Browser extensions are underrated: the promise of hackable software

There are over 180,000 extensions on the Chrome store, and nearly half of all Chrome users have browser extensions installed. When people have an easy way to extend their software with useful functionality, they apparently take advantage.

Instead of being a passive user of pre-built applications, I can start assembling my own personalized way of using my computer.

Extension authors gain creative freedom because they don’t need to use application-specific APIs that reflect the original developers’ view of how people might want to extend their application.

The modern browser extension API has done a good job balancing extensibility with security, and yet we’re still grappling with the consequences of browser extensions invading people’s privacy. Giving extensions more power would raise the stakes further. Still, we shouldn’t give up in the name of security—we should fight for extensibility as a value... See more

Browser extensions are the rare exception that allow and encourage users to modify the apps that we use, in creative ways not intended by their original developers.