJAX debugging (but I prefer a protocol analyzer anyways for AJAX). It even implements an executable console, which includes several of the console.X methods from Firebug!
The profiler, I'm tempted to say, is nicer than Firebug's - simply because it lets you export the results directly to CSV. The actual debugger is as full-featured as JS debuggers get, with stepping/breakpoints/direct input.
Also, I haven't heard Venkman mentioned yet; its the grand-daddy of Firefox debugging (and other Mozilla Javascript). Not as popular as Firebug, but it definitely has its followers.
Lots of good information on this page as well: wikibooks.org/wiki/JavaScript/Debugging

javascript depends on the browser you are using (thus compatibility problems). To debug explorer you may use this: Microsoft Script debugger

you can use jsdt, you can get some information from https://code.google.com/p/jsdt/

debugging javascript for IE6

firebug is quite useful tool that I can't think myself living without it. I also downloaded the js file that helps you get similar functionality when using IE6 hoping it would help me resolve some issues, however, the messages I receive are not quite friendly such as:
"Expected ':' (default2.aspx,16)" - on line 16 there is nothing that can possibly expect a ":"
or
"Object doesn't support this property or method (default2.aspx,198)" on line 198 nothing interesting that can require any support for anything.
my site looks like a different web site in IE6.. most of the css doesnt work, some of the jquery functions doesnt work and I need to get this site work in IE6. Any help would be appreciated in terms of;
how to know what the messages (like the ones above) mean in IE6 and how to effectively debug js in IE6?
where to start for css compatibility.. e.g. shall I create different css files for different browsers and load them by detecting the browser? or are there any common issues and hacks?
I am lost so please give me any direction to start..

You debug javascript in IE6 with:-
Microsoft Script Debugger
The QuirksMode website is useful site to determine which bits of CSS is implemented in what way by which browser. Note IE6 "standards" mode rendering is notoriously buggy.

You can try Companion JS. It is pretty good with respect to debugging. It requires Microsoft Script Debugger as well.
Companion JS thankfully supports "console.log" (via firebug). It is free tool. Debug-bar is a good CSS-DOM-Javascript debugger, but it is not free for commercial purposes.

The two tools I use are:
Web Development Helper
IE Developer Toolbar
They somewhat duplicate each other's functionality, but each one can be useful for different tasks. The Web Development Helper has a built in JavaScript console, it's not as good as Firebug but it's better than nothing and easier than the MS Script Debugger.

"Expected ':' (default2.aspx,16)" - on line 16 there is nothing that can possibly expect a ":"
The error won't be on line 16 of your .aspx file, probably not even on line 16 of the HTML source the aspx file produces. It'll be near line 16 of one of your linked .js files. Which one? IE won't tell you.
You could find out by adding extra lines at the start of each .js file and seeing what happens to the error line number, but it's probably better just to install Script Debugger already.
IE8 finally fixes this.
shall I create different css files for different browsers and load them by detecting the browser? or are there any common issues and hacks?
Start with standards-compliant CSS, and a Standards Mode doctype, and test in Firefox 3, or Opera, Safari, Chrome. Mostly they'll give you more or less the same results. Now test in IE7 and hopefully it'll just work.
The troublesome browser today is IE6. You may well need to add hacks for it. You can do this in a separate stylesheet if there's a lot of them, or just use the "* html" hack for the occasional rule.
All the older hacks, your Box Model Hacks and so on, you can forget about. They're only of use for IE5, which is dead, and IE6 Quirks Mode, which you shouldn't be using.

or have an AJAX call to send debug variables/messages to ASP (PHP) script that will log it. this will help if the problem is with variables undefined or having similar issues.

For what it's worth, I've found the line number errors are much more accurate when using a separate js file.
I still use IE6 as my primary browser when developing. It saves a lot of headaches later, since you will often find CSS issues much earlier in the process.
I also find it helpful to use a JavaScript logger to send debug messages. This being an alternative to a bunch of alert messages. Personally, I use the yahoo UI logger

I use one of two things for js debugging: Microsoft Script Editor or Firebug Lite. Go here for more info.
As for the CSS, I recommend a CSS Reset. And for the little differences in IE6, consider using conditional comments.
When making an an application to be used in multiple browsers, quirksmode is a lifesaver.
EDIT: blackbird is a nice cross-browser tool for tracking state.

I've used MS Script Debugger with some success, also IE Developer Toolbar and Firebug Lite. I recently learned about MS Visual Web Developer Express Edition, which has been a big improvement so far.