Chrome Extensions for Developers

Developer Chrome extensions are the category most over-supplied by the Web Store and most under-customized to the individual developer. Every developer uses a JSON formatter; everyone's preferred JSON formatter looks slightly different. Every developer uses a color picker; everyone wants slightly different output formats. Every developer uses a regex tester; everyone has a slightly different mental model for how the input and output should be laid out.

The result: most developers have a folder of installed extensions, each one approximately right and exactly wrong in some small way. PlugThis solves this by letting you build the version that matches your workflow. Color picker that outputs in tailwind classes by default. JSON formatter that mirrors your team's exact style guide. Regex tester that supports the specific dialect your codebase uses.

You're also in the ideal user position to build these — you understand what you want at a precision other users can't articulate. PlugThis output is real Manifest V3 code you can edit and extend.

Developer Tools extensions you can build

Chrome Extension That Finds Broken Links on Any Page

Scan any webpage for broken links in seconds. Get status codes, export to CSV.

intermediate

Chrome Extension That Finds Typos on Any Page

Highlight typos and grammar issues on any webpage with AI-powered detection.

advanced

Chrome Extension That Shows GitHub Repo Line Counts

See file counts, line counts, and language breakdown on every GitHub repo page.

intermediate

Why build your own developer tools extension

•Default outputs match your stack (Tailwind classes, your CSS variables, your code style)
•Combine multiple tools into one extension — JSON formatter + base64 decoder + URL parser in one popup
•Edit the source after generation to add features your team needs
•No telemetry — most popular dev extensions log usage data; yours doesn't
•Same tool across machines — install your own .crx file on a new laptop in 30 seconds

Popular subcategories

Formatters & validators

JSON, YAML, XML formatters; URL parsers; base64 decoders

Testing & inspection

Regex testers, API request inspectors, cookie viewers

Frontend helpers

Color pickers, font inspectors, rulers and grids, viewport switchers

Workflow tools

Quick-access bookmarklets, devtools enhancements, snippet runners

Frequently asked questions

Can I build a Chrome extension that integrates with my IDE?

Partially. Chrome extensions can't talk directly to local IDEs, but they can write to localhost servers, push to APIs (Linear, GitHub, Notion), or copy formatted output to the clipboard for paste-in. PlugThis can wire any of these.

Is it worth building dev tools when there are free ones on the Web Store?

Two reasons developers do it anyway: customization (default outputs match their codebase), and trust (no telemetry, no surprise feature additions, no ownership change when the original developer sells the extension).

Can I share my custom dev extension with my team?

Yes. Three options: (1) publish to the Chrome Web Store privately (only people with the link can install), (2) share the .crx file directly, (3) share the source folder and have teammates load it as an unpacked extension. Each option has tradeoffs — PlugThis output supports all three.

Will a custom dev extension break when Chrome updates?

Rarely. Chrome's extension API is stable across versions. Major breaking changes (like the Manifest V2 → V3 transition) come with multi-year deprecation periods. PlugThis output uses Manifest V3, which is the current stable spec.

Build your own developer tools extension

Describe what you want in one sentence. PlugThis generates a working Manifest V3 Chrome extension in under two minutes.

Open the builder