Build Anything with Perplexity, Here’s How

Summary

This video follows the process of building a custom Chrome extension to block distractions on Twitter and X.com. The creator shares their journey from initial code writing to overcoming challenges in making the extension work as intended. With AI tools like Perplexity and GPT, the process of debugging and refining the extension is showcased. Ultimately, the extension is adjusted to automatically take up the full screen when visiting the target websites, helping the user stay focused. The video highlights the ease of creating productivity-focused extensions with AI, even for beginners in coding.

Takeaways

• 😀 The user is building a Chrome extension to improve productivity by blocking distracting websites (Twitter and X.com).
• 😀 The extension should automatically display a full-screen overlay when visiting Twitter or X.com, blocking the ability to interact with the sites.
• 😀 The initial problem with the extension is that it only works when the user manually clicks the extension icon, rather than automatically triggering the overlay.
• 😀 The user wants to modify the functionality to ensure the overlay blocks the site as soon as they visit the specified websites, without any user interaction.
• 😀 The content script needs to be updated to inject the full-screen overlay and prevent scrolling on Twitter and X.com.
• 😀 The overlay should have a simple UI with buttons that redirect to productive sites, and it should be black in color, not just dimmed.
• 😀 The extension development process involves testing, debugging, and iterating multiple times to ensure the desired functionality is achieved.
• 😀 Manifest file changes are necessary to declare the appropriate permissions and ensure the content script runs for the targeted websites.
• 😀 The CSS file must be updated to create a full-screen overlay with fixed positioning, preventing any interaction with the website content.
• 😀 The user emphasizes that building Chrome extensions is more accessible today, even for those with limited experience in coding, thanks to AI tools like perplexity and GPT-4.
• 😀 The user successfully implements the extension and is pleased with the outcome, as it now works as intended, providing a productivity boost.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video?

The main issue discussed is the failure of the Chrome extension to automatically take over the screen and block access to Twitter and X.com when visiting those websites. The extension currently requires manual activation by clicking the extension icon.

What should the extension do when visiting Twitter or X.com?

The extension should automatically take over the entire screen when visiting Twitter or X.com, blocking any interaction with the site and preventing users from wasting time. It should display a full-screen overlay with buttons or messages.

What steps were initially taken to address the problem?

Initial steps included modifying the JavaScript code to detect when the user visits Twitter or X.com, and updating the CSS to initially hide the popup. However, the issue persisted, as the popup would only appear when clicking the extension icon, not automatically.

Why does the extension require manual activation?

The extension requires manual activation because the content script is likely not being injected or executed at the right time when the page loads. This results in the overlay not appearing until the extension icon is clicked.

What changes were made to the code to fix the issue?

The changes involved modifying the `manifest.json` file to ensure the extension runs only on Twitter and X.com. Additionally, the content script was updated to inject a full-screen overlay immediately after the page loads, blocking interactions with the site.

What was the issue with the overlay's visibility?

The overlay's visibility was compromised because the opacity was being reduced instead of using a solid background. This caused the tweets and other site content to still be visible behind the overlay, which defeated the purpose of blocking the site.

What was the final solution for the overlay's background?

The final solution was to set the overlay's background to be fully black, instead of lowering the opacity. This ensures that the entire screen is blocked, with no site content visible behind the overlay.

How did the debugging process help improve the extension?

The debugging process helped identify the key issues, such as the content script not running at the right time and the overlay not fully blocking the site. Through debugging, the code was updated to inject the overlay correctly and improve its visibility.

What did the creator use AI tools for in the project?

The creator used AI tools like Perplexity and GPT-4 to help with debugging, understanding the code, and implementing the necessary changes. AI assistance provided support in navigating complex aspects of coding, such as manifest file adjustments and content script logic.

What was the final result of the changes made to the extension?

After implementing the changes, the extension successfully blocked Twitter and X.com by taking over the entire screen. The overlay became fully black, preventing any interaction with the website, which achieved the desired productivity feature.