Ömer Duran
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3 min read
Better Start

Project Summary

Better Start is a distraction-free, keyboard-driven new tab extension for Chrome and Firefox.
It replaces the default new tab page with a clean command grid, powerful search, and useful widgets like clock and weather, so you can jump to what you need with a few keystrokes instead of clicking through menus.

Key Features

  • Quick Commands

    • Single-key shortcuts for instant navigation to your favorite sites
    • Customizable command grid with drag-and-drop reordering
    • Hidden commands that stay out of the grid but remain searchable
    • Search templates (for example: t hello → translates “hello”)

  • Smart Search

    • Multiple search engines (DuckDuckGo by default, plus Google, Bing, Yahoo, Brave, Ecosia, Startpage, Yandex)
    • Direct URL navigation by typing a URL
    • Command-aware search (e.g., r linux to search Reddit)
    • Path-style navigation (e.g., g/omerduran/better-start → GitHub repo)

  • Clock Widget

    • 12/24-hour format support
    • Optional date and seconds display
    • Secondary time zones with custom labels

  • Weather Widget

    • Real-time weather using wttr.in (no API key required)
    • Auto-detected or custom location
    • Celsius/Fahrenheit toggle
    • Extra stats like humidity, wind and UV index with toggles

  • Themes & Customization

    • Multiple built‑in themes: System, Light, Dark, Catppuccin, High Contrast and more
    • Custom theme via color pickers using CSS variables
    • Configurable grid columns and page title
    • Import/Export of all settings as JSON
    • Option to hide the settings button until hover

Tech Stack

  • Vanilla JavaScript with Web Components (Custom Elements)
  • Shadow DOM for encapsulated, themeable UI components
  • CSS Variables for theming and custom color support
  • Browser Storage API (sync) for persisting user preferences and layout
  • Chrome Manifest V3 and Firefox Manifest V2 for cross‑browser compatibility

Installation

Better Start is available on both major browser marketplaces:

  • Chrome Web Store – install directly from the store:
    https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ilnagcflpnafjkihcdeeeendjpoghlab
  • Firefox Add-ons – install from Mozilla’s add-on store:
    https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/better-start/