Highlight new comments, mute users, and other tweaks for Hacker News

Latest Version

Version
2.2.0
Update
October 19, 2023
Size
45.48KiB
Developer
Category
Users
89
Rating
4 ★
Manifest Version
2
Web Store Status
Languages Support
English
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Permissions
ContextMenus
Storage
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Comments Owl for Hacker News Extension

Browser extension which makes it easer to follow comment threads on Hacker News across multiple visits, showing which items have new comments, highlighting new comments and collapsing threads without new comments. It also adds the ability to annotate and mute other users, plus other UI and UX tweaks.

Features:

List pages:

• Show new comment counts since you last viewed each item - clicking on the \"X new\" link will highlight new comments and collapse comment trees which don't contain any new comments
• Prevent accidental flagging and hiding on mobile by making the \"flag\" and \"hide\" controls require confirmation, or hiding them

Item pages:

• Highlight new comments and collapse comment trees which don't contain any new comments when you revisit an item's comments - you can configure whether or not this happens automatically when you revisit
• Default comment folding controls are replaced with a Reddit-style left-aligned control, with a slightly larger hit target
• Manually highlight the X most-recent comments using the new \"highlight comments\" link on an item
• Mute users to hide their comments and replies to them - muted users can be managed on your own profile page
• Logged out users get a new 'muted' link in the header they can use to manage their muted users
• Add your own notes to other users on their profile page - the first line will be displayed next to their comments
• Toggle display of \"reply\" links below comments to make more room for comments on the screen
• Increased distance between the upvote and downvote arrows on mobile
• Increase the contrast of submission text

Navigation:

• Hide navigation items you don't use
• Add an \"upvoted\" link to the header to make it easier to get back to previously visited items
• Improves mobile navigation by display links below other header contents
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Source Manifest.json

{"update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx", "manifest_version": 2, "default_locale": "en", "name": "__MSG_extensionName__", "description": "__MSG_extensionDescription__", "homepage_url": "https://github.com/insin/comments-owl-for-hacker-news/", "version": "2.2.0", "icons": { "16": "icons/icon16.png", "48": "icons/icon48.png", "64": "icons/icon64.png", "96": "icons/icon96.png", "128": "icons/icon128.png" }, "background": { "scripts": [ "background.js" ] }, "content_scripts": [ { "matches": [ "https://news.ycombinator.com/*" ], "js": [ "content.js" ] } ], "options_ui": { "browser_style": true, "chrome_style": false, "page": "options.html" }, "browser_action": { "browser_style": true, "default_title": "__MSG_extensionName__", "default_popup": "browser_action.html" }, "permissions": [ "contextMenus", "storage" ]}
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How to download and manually install Comments Owl for Hacker News extension for Chrome

Looking for a way to install Comments Owl for Hacker News extensions for Chrome, you can search for them in the Chrome Web Store, clicking the "Add to Chrome" button, and following the straightforward process.

However, you may need to install Comments Owl for Hacker News extensions manually, this article outlines two simple methods to effortlessly install Comments Owl for Hacker News extensions, whether they come as unpacked folders in compressed formats like .zip or as .crx files.

Method 1: Download Comments Owl for Hacker News extension and manually install through Drag &Drop

If you ever need to manually install a Comments Owl for Hacker News extension for Chrome, don't worry, it's a simple process. Just follow these easy steps, and you will have your extension ready to use in no time.

Step 1: Download the Comments Owl for Hacker News Extension by clicking the "Download CRX" button on the website.

Look for the Comments Owl for Hacker News extension you wish to install. Go to the website and download the Comments Owl for Hacker News extension package, which is usually a .CRX file and comes in a zipped file. Here ".crx" file is the format for Comments Owl for Hacker News extension that contains all the data.

Step 2: Extract &Arrange Files

Once the file is downloaded, extract that file into its own folder. Similarly, give that extension files a permanent home. In other words, keep it in a folder that you don't accidentally delete it because these files will be needed to make that extension work.

Step 3: Go to the Chrome Extensions Page

Open Google Chrome and in the address bar, type chrome://extensions; it will open the Google Chrome extensions page. Make sure that "My extensions" is selected in the sidebar.

Step 4: Drag and Drop the Extension

Now, go to the folder where you extracted the Comments Owl for Hacker News extension and drag &drop the extension file from there anywhere onto the extension page within Google Chrome.

Step 5: Complete the Installation

Once you drag and drop the extension file, follow the steps that Google Chrome takes you through. Similarly, if the extension file is of .crx file format, you will be required to review the permissions and then add the extension.

Now, you can manage that added extension as you would like to with any other Chrome extension that you added through Chrome Webstore. Its icon will also appear in the Google Chrome Menu on the right side of the address bar once you activate it.

Method 2: Download Comments Owl for Hacker News extension for Chrome and install in Developer Mode

This is another method to install Comments Owl for Hacker News extension manually, but the twist is that here, you install by enabling the developer mode option provided in Google Chrome. This mode is commonly used for testing extensions or running unpublished tools.

Step 1: Download the Comments Owl for Hacker News extension file

Select and download the Comments Owl for Hacker News extension by clicking the 'Download CRX' button on the website.

Step 2: Extract the downloaded contents

Convert the file to a ZIP file if it is in CRX format then extract the Comments Owl for Hacker News extension zip file or folder that you downloaded. Make sure you extract it using the same folder name and keep it safely in another folder, so you don't delete it by mistake. The extracted folder will be needed to keep your Comments Owl for Hacker News extension running.

Step 3: Open Chrome Extension Setting Page

In the address bar of Google Chrome, type chrome://extensions and open the Chrome Extension Page.

Step 4: Enable Developer Mode

After opening the Chrome Extension page, look at the top right side, and you will find the toggle option of "Developer mode."Simply enable that developer mode option.

Step 5: Load the Unpacked Extension

Once you enable the developer mode option, you will see the menu of Load Unpacked, Pack Extensions and Update. From that, select the option "Load unpacked."

Step 6: Select the Extension Folder

Once the pop-up opens upon clicking Load unpacked, select the Comments Owl for Hacker News extension directory and click on the "Select Folder "button.

Step 7: Confirm and Install

After you select an extension folder of a Google Chrome extension you're installing manually, confirm its installation for the final time and let the installation complete.

Conclusion

Here we've made a step-by-step guide on How to manually install Comments Owl for Hacker News extension in 2 ways. We hope this guide proves helpful.

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