Chrome Extension Launch Kit
Config-driven Manifest V3 starter
The problem
Every new Chrome extension restarts from the same boilerplate: popup and options scaffolding, a settings system, a permissions story, a data inventory, and a release-readiness checklist — rebuilt slightly worse each time.
The build
A config-driven Manifest V3 starter built on WXT, React, and TypeScript. Clone it, run setup, and edit one file — extension.config.ts — which controls project metadata, tier, links, permissions, capabilities, data inventory, and developer panels.
Stack & choices
- WXTMV3 build tooling, dev server, and zip packaging
- React · TypeScriptStructured popup and options pages
- extension.config.tsSingle config file driving the whole template
Process notes
- 1
Three deliberate quality tiers — Internal, Public Source, Public Product — so a weekend tool and a Web Store release have different (documented) bars.
- 2
V1 is intentionally a template, not a builder: no analytics, no feedback backend, no store automation. Boundaries are written down in the PRD.
- 3
A check:extension health command verifies the config and release readiness before shipping.
- 4
Born from the patterns repeated across Piper TTS, TL;DW, and TubeVault — this kit is those lessons, extracted.