Chrome Extension: DevTools quick access Tab

[tyaga001]

Overview

Create a Chrome extension that replaces the new tab page with a curated feed of developer tools resources, similar to HackerTab but focused on DevTools, specific niche content and modern development tools.

Core Features (MVP)

1. Trending Dev Tools Feed

   • Display curated list of latest developer tools
   • Show tools by category (similar to current navigation: typescript, javascript, python etc.)
   • Include tool ratings and quick description

2. Latest Blog Posts

   • Show recent DevTools Academy blog posts
   • Display read time and category tags
   • Quick preview of content

3. GitHub Integration

   • Show trending repos in selected categories
   • Display star count and last updated time
   • Quick access to repository details

4. Quick Search

   • Google search integration
   • Quick filters for docs (MDN, DevTools Academy)
   • Keyboard shortcuts for navigation

Technical Implementation

• Framework: Next.js + React (reuse existing codebase components)
• UI Components: Shadcn UI (maintain consistent design)
• State Management: Local storage for preferences
• Performance:
  • Lazy load non-critical components
  • Cache responses for faster subsequent loads
  • Preload common resources

Directory Structure for example

src/
  ├── components/
  │   ├── trending-tools/
  │   ├── blog-feed/
  │   ├── github-trending/
  │   └── search-bar/
  ├── lib/
  │   ├── api/
  │   └── utils/
  └── types/

Design Notes

• Dark mode by default (matching DevTools Academy theme)
• Responsive grid layout
• Minimalist UI with focus on content
• Quick keyboard navigation

Tasks

• [ ] Set up basic extension structure
• [ ] Implement main layout and components
• [ ] Add data fetching and caching
• [ ] Implement search functionality
• [ ] Add keyboard shortcuts
• [ ] Test performance and optimization
• [ ] Package for Chrome Web Store

How:

Set up the extension structure under:

extensions/
  └── chrome/
      ├── src/
      ├── public/
      └── package.json

This keeps everything in the same repo while maintaining clear separation. We can share types, components, and utilities from the main app while keeping extension-specific code isolated.

Future Enhancements

1. Personalized feed based on user preferences
2. Offline support for cached content
3. Integration with DevTools Academy authentication
4. Custom tool collections/bookmarks

Questions

• Should we integrate with existing DevTools Academy authentication?
• Should we add analytics tracking?