This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sushil Bajracharya
Check out WebLines on the Chrome Web Store and follow along with the story below.
Back story
While working on a complex design project recently, I found myself obsessing over alignment—tweaking absolute positions and spending more time than I’d like to admit, and then, half-jokingly, I told my teammates:
“I think I need a ruler to check if these elements are in line!”
That random joke sparked an idea:
“What if I could have a ruler inside my web browser?”
A tool that lets me draw straight lines across a webpage to check alignment quickly and visually.
I immediately searched the Chrome Web Store, and as expected, someone had already thought of it.
But instead of feeling discouraged, I saw an opportunity. I thought:
“Why not build my version with my twist?”
I tried a few amazing existing extensions, read their reviews, and noticed some areas where the user experience could be improved. So I built a version that addressed those gaps and better fit my workflow—hoping it might help others too. That’s how WebLines was created.
What is WebLines?
WebLines is a simple Chrome Extension that allows you to draw horizontal or vertical lines across any webpage. These lines help you visually verify whether elements are aligned properly. No more squinting or nudging with guesswork.
You can:
- Draw multiple lines anywhere on the screen
- Customize line color and opacity
- Remove lines easily
- Manage everything from a clean, user-friendly popup
It’s designed to be lightweight, intuitive, and genuinely helpful. Something I wish I had when I was aligning those divs.
Try WebLines
Install WebLines from the Chrome Web Store
Final Thoughts
WebLines started as a random joke, but turned into a tool I now rely on whenever I need to check visual alignment. It’s simple, reliable, and does exactly what I built it for.
If you’re a developer or person who values precision, give WebLines a try, and if you do, I’d love to hear your feedback. Let me know how it felt using it so I can keep improving it for everyone.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sushil Bajracharya