Summary
- Geoff recently built a Twitter browser extension called Twemex.
- Twemex helps people find interesting ideas on Twitter by improving the platform’s search functionality.
- It ultimately gained tens of thousands of users and led to an acquisition.
- In this article, Geoff reflects on the benefits of building a browser extension.
- Side projects are often more rewarding when they customize or improve an existing app vs. starting from scratch.
- For the developer, it’s easier to find ideas, requires less operational overhead, and has easier distribution.
- For the end user, extensions smoothly add functionality to an app they already use and can support niche use cases.
- However, extensions have platform risk, require earning the pixels for a seamless experience, and the Chrome extension platform has its flaws.
- Overall, making extensions is a fun and efficient way to create useful software, especially with limited time and effort.
Original Article