Remove distracting sidebars from StackOverflow.

Latest Version

Version
0.1.3
Update
June 4, 2019
Size
5.29KiB
Developer
shivankaul.com
Category
Users
232
Rating
4.70588 ★
Manifest Version
2
Web Store Status
Languages Support
English
See more
Permissions
See more

SidebarOverflow Extension

NEW: this works on all StackExchange websites now :) thanks to everyone who contributed code! Because of this, the extension might ask you for more permissions.

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I love Stack Overflow. But the sidebars can get annoying, especially the Meta and the Hiring ones. Plus, many a hour have I wasted browsing through \"Hot Network Questions\" because I saw some interesting post on English Stack Exchange. And oh my god the Chat thing is so useless.

This extension cleans all that up. I wanted to keep the Related and Linked questions though - that stuff's useful.

The screenshots show a Before and After view of the same Stack Overflow question.

GitHub: https://github.com/ShivanKaul/sidebaroverflow
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Source Manifest.json

{"update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx", "manifest_version": 2, "name": "SidebarOverflow", "description": "Remove distracting sidebars from StackOverflow.", "version": "0.1.3", "homepage_url": "http://shivankaul.com", "icons": { "64": "icons/64.png", "32": "icons/32.png", "128": "icons/128.png" }, "content_scripts": [{ "matches": ["*://*.stackoverflow.com/*", "*://*.stackexchange.com/*", "*://*.serverfault.com/*", "*://*.superuser.com/*", "*://*.askubuntu.com/*", "*://*.stackapps.com/*", "*://*.mathoverflow.net/*" ], "js": ["src/remove.js"], "run_at": "document_end" }]}
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How to download and manually install SidebarOverflow extension for Chrome

Looking for a way to install SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow extensions manually, this article outlines two simple methods to effortlessly install SidebarOverflow extensions, whether they come as unpacked folders in compressed formats like .zip or as .crx files.

Method 1: Download SidebarOverflow extension and manually install through Drag &Drop

If you ever need to manually install a SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow Extension by clicking the "Download CRX" button on the website.

Look for the SidebarOverflow extension you wish to install. Go to the website and download the SidebarOverflow extension package, which is usually a .CRX file and comes in a zipped file. Here ".crx" file is the format for SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow extension for Chrome and install in Developer Mode

This is another method to install SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow extension file

Select and download the SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow 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 SidebarOverflow extension in 2 ways. We hope this guide proves helpful.

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User reviews

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Janac Meena (ID: 00000036ded7419e) Voted 1 ★ - Updated 12/08/2020 No longer works to remove the "meta" sidebar?

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Forrest Hopkins (ID: 000000142038229c) Voted 4 ★ - Updated 04/06/2020 I've really struggled to not look at the HNQ sidebar for fear of Endgame spoilers, and it's not going well. This extension saved my life. Does exactly what it says it does. I do think it would be nice if it had some options though -- like which sidebars to remove. EDIT: Doesn't work for AskUbuntu or SuperUser or any site that's not a subdomain of SE.com -- really reduces the usefulness of the extension EDIT 2: Now works for other domains, thanks dev! EDIT 3: I've appreciated this extension a lot over the past year but it's time to put it out to pasture; there's now a "Hide HNQ" setting built into SE. Thanks to everyone involved for helping prove the demand for this feature!

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Miriam Simone (ID: 0000001548583bee) Voted 5 ★ - Updated 02/11/2020 Beautiful, love you man ❤️

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EZ Carnivore (ID: 0000000902925efb) Voted 5 ★ - Updated 05/03/2019 I've got ADD, and not having to see the big list of distractions on the side of Stack Overflow has been a huge help for me! Only suggestion is to also remove the Teams thing on the left side that pops up over the question randomly. Thanks for the great extension!

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fredsbend (ID: 000000209760876a) Voted 5 ★ - Updated 12/07/2018 After SE's recent addition of a right sidebar, along with the already intrusive left sidebar, I flipped a lid. Basically wrote them hate mail on meta, then made my own custom extension to fix the stupid site theme and get my screen space back. I was going to polish it up and upload to the Chrome store, but saw yours already here. It works perfectly and does nearly everything my custom one was dong. Thanks.