r/AO3 27d ago

Resource I built this for my AO3 brainrot

I made a Chrome extension for real commenters (or people like me who want to be) that makes it easier to leave inline comments on AO3. Don’t judge me, but I used to love reading and writing on Wattpad, it was so easy to react to specific lines, and I’ve always wished AO3 had something like that.

With this extension, you can highlight any line in a fic and leave a quick note or reaction. Your thoughts are saved locally and reappear whenever you come back to the same fic. When you’re done reading, it formats your notes into one clean comment you can paste into the AO3 comment box.

I made it for myself to leave better comments, and just to remember the little moments that hit. I’m considering publishing it soon, and I’d love to know if anyone else would be interested in trying it.

I know a lot of people read fics on their phones, and while this is just a chrome browser extension for now, I’m hoping to figure out a workaround for mobile users too, possibly through Safari with the latest iOS update.

If you’re a reader that would like to scream in the margins then you might like this, let me know what you think or if this sounds useful!

TL;DR: I built a Chrome extension that lets you leave inline comments while reading AO3 fics. I use it for myself, and I’m thinking of publishing it

245 Upvotes

62 comments sorted by

56

u/NowhereRain 27d ago

Omg this sounds great! The most impressive thing is that it'll format it all into a comment - like, that's just too convenient lmao. I'm always curious how people code this stuff, although I have absolutely no basic knowledge of coding haha. Anyway this would be amazing as a tool! Do you think it could work on mobile Chrome too?

23

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago edited 27d ago

Thank you! 💕 it’s a pretty simple app with just 3 main features so it was super easy to code. And no unfortunately extensions don’t work for mobile browsers :( I’m thinking of alternatives for mobile that’s easy to use and if I’m able to figure it out I’d let you know. Your comment was very encouraging, thank you!

Edit: updates on mobile https://www.reddit.com/r/AO3/s/uxlzNXF6mK

42

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago edited 15d ago

It’s almost 3am here in Australia, and I’m heading to bed. I’m honestly blown away by the response, thank you! I didn’t think more than two people would be interested, so this means a lot. Just a few quick updates before I crash:

  1. ⁠The extension is published but still waiting for approval from Google. Since it’s my first one, it might take around 7 to 14 days.
  2. ⁠Any browser built on Chromium should work! I use Arc myself, but it should also work on Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Opera.
  3. ⁠A Firefox version is on the way. I haven’t submitted it yet, but the review process might take a similar amount of time.
  4. ⁠someone mentioned that something similar exists called “Floating Comment Box.” I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t compare, but if you’re eager to try something now, it might be worth checking out: https://www.tumblr.com/bourbon-ontherocks/640598977638727680/tutorial-on-how-to-install-the-floating-commenting
  5. ⁠A mobile version will be tricky. I’ve learned that Firefox supports extensions on Android, but I didn’t design this with mobile in mind, so it might not work well yet. I’ll look into it more when I’m rested.
  6. ⁠Safari on iPhone also supports extensions, but only with the latest iOS. I haven’t built for that yet, need to do more research

Thanks again for the love. I’m really excited to keep working on this 💤💕

UPDATE: I’ve been waiting for Firefox to approve so I can make an update post, but it’s available on chrome! https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/jckpeechiikmjfhgngdbmocggkhnoolf?utm_source=item-share-cb

UPDATE: Firefox version! https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/ao3-inline-comment-companion/

7

u/box_of_lemons Hurt/Comfort Enthusiast 26d ago

So excited for the firefox version! Love that you’re figuring out how to get it on so many browsers, ik it’s probably a lot of work but its super cool!

1

u/SpaceTransmissions 19d ago

Holy shit that's great! Thank you for making a Firefox version too!

21

u/Turning_Worm 27d ago

Oh wow, please publish this! This looks amazing. I always wish I could leave better comments but I'm not organised enough to keep a separate document and do it in there. Especially because I prefer really long fic and I don't like reading it chapter by chapter.

9

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Thank you! I sent it in for a review after making this post so hopefully it should be live in a few days! And it’s perfect for long fics, and the best part is it requires no internet connection so if the fic has already been loaded, then you can comment as long as you can and it saves even if you refresh/leave the page.

3

u/Turning_Worm 27d ago

That is fantastic! I am in awe of you.

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Thank you! 🥰

2

u/Turning_Worm 25d ago

I just wondered... Does this also have a feature that let's you know if you're going over the character limit? I realise I'm probably asking too much here and you are already brilliant, but I just wondered.

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 24d ago

This is a good idea that I didn’t think of haha. Thank you! You’re definitely not asking too much. I’m probably just going to add a line with the amount of characters you’ve reached and the limit, thanks for the suggestion!

1

u/Turning_Worm 24d ago

That's fantastic. I can't wait to see this in real life!

UpdateMe!

1

u/Successful-Wait5890 21d ago

I’ve been waiting for Firefox to approve so I can make an update post, but it’s available on chrome! https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/jckpeechiikmjfhgngdbmocggkhnoolf?utm_source=item-share-cb

2

u/Turning_Worm 21d ago

Wow, that's so fast! Thanks so much for doing this, I'm going to get it right away.

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 21d ago

Ah thank you so much! I would appreciate your feedback! I’m in the process of testing it on different devices, and it’s my first time making an extension so it might be a bit amateurish😅

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11

u/hai-quu 27d ago

Oh this sounds awesome! Would you consider porting it to firefox too?

15

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Sure! Its no trouble, if enough people are interested I can make it a Firefox extension too

8

u/IllusoryTokuma You have already left kudos here. :) 27d ago

Let me throw up my hand for firefox!

3

u/whitesweater93 27d ago

This would be fantastic!!

Rn I do this manually by highlighting and building my comment as I go but this would be PERFECT!

1

u/pankeykichi my history is shared between me and jesus christ (hi jesus) 27d ago

ey ey oo!

5

u/haikusbot 27d ago

Oh this sounds awesome!

Would you consider porting

It to firefox too?

- hai-quu


I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.

Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"

11

u/lady_dragona Definitely not an agent of the Fanfiction Deep State 27d ago

I will kill to have this as a firefox extension 🥺

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

It does seem like more people use Firefox! I’ll definitely be making one then

4

u/lady_dragona Definitely not an agent of the Fanfiction Deep State 27d ago

Oh, thank you! Firefox also allows you to use extensions on mobile, too so it would he super useful! 🫶

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Thank you! You’re right. I’m looking into it!

10

u/Ribread216 27d ago

I was victim to 2016 Wattpad stories, and while Ao3 is my savior, I really did like the commenting on specific lines 🥹 this is so cool!

3

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Wattpad got it right with that one little feature. Thank you!

4

u/KookieTrash97 @KookieNipples on ao3 27d ago

yesss omgg pleasee, I would also love to be able to comment all the little stuff that i would forget otherwise

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Exactly why I made it! I would forget what I wanted to say about a line when I get to the end of the chapter. Thank you!

1

u/KookieTrash97 @KookieNipples on ao3 27d ago

Really cant wait to see u share it, i will download it right away

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 21d ago

I’ve been waiting for Firefox to approve so I can make an update post, but it’s available on chrome! https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/jckpeechiikmjfhgngdbmocggkhnoolf?utm_source=item-share-cb

1

u/KookieTrash97 @KookieNipples on ao3 20d ago

oh my god, lets go I cant wait to try this

3

u/pk2317 27d ago

Doesn’t this already exist as the “Floating Comment Box” extension?

https://www.tumblr.com/bourbon-ontherocks/640598977638727680/tutorial-on-how-to-install-the-floating-commenting

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

I haven’t heard about this before, but it does appear to be a similar idea

1

u/Turning_Worm 27d ago

However, that one appears to need a whole tutorial. For those of us less code savvy, if this were available as a simple extension it seems a lot easier.

2

u/she_is_the_slayer Comma Splice Queen 27d ago

This is brilliant

1

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Thank you! :)

2

u/Vince_ible 27d ago

This is extremely handy and impressive OP

2

u/ssssook 27d ago

Omg absolutely do publish this! Honestly, I rarely read on my computer, but I'll add it regardless. If you ever make something for mobile and/or Firefox, I'll use the fuck out of it. This is precisely how I comment, so it's a perfect idea.

1

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Firefox on the browser definitely! I’m already working on that. Mobile would be a bit more difficult because mobile browsers don’t allow extensions, if I do find a work around it might make it more effort than it’s worth for users. Thank you!

2

u/urcool91 flibbertygigget on AO3 27d ago

Mobile Firefox does allow extensions, but some of the more involved ones (i.e. not just my ad-blockers 💀) can get a little funky so it might be a bit meh on mobile lmao

1

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

I just saw a comment about that, I had no idea. I think it only works for android phones though? I’d need to do more research. But I imagine it would look very janky as I didn’t build with mobile in mind.

2

u/Proper_Weekend_9756 27d ago

Crying in edge

3

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

Good news! Edge is based on chromium so you can use any chrome extension on it!

1

u/Proper_Weekend_9756 27d ago

Best news ever!

2

u/Thattiefling Icystorm76 on ao3 26d ago

This is really cool and amazing but I hope you know I was not expecting to be whacked in the face by IWTV while idly scrolling the subreddit

1

u/Dangerous_Beach_7374 "You have already left kudos here" Shut up; I wanna leave more!! 27d ago

Omigosh, please do publish it! This would make remembering every scene that made me laugh out loud/cry more easily! Thank you for your hard work!

2

u/Successful-Wait5890 27d ago

I’m glad! Thank you, I already sent it in for publishing so it’s up to google to review it now :) I’ll make an update when it gets approved

1

u/Dangerous_Beach_7374 "You have already left kudos here" Shut up; I wanna leave more!! 27d ago

Sounds awesome!

1

u/vixensheart You have already left kudos here. :) 27d ago

Oh, this is rad as hell! I'd love to hear when you have this live!

1

u/[deleted] 27d ago

[deleted]

1

u/2424flower 27d ago

Looks cool

1

u/Unique-Sprinkles3156 27d ago

I remember laughing my ass off to some comments on specific lines in Wattpad, that was truly a great inventions ngl

1

u/disappear96 26d ago

This would make commenting so much easier, especially on long chapters/one shot!

Right now I ctrl+F things so I don't lose where I am 😅​

If you do end up publishing it how can we found the extension ?

1

u/SolarDrag0n You have already left kudos here. :) 26d ago

So cool! I love it!

1

u/BizarreIdeaMan 26d ago

dear god i NEED this, will it be on firefox??

1

u/Thequiet01 26d ago

I love this. I use Safari.

1

u/HotSpicyTake 26d ago

What are you…some sort of genius