Microsoft Launches IE Developer Channel for Access to Early Builds

Microsoft on Monday announced the release of the Internet Explorer Developer Channel browser for developers. It is designed for Web developers and other users to provide an early look at the features that company is working on for its Web platform. Notably, with the move, Microsoft joins Google and Mozilla to offer early developer-centric builds of its browser.

Users running Internet Explorer 11 on their devices can install the Developer Channel for both Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1.

This is the first time the Redmond giant has released a Developer Channel to give early information about upcoming features. It uses a combination of code changes and virtualization to run alongside IE11 (Internet Explorer 11). Other companies like Google, Mozilla and Opera also offer similar Developer Channel releases from time to time for their respective browsers.

"IE Developer Channel can run alongside and independently of IE11, and has all of the browser features that you love in IE11, as well as the latest platform features we're working on," wrote Microsoft on its IEBlog.

Microsoft has also said that the IE Developer Channel comes with even more improvements to F12 Developer Tools than the earlier announced enhancements in April.

The Redmond-giant says the IE Developer Channel includes an enhanced debugging experience with event breakpoints and multi-dimensional timeline filter, apart from an improved navigation experience that provides more keyboard shortcuts. It also comes with support for Xbox controller for Web gaming.

"As we work on new features and standards, we will continue to share early code through the IE Developer Channel. You [Developers] can always go to the DevChannel.Modern.IE page to learn more about the latest features in the IE Developer Channel," said Microsoft.