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

#1

Post by rufname » Tue, Oct 20, 2020, 4:14 PM UTC

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

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

#2

Post by amadeuspagel » Tue, Oct 20, 2020, 4:18 PM UTC

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

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

#3

Post by pwg » Tue, Oct 20, 2020, 4:18 PM UTC

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

There are likely many other plausible explanations.

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

#4

Post by leephillips » Tue, Oct 20, 2020, 4:19 PM UTC

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.

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

#5

Post by detaro » Tue, Oct 20, 2020, 4:19 PM UTC

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