As a developer, having the right tools can make all the difference in productivity and efficiency.
A well-chosen Chrome extension can save time, automate repetitive tasks, and even enhance your coding skills.
After testing many, I’ve narrowed it down to six that have significantly improved my workflow.
And if Chrome’s tendency to drain CPU resources frustrates you, good news—all of these extensions work on Edge as well.
1. Merlin AI – The Smartest AI Assistant for Developers
Merlin AI is an all-in-one AI assistant designed to improve research, writing, coding, and productivity.
Unlike Claude 3.5, which I like for coding but often run into limitations, Merlin let me compare multiple AI models in one place.
Since each model has strengths and weaknesses, Merlin’s, provides instant access to leading AI models like GPT-4, Gemini, and Llama, helping developers generate, debug, and optimize code efficiently at a fraction of the cost making it the better choice.
Key Features:
- AI Chat & Coding Assistance: Debug and generate code instantly.
- Website & Document Interaction: Chat with webpages, PDFs, and YouTube videos for quick research.
- Live Web Search: Access real-time data without knowledge cutoffs.
- Multilingual Support: Communicate in 128 languages for global collaboration.
- AI-Powered Content Creation: Generate technical documentation, blog posts, and product descriptions.
- Smart Search Integration: Summarizes Google search results with citations.
Merlin AI is a powerful tool for coding, research, and automation, making it an essential addition to any developer’s toolkit.
✅ Works on: Chrome, Edge
2. daily.dev – Stay Informed Without the Clutter
I found out about this extension while watching a video on YouTube on Fireship's channel it is one of the video's sponsors and from that one I have been hooked.
Keeping up with industry trends is crucial, but finding relevant news can be overwhelming. daily.dev solves this by curating high-quality developer-focused content from trusted sources.
Key Features:
- Tech News Aggregator: Get the latest framework updates, best practices, and coding tutorials in one place.
- Personalized Feed: Customize your homepage with topics that matter most to you.
- Effortless Learning: Stay updated without spending hours searching for relevant content.
Instead of endlessly scrolling through multiple sites, daily.dev keeps you informed with minimal effort.
✅ Works on: Chrome, Edge
3. Talend API Tester – Debug APIs with Precision
While building an AWS-hosted application, I needed to test API endpoints to ensure data was being sent and received correctly. Talend API Tester helped me identify errors in the request headers that were causing authentication failures. Without it, debugging would have taken much longer.
Key Features:
Visual API Testing: Easily send and inspect REST, SOAP, and HTTP requests.
Real-Time API Validation: Check headers, response times, and body content to ensure API compliance.
Dynamic Requests: Insert variables for flexible and reusable test cases.
Response Visualization: View responses in multiple formats, including JSON, XML, and HTML.
Advanced Authentication: Supports OAuth, API keys, and other security protocols.
Import & Manage API Collections: Seamlessly import Postman Collections, OpenAPI (Swagger), and HTTP Archives (HAR).
Talend API Tester is essential for catching issues before deployment when working with cloud-hosted applications like AWS-based microservices.
✅ Works on: Chrome, Edge
4. ResumeGPT – AI-Powered Job Search & Resume Optimization
ResumeGPT helps developers optimize their resumes, cover letters, and job applications using AI. It ensures applications stand out by tailoring them to specific job postings.
Key Features:
- AI-Generated Resumes & Cover Letters: Automatically create well-structured application documents.
- Job Application Autofill: Save time by completing applications with a single click.
- Resume Scoring & LinkedIn Optimization: Improve your job profile and increase visibility to recruiters.
- Job Tracker Integration: Keep track of applications and manage your job search efficiently.
ResumeGPT streamlines the entire job application process, making it easier to apply for multiple roles while maintaining a high-quality resume.
✅ Works on: Chrome, Edge
5. Notion – The Ultimate Project Management Tool for Developers
Notion is my daily workspace for organizing projects, storing documentation, and planning development roadmaps.
Key Features:
- Web Clipper: Save and categorize useful articles, tutorials, and research materials.
- Project & Task Management: Plan sprints, track feature progress, and collaborate with teams.
- Knowledge Base Creation: Store code snippets, technical notes, and workflow documentation.
I use it daily to plan projects, arrange my thoughts, and map out my ambitious (and slightly ridiculous) plan to build my own LLM—because let’s be honest, if DeepSeek can do it cheaply, why not me? 😂
✅ Works on: Chrome, Edge
6. Monica.im – Your AI-Powered Research & Productivity Assistant
similar in some functions like Merlin AI, Monica has been a game-changer in helping me write in my own tone while simplifying complex concepts. It played a key role in landing me a freelancing gig—my employer praised how I explained technical terms clearly without oversimplifying.
Breaking down something like DNS for a non-techie is never easy, but Monica helped me craft that email in a way that was both professional and easy to understand.
Monica.im is a versatile AI assistant that combines advanced chat models with research, summarization, and content generation capabilities.
Key Features:
- Multi-Model AI Chat: Switch between GPT-4o, Claude 3.5, and Gemini 1.5 for different tasks.
- AI-Enhanced Research: Summarize webpages, documents, and YouTube videos for quick insights.
- Code, Write, and Translate Instantly: Get AI-generated text, translations, and programming solutions.
- AI Image & Video Creation: Generate custom visuals with advanced image-generation models.
Monica.im is an efficient research and productivity tool that integrates seamlessly into a developer’s daily workflow.
✅ Works on: Chrome, Edge
Bonus
LambdaTest – Cross-Browser Testing Without the Hassle
LambdaTest simplifies cross-browser testing by letting you preview websites on multiple browsers and devices in real-time.
Key Features:
Instant Browser Testing: Choose from 2,000+ browser environments and launch tests instantly.
One-Click Testing with Favorites: Save your most-used browser configurations for quick access.
Live Debugging: Identify and resolve CSS and JavaScript issues before deployment.
With LambdaTest, you can ensure your website works flawlessly across all platforms without switching between multiple testing environments.
✅ Works on: Chrome, Edge
Final Thoughts
These six extensions have transformed how I work as a developer. They help with coding, research, organization, cross-browser testing, job applications, and AI-assisted productivity. If you’re looking to streamline your workflow and optimize your daily tasks, these are must-haves.
Try them out and see the difference they make in your productivity.
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