Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: Firebug always showing JavaScript error "setting a property that has only a getter Line 0"?

Firebug error fix for setting a property with only a getter.

Quick Answer: Try disabling Firebug's content script or updating to the latest version.

The error 'setting a property that has only a getter Line 0' in Firebug 1.5 on FF 3.6 on OS X is a known issue that affects users who are using the browser's built-in developer tools to debug their web applications. This error occurs when an attempt is made to set a property whose value is retrieved through a getter function, but not directly settable.

This error can be frustrating for developers as it may cause issues with the functionality of their web application, even if the error itself does not seem to have any direct impact on the page's behavior.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is due to a limitation in how Firebug handles property access. In JavaScript, when you try to set a property whose value is retrieved through a getter function, it throws an error because the getter function does not allow direct assignment. This is a fundamental property of getters in JavaScript.
  • Another possible cause could be related to the version of Firefox and Firebug being used, as this issue has been reported to occur more frequently with older versions.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Disabling Getters in Firebug

  1. Step 1: To disable getters in Firebug, go to the 'Options' menu in the top right corner of the interface and select 'Advanced'. In the advanced options window, click on the 'Firebug' tab.
  2. Step 2: In the 'Firebug' tab, scroll down to the 'JavaScript' section and uncheck the box next to 'Show getters as read-only properties'. This will prevent Firebug from displaying the error message for setting a property that has only a getter.
  3. Step 3: After making this change, restart Firebug and any web pages you were working on. The error should no longer appear.

Upgrading Firefox or Firebug

  1. Step 1: If disabling getters in Firebug does not resolve the issue, another possible solution is to upgrade either Firefox or Firebug.
  2. Step 2: To upgrade Firebug, go to the Mozilla Add-ons website and download the latest version of Firebug. Follow the installation instructions provided by the website to install the updated add-on.
  3. Step 3: Alternatively, you can also consider upgrading Firefox itself, as newer versions of the browser may address this issue.

✨ Wrapping Up

In conclusion, the error 'setting a property that has only a getter Line 0' in Firebug 1.5 on FF 3.6 on OS X is typically caused by a limitation in how Firebug handles property access. By disabling getters in Firebug or upgrading Firefox and/or Firebug, you should be able to resolve the issue and continue working with your web application without any disruptions.

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