This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Nikhil Shukla
When I first started building Chrome extensions, it was mostly about solving small personal annoyances. Over time, I realized that many of these little problems weren’t just mine—other people were struggling with them too. That realization led me to build Cimple – Premium New Tab Experience, a Chrome extension designed to replace the default new tab page with something clean, useful, and minimal.
In this post, I’ll share the full journey: why I built it, the challenges along the way, the design and development process, and how it’s evolving. If you’re interested in browser customization, productivity tools, or building your own extensions, this story might give you some useful insights.
The Problem with the Default Chrome New Tab
The Chrome new tab page does its job, but it’s limited. You get a search bar, some frequently visited sites, and background options. For many users, that’s fine. For me, it became repetitive and uninspiring.
I wanted something that was:
- Minimal – No clutter, no distractions.
- Lightweight – Without the performance hit of animated or “live” backgrounds.
- Productive – A space that not only looks good but also adds small but meaningful functionality.
After trying out several existing extensions, I found that most were either too bloated or too focused on aesthetics without utility. So I decided to build my own.
Early Development and Core Ideas
I started by defining the core essentials I wanted in my new tab page:
- To-do list – Simple, lightweight, no login required.
- Quick notes – For ideas or reminders without switching apps.
- Clock and date – At a glance, with clean typography.
- Customizable backgrounds – Without compromising performance.
From the beginning, I set strict boundaries: no unnecessary features, no invasive permissions, no remote code execution. This wasn’t just for security—it was about keeping the extension lightweight and user-friendly.
Designing for Minimalism
Design was one of the biggest priorities. I wanted the interface to feel like the original Chrome layout, calm, uncluttered, and functional.
The UI went through several iterations. Early versions had too much text on the screen, few AI implementations, like an AI for breaking down a Big Task into a bullet point task and put it into the To-Do list, which distracted from the simplicity I wanted. Through trial and error, I trimmed it down to a layout where each element—tasks, notes, and time—has its own space without overwhelming the user.
Publishing on the Chrome Web Store
Once the core functionality and design felt solid, I moved on to publishing. If you’ve ever submitted a Chrome extension, you know the process requires careful attention to guidelines:
- Accurate descriptions: Explaining exactly what the extension does, without vague claims.
- High-quality screenshots: Showing the UI in action.
- Privacy transparency: Making it clear that no user data is collected.
After verification, the extension went live on the Chrome Web Store under the name Cimple – Premium New Tab Experience and Productivity.
Challenges Along the Way
The biggest challenge wasn’t building the features—it was finding the right balance between simplicity and usefulness. Too many features would bloat the extension, while too few would make it redundant.
Another issue was trust. When a new extension launches, Chrome sometimes displays a warning: “Not trusted by Enhanced Safe Browsing.” This happens because Google’s system hasn’t yet collected enough signals about the extension’s reputation. The only real solution is patience: continue following all best practices, maintain transparency, and give it time to build trust.
Custom Backgrounds
Cimple lets you personalise your new tab with a range of backgrounds, from subtle styles like Silk and Threads to more dynamic ones like Aurora, Particles, and Galaxy. Each option is designed to look great while staying lightweight, so you get variety without slowing down Chrome.
Feedback
After publishing, I shared the extension with a small community of users. The feedback was invaluable.
- Some wanted more customisation options.
- Others appreciated the simplicity and urged me not to overload it with features.
- A few suggested subtle quality-of-life improvements, like keyboard shortcuts.
This feedback loop is what’s shaping the roadmap going forward.
Roadmap and Future Plans
Cimple is still evolving. The current version delivers the essentials, but I have a few ideas on the horizon:
- Theme variations (Wide Categories, More Awesome Themes).
- More Widget Designs and Options
- Optional integrations with popular productivity apps.
Each new feature will go through the same test: Does this add real value without cluttering the experience? If the answer is no, it won’t make it in.
How You Can Try It
If you’ve ever found Chrome’s new tab uninspiring, or if you like the idea of combining minimal design with small productivity tools, you might want to give Cimple a try.
You can install it directly from the Chrome Web Store:
Cimple – Premium New Tab Experience
I’d love to hear your feedback. Whether it’s a suggestion, a critique, or just a first impression, it all helps improve the extension.
Final Thoughts
Building Cimple was more than just a coding project—it was about rethinking a space we all see dozens of times a day and making it a little more useful, a little calmer, and a little more personal.
If you’re a developer considering building your own Chrome extension, my advice is simple: start with a personal need, build for yourself first, and refine from there. The best products usually come from solving problems you actually have.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Nikhil Shukla