If you're a front-end web developer, then there are going to be at least two windows that you'll have opened at all times. You'll have a text editor or an IDE for writing your code, and then you'll have a web browser for viewing the results. This week, we're going to be focusing on the web browser and looking at 10 browser extensions for Google Chrome that will make your life as a web developer a lot easier—and also one that won’t.
1. Wappalyzer
Number one on this list is probably everyone’s favorite of all of these Chrome extensions. I'm going to jump straight in with the best one, and that's Wappalyzer. Wappalyzer does some pretty cool stuff. You install the extension, and then you go about your day browsing the web. If you come across a website that looks particularly interesting, and you want to know what technology is used on it, then you just hit the little Wappalyzer icon, and it will show you all the technologies that power the site.
If it's using a front-end JavaScript framework, then you'll see it in there, and if they have things like Google Analytics on the page, then you'll see it as well. It even tries to work out what back-end server technology that page is using. As developers, this is really cool because it can introduce you to new technologies or show you new ways to use libraries that you're already aware of.
2. Lighthouse
Lighthouse is a Chrome extension that runs a bunch of performance and best practices tests on your website and can alert you if there are any issues before you go live. Although it is available as a Chrome extension, Lighthouse is now actually built into Google Chrome itself. You can get it by opening DevTools and navigating to the Lighthouse tab.
To use Lighthouse, you click on the "Analyze Page Load" button. It will perform a page refresh, reload your website, and capture performance analytics as it loads. Lighthouse then gives you a series of scores for things like performance and accessibility and provides recommendations for improvements.
3. Library DevTools
Most web front ends these days are built on JavaScript frameworks like React or Vue, Next.js, and most of these frameworks have well-supported Chrome extensions that make development and debugging easier.
For example, the React Developer Tools extension provides insight into the props and state of React components, making it easier to debug React applications. Similar extensions exist for Vue, Angular, and other frameworks, helping developers navigate the complexities of their chosen stack.
4. Hard Refresh
Hard Refresh is a simple but extremely useful Chrome extension. It adds a button to the extensions bar that clears your browser data and refreshes the page. This is really useful when testing your website, especially if you need to clear cookies or cached data to see how a new user would experience the site.
Yes, you can manually clear your cache through the browser settings, but this extension provides a one-click solution, which is a huge time-saver.
5. JSONView
JSONView is an extension that formats JSON responses when viewed directly in the browser. By default, Chrome simply displays raw JSON text, which can be difficult to read. With JSON View, JSON files are displayed in a structured format that allows you to easily navigate and explore the data.
6. WhatFont
WhatFont is a Chrome extension that helps you identify fonts on a web page. When you activate the extension, your mouse cursor changes, and you can hover over any text to see the font name. Clicking on a text element provides additional details about the font.
This is incredibly useful for designers and developers looking to replicate or learn from existing typography styles on the web.
7. ColorZilla
ColorZilla is a Chrome extension that allows you to pick colors from any web page. When activated, it provides an eyedropper tool that displays the color of any pixel you hover over. Clicking on a color copies its value to the clipboard, making it easy to use in your own designs.
It also displays colors in multiple formats (hex, RGB, etc.), which is useful when working with CSS or JavaScript color manipulations.
8. Dimensions
Dimensions is a Chrome extension that helps measure distances between elements on a web page. Unlike Chrome’s built-in DevTools, which can measure individual elements, Dimensions allows you to measure the space between two different elements, making it perfect for ensuring design consistency.
9. Lorem Ipsum Generator
Lorem Ipsum Generator is a Chrome extension that generates placeholder text for design mockups. Placeholder text is useful for focusing on layout and design without being distracted by actual content.
Interestingly, there are many variations of Lorem Ipsum text, including fun versions like "Bacon Ipsum" and "Pirate Ipsum," which add humor to the process of generating placeholder text.
10. CSS Peeper
CSS Peeper lets you inspect styles, colors, and assets on any website—without digging into the code. Hover over elements to see their CSS properties, margins, padding, and even download icons or images directly. It’s like a simplified DevTools for quick design checks.
Conclusion: Final Thoughts
These 10 Chrome extensions can significantly enhance your workflow as a web developer. Whether you're analyzing a website's technology stack, debugging front-end frameworks, optimizing page performance, or picking fonts and colors, there's an extension to make your life easier. Installing a few of these can save you time and improve your development process.
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