I created an extension that displays day's schedules in the browser side panel.

SideTimeTable Release Announcement

Hello, this is badfalcon.
I've recently released a Chrome extension called "SideTimeTable" as a personal project. SideTimeTable is a tool that intuitively displays your schedule for the day in the sidebar of your browser. I developed this extension in the hope that it would help you manage your daily schedule at a glance, without the hassle of switching between tabs.

The idea was born from this problem

"I forgot about the meeting again..."

I've had this experience many times myself. When I'm concentrating on my work, I forget to check my calendar. Then I found out that a new Chrome extension called SidePanel had been added, and I had an idea: "If I use this, I might be able to always see my schedule while I'm working."

SideTimeTable was born from the simple idea that "If you use Chrome, it would be convenient to have a Today Timeline in the sidebar." It works with Google Calendar, and schedule updates are automatically reflected. It also has a function that allows you to add personal schedules that are not registered in the calendar locally

Main features of SideTimeTable

Actual screen of SideTimeTable

Actual screen

  • Intuitive side panel display
    Today's events are displayed in chronological order in the side panel that is always displayed on the right side of the browser. The simple design allows you to see the entire schedule at a glance.
  • Google Calendar Link
    with your Google Calendar, and any additions or changes to your schedule will be reflected in real time, making it easy to check the latest information.
  • One-click access to Google Meet meetings:
    For events with Google Meet configured, you can join the meeting directly by simply clicking on the event in the side panel. This allows you to join the meeting smoothly without having to search for the meeting URL.
  • Local Event Management
    You can add and edit events that are not registered in the calendar directly on the spot, so you can record sudden notes and ideas without missing anything.
  • Customizable settings
    Create your own easy-to-use timeline with options to adjust work time, display color, and more to your liking.

What I felt after actually using it

Since I started using this extension on a daily basis, I rarely miss any appointments. My appointments are always displayed in the side panel while I'm working in my web browser, so I no longer have to panic when I remember I have a meeting

Another unexpected benefit is that the remaining work time for the day is now visible, making it easier to plan what tasks to work on in my free time. It also seems to have the effect of naturally raising awareness of how I use my time

What's particularly convenient is that if a Google Meet meeting is scheduled, you can join the meeting directly by simply clicking on the event in the side panel. Previously, a few minutes before the meeting, I would have to reopen my calendar and wonder, "Where's the URL again?", but now I can connect to Meet with just one click, which lowers the psychological hurdle of joining a meeting

Strengths of SideTimeTable

In fact, there are surprisingly few extensions that display information in Chrome's SidePanel. As this is a relatively new Chrome feature, there is still room for development in this area. SideTimeTable is a pioneer in this area, proposing a new way of managing schedules in the browser

The side panel is a great way to view your schedule without interrupting your workflow, as it places information in a convenient location that's always visible but not intrusive. This is especially useful when you have a busy day with many meetings or a project with a deadline looming

How to use and install

SideTimeTable is already available on the Chrome Web Store.
You can install it instantly by simply clicking the "Add to Chrome" button on the "SideTimeTable" page in Chrome.
Detailed instructions and screenshots are also available on the official landing page ( https://badfalcon.github.io/SideTimeTable/ ), so please take a look. (The appearance will be improved in the future...)

The story behind the development

From the moment the idea for SideTimeTable came to mind, we were determined to put it into shape as quickly as possible.
We efficiently progressed with coding, using an AI tool (ChatGPT, before Cline became popular) as a supplement, and were able to complete the initial version in a short space of time.

However, the most difficult part was the application process for Google's OAuth authentication. Because users' calendar information is confidential, we had to prepare a page with a detailed explanation of the purpose of use and a disclaimer. Our application was rejected several times, and we realized for the first time that the screening process was much stricter than we had expected

I was surprised that such a simple feature required so many steps, but I understood that it was an important step to protect user privacy. It was only after learning so much that we were able to overcome these processes and settle on the current form

Future prospects

This release is just the first step. There's so much we want to do, and so little time! We're considering the following improvements and new features to make the tool even easier to use, while incorporating your feedback

  • Support for displaying multiple calendars
    Currently, only the events on the main calendar can be displayed, but we will make it possible to switch between multiple calendars, such as work and personal calendars.
  • Alert/Reminder Function
    We plan to add a reminder function that notifies you before an appointment starts, and introduce a system to further prevent you from overlooking an appointment.
  • Adding notes to free spaces
    This function allows you to add simple notes to free spaces on the calendar, allowing you to manage even small tasks.
  • Expanded display customization:
    More detailed customization options for colors, fonts, display formats, etc. have been added to improve usability.
  • Bug fixes and improved stability Based
    on user feedback, we will continue to work on bug fixes and improving operational stability.
  • Support for Chromium browsers other than Google Chrome
    We will continue to make improvements so that the site can be used comfortably with Chromium-based browsers other than Google Chrome, such as Sidekick.

About Contributing

SideTimeTable is an open source project available on GitHub.
We welcome everyone's contributions, including opinions, suggestions for improvements, and new features.
If you're interested, please see
badfalcon/SideTimeTable Please use GitHub Issues for contact.

summary

The Chrome extension "SideTimeTable" was developed to solve the everyday problem of forgetting scheduled meetings

With an intuitive side panel display, Google Calendar integration, one-click access to Google Meet, local event management, and a wide range of customization features, it provides an environment where you can easily check and participate in events while working on your PC

As one of the few extensions that utilizes Chrome's SidePanel function, we hope to propose a new way of managing your schedule. It is still in development, but we plan to continue evolving it into an even better tool, so please give it a try!

Please install SideTimeTable from the Chrome Web Store and try it out

We look forward to your feedback and contributions, and we'll continue to improve the app to make it easier for you to manage your daily schedule

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The person who wrote this article

About the author

Sujun

In the past, I worked at a game company creating games.
My hobbies are programming and games (LoL, etc.).
I love Figaro at Disney!