Chrome Translation Extension

Problem

Living in Berlin as a multilingual expat, I was constantly switching between translation apps and browser tabs. Existing extensions were either bloated with features I didn't need or broke the reading flow by opening new windows.

Approach

Kept the scope razor-thin: select text, see translation inline, move on. Used the Chrome Extensions API to inject a lightweight overlay directly into the page. No new tabs, no popups, no account required.

Outcome

A tool I use daily. The project taught me how to work within the constraints of browser extension APIs — sandboxed environments, content security policies, and the tension between minimal permissions and useful functionality.