By contrast, consumer software tools that enhance human agency, that serve us when we are most creative and intentional, are often built by hobbyists and used by a handful of nerds. If such a tool ever gets too successful one of the Marl-serving companies, flush with cash from advertising or growth-hungry venture capital, will acquire it and kill... See more

People think of browser extensions as brittle: a site changes its CSS selectors, and bam the extension breaks.

But I think the opposite: it's wild how *resilient* browser extensions often are!

Consider the context: I can extend any aspect of a webapp UI, with zero support or foresight by the original app devs... and it actually works?

I've built... See more

Today’s web browsers are relatively composable - you can add new functionality and features with extensions. Imagine if web browsers were locked down, and you had to choose between the core feature set alone: Chrome with built-in casting, Firefox with Pocket, or Brave with a crypto wallet. Thankfully you don't have to choose and be left so wanting... See more

an old blog post i wrote about browser extensions randomly hit HN today -- nice chance to write a lil update on how my views have evolved! https://t.co/JFXHgaMhLW

Take a look at what the Arc browser is doing with Boosts as an example of what DevTools could be; experimental, fun, and downright cool. In Arc’s vision of the web, websites aren’t this thing you build in between meetings with your manager, but are instead toys that you can mold and reshape in the palm of your hand. Arc brings back the spirit of... See more