I tracked my own distractions… and it made me realize how much time gets lost during daily browsing.
So instead of ignoring the problem, I built a solution.
I recently developed a Smart Productivity Assistant Chrome Extension using Manifest V3 and modern extension architecture. This was not just another practice project, but a productivity tool designed around real user problems.
The extension helps users:
• Automatically track time spent on websites
• Run smoothly in the background using Chrome Service Workers
• Display clear and simple usage analytics in a popup dashboard
• Block distracting websites to improve focus
• Work completely offline using privacy-focused local storage with no tracking or external servers
While developing this project, I focused on building production-ready architecture rather than just writing functional code.
Development priorities included:
• Clean and scalable project structure
• Proper separation of concerns between background, popup, content scripts, and options
• Following Manifest V3 best practices
• Using minimal and optimized permissions
• Writing developer-friendly and client-ready code
This project significantly strengthened my understanding of:
• Chrome Extension APIs in real-world applications
• Background Service Workers and Content Script communication
• Event-driven software design
• Product-focused development thinking
The objective was simple: build something practical, secure, and scalable that users could genuinely benefit from, not just a portfolio demonstration.
This is the first version, and I am looking forward to improving it further and building more real-world solutions.
I would appreciate feedback from developers, productivity enthusiasts, and Chrome extension users.
Do productivity tools genuinely help improve focus, or do they sometimes become distractions themselves?
Top comments (2)
This is super smart!! Tip: adding a tiny heatmap or chart of your tracked time could really make the impact visible… love how you built it around real user problems and not just for show!!
Thanks! Great idea, a small heatmap or chart would definitely make the impact clearer. Appreciate it! 🙌