Product Introduction

1. Params Editor for Chromium Browsers is a browser extension designed to streamline URL parameter management for technical professionals working with Chromium-based browsers like Chrome and Edge. It automatically detects parameter data types (text, numbers, booleans, JSON, dates, and lists) and provides specialized input controls tailored to each type, eliminating manual formatting errors. The tool integrates directly into the browser's interface, offering real-time editing with syntax highlighting, validation, and visual feedback for parameter changes.
2. The extension’s core value lies in its ability to reduce development and testing overhead by automating parameter handling, enabling users to focus on higher-value tasks like API debugging or data configuration. It replaces error-prone manual editing with structured inputs, ensuring parameter integrity while maintaining full visibility of the modified URL through its expandable display panel.

Main Features

1. Smart Parameter Detection: Automatically classifies URL parameters into six data types (text, number, boolean, JSON, date, list) using regex patterns and value analysis, then surfaces appropriate input controls. Numerical parameters receive validated fields with increment/decrement buttons, while JSON parameters trigger a syntax-highlighted editor with auto-formatting.
2. Type-Specific Input Interfaces: Provides dedicated UI components for each parameter type, including date pickers with timezone support, toggle switches for booleans, and list editors with drag-and-drop reordering. JSON parameters benefit from a built-in editor with linting and collapse/expand functionality for complex structures.
3. Real-Time URL Synchronization: All parameter edits instantly update the browser’s address bar while preserving encoding/decoding rules, with visual indicators showing modified values. Users can revert changes globally via a reset button or adjust individual parameters using history tracking.
4. Bulk Editing Capabilities: Enables rapid parameter additions through a smart input system that infers data types from entered values—typing "true" creates a boolean toggle, while "[1,2,3]" generates a list editor. Supports CSV/JSON import for batch parameter updates.
5. Developer-Centric Utilities: Includes syntax highlighting for parameter keys to distinguish URL components, keyboard shortcuts for common actions (Ctrl+S to apply changes), and export options for sharing parameter sets as JSON or environment variables.
6. AI-Optimized Performance: Leverages lightweight parsing algorithms to handle URLs up to 2,048 characters without latency, with background processes validating parameters without blocking UI interactions.

Problems Solved

1. Manual Parameter Handling: Eliminates the need to manually type, encode, or decode URL parameters, reducing errors in API testing scenarios where incorrect date formats or unescaped JSON break requests. Prevents common mistakes like using "TRUE" instead of "true" for boolean values through enforced input controls.
2. Target User Efficiency: Specifically designed for developers validating API endpoints, QA engineers testing edge cases with complex parameters, and data engineers configuring URL-based pipelines. Reduces context switching between browsers and external tools like Postman or JSON validators.
3. Workflow Bottlenecks: Addresses slow iteration cycles in scenarios like A/B testing (managing multiple variant parameters), OAuth flow debugging (handling nested JSON claims), or analytics tracking (bulk-editing campaign UTM tags).

Unique Advantages

1. Context-Aware Type Inference: Unlike basic parameter tools that treat all values as strings, this extension analyzes parameter values and usage patterns to dynamically serve optimized inputs—for example, detecting ISO 8601 timestamps and activating a date picker with millisecond precision.
2. Integrated JSON Ecosystem: Combines a full JSON editor with URL-specific features like base64 encoding toggles and placeholder variables, surpassing standalone JSON tools that lack URL integration. Supports schema validation using shared TypeScript interfaces from connected projects.
3. AI-Driven Development Edge: Built using AI collaboration (Cursor Pro, Claude, Gemini), the extension incorporates unconventional optimizations like auto-refreshing on build updates and Tailwind CSS v4 integration—features typically absent in manually coded alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does Params Editor support non-Chromium browsers like Firefox? The extension is currently optimized for Chromium browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave) due to API dependencies, but a Firefox version using WebExtensions API is planned for Q4 2024.
2. How does the JSON editor handle malformed syntax? Inputs are validated in real-time with red underlining for errors, and the system auto-formats valid JSON on blur. Users can toggle between raw and formatted views without affecting the actual parameter value.
3. Are modified parameters stored locally or transmitted externally? All data remains local to the browser session unless explicitly exported. The extension does not require internet access or use telemetry services, complying with enterprise security policies.
4. Can I use this for editing URL fragments or path parameters? Current focus is on query parameters (?key=value), but path parameter support (/users/{id}) with Swagger/OpenAPI integration is slated for v2.0 via community feedback.
5. How does hot reloading work during development? When running the extension in watch mode, changes to source files trigger automatic UI refreshes without manual browser reloads—a feature accidentally implemented by Claude during dev environment setup.