Chrome Extension Development Toolkit
A collection of practical extension ideas and technical guidelines for building feature-rich browser tools using modern web technologies.
Key Extension Types
- Privacy Protector: Block tracking scripts/cookies using Chrome’s
declarativeNetRequest
API - Content Enhancers: Create article summarizers/dark mode tools with content scripts and CSS manipulation
- Productivity Boosters: Build tab managers/focus mode blockers using Chrome’s
tabs
andalarms
APIs - E-Commerce Assistants: Develop shopping helpers with background API calls and UI overlays
- Communication Tools: Implement email templates/meeting schedulers with storage API and OAuth integration
Core Components
manifest.json
configuration (Manifest V3 required)- Content scripts for page modification
- Service workers for background operations
- Popup/Options pages for user interaction
Development Requirements
- HTML/CSS/JavaScript foundation
- Chrome DevTools for debugging
- Modern tooling (Vite/TypeScript optional)
- Compliance with Chrome Web Store policies
Key Features to Implement
- Localization with
chrome.i1
8n - Secure data storage (
chrome.storage
) - Responsive UI with framework support (React/Vue)
- Cross-browser compatibility
Overview of .cursorrules prompt
The .cursorrules file outlines best practices and guidelines for developing Chrome extensions. It covers various aspects such as code style (emphasizing concise ES6+ JavaScript and modular architecture), naming conventions (camelCase, PascalCase, and uppercase for constants), and usage of modern JavaScript features. It also details how to structure the extension, including manifest files, and the implementation of Chrome APIs while ensuring security and performance. Additionally, it provides steps for the development process, tips for testing and debugging, and preparation for publishing on the Chrome Web Store. The file also encourages using internationalization features and recommends referencing example extensions for learning.