Intentional YT
A privacy-first browser extension designed to strip distraction from YouTube.
Overview & Context
Intentional YT is an open-source browser add-on published on Firefox AMO and compatible with Chromium browsers. It lets users reclaim their focus by surgically removing the homepage algorithm, infinite Shorts shelf, and sidebar recommendations without breaking core video playback.
The Technical Challenge
Most content-blocking extensions inject their styles or scripts after the page loads (DOMContentLoaded), causing an annoying 'flash of unstyled content' (FOUC) where clickbait thumbnails flicker on screen for 300ms before disappearing. Furthermore, many commercial extensions track user viewing data.
The Engineered Solution
Engineered a zero-telemetry architecture injecting declarative CSS rules at 'run_at: document_start' so blacklisted elements are blocked before the first paint occurs. User preferences and watch timers are stored locally using browser.storage.local with 0% external network calls.
System Architecture & Key Decisions
Early DOM Interception
Content script rules applied before initial render to prevent visual layout flashing.
Local Storage State Machine
Synchronizes extension popup toggles with active YouTube tabs via browser runtime messaging.
Zero-Dependency Footprint
Built with pure vanilla JavaScript and high-performance CSS attribute selectors for minimum memory overhead.
Key Features Shipped
- ✓Zero flash of algorithmic content via document_start injection
- ✓Granular toggle switches: hide homepage feed, comments, or Shorts
- ✓Local-first watch time timer keeping you aware of usage
- ✓100% private: no tracking scripts, no telemetry, zero analytics
- ✓Published live on Mozilla Firefox Add-ons (AMO)
What I Learned
- Learned the browser WebExtensions API lifecycle (background workers, content scripts, popup context).
- Gained deep appreciation for browser rendering pipelines and avoiding layout thrashing.
- Navigated the Firefox Add-on review and publishing workflow successfully.