Ask HN: Why create a browser plugin instead of a bookmarklet?

Posted by rufname on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @12:14PM
from the ask-hn dept.

Why would somebody create a browser plugin, if the same functionality could be achieved with a bookmarklet? Are there advantages?

( 4 comments | 2 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Why create a browser plugin instead of a bookmark... by amadeuspagel on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @12:18PM (#24839149)

I don't have the bookmarks bar visible by default, so bookmarklets are basically useless to me.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why create a browser plugin instead of a bookmark... by leephillips on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @12:19PM (#24839182)

Good question. I use qutebrowser, which can run the equivalent of bookmarklets, but not plugins. One of the reasons I like it is that I can map any keys to invoke any script, including, but not limited to, javascript snippets.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why create a browser plugin instead of a bookmark... by pwg on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @12:18PM (#24839166)

One possible explanation: the individual creating a plugin instead of a bookmarklet is unaware of bookmarklet functionality.

There are likely many other plausible explanations.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why create a browser plugin instead of a bookmark... by detaro on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @12:19PM (#24839183)

Bookmarklets can't circumvent CSP policies (or at least couldn't always, not sure if this has changed), extensions can.

[ Parent | on HN ]