Plasmo

Plasmo is a development platform for creating browser extensions. It provides a framework that lets developers use modern web technologies like React, Svelte, and Vue to build extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers. The core idea is to simplify the entire process, from writing the first line of code to publishing the finished extension in official web stores.

It works by providing a dedicated build system and runtime for extensions. Developers write their UI components as they normally would, and Plasmo handles the complex task of mounting them into the browser's extension architecture. Key technical features include live-reloading for instant feedback during development, automatic prevention of CSS style conflicts, and tools to manage browser-specific logic. A companion service called Itero handles deployment, allowing teams to share test builds instantly and publish to web stores.

This tool is built for developers and teams who want to create browser-based tools without getting bogged down in the low-level details of extension APIs. It's useful for building productivity add-ons, developer tools, or any software that enhances the web browser. Companies like Liveblocks and ArConnect have used Plasmo to build and ship their own extensions more efficiently.