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

Announcement of SideTimeTable Release

Hello, this is badfalcon.
This time, I have released the Chrome extension "SideTimeTable" as a personal project. SideTimeTable is a tool that intuitively displays today's plans in the browser's sidebar. We developed this extension with the hope that daily schedule management can be understood at a glance without having to switch between tabs.

This kind of problem gave birth to ideas

"I forgot to schedule another meeting..."

I have had this experience many times myself. When you're focused on your work, you forget to check the calendar. At that time, I learned that a feature called SidePanel had been added to the Chrome extension, and I was inspired by, "If I use this, I can always see my plans even when I'm working on it?"

SideTimeTable was born from the simple idea that "if you're using Chrome, it would be convenient to have a timeline for today in the sidebar." It will be linked to Google Calendar and schedule updates will be automatically reflected. Additionally, we have implemented a feature that allows you to add locally to your personal appointments that are not registered in the calendar.

Key Features of SideTimeTable

• Intuitive Side Panel Display
  Today's events are arranged 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 Integration
  Connects to your Google Calendar, and schedule additions and changes will be reflected in real time, making it easy to check the latest information.
• One-click access to Google Meet meetings
  With Google Meet set up appointments, you can join the meeting directly by simply clicking on the appointment on the side panel. You can join the meeting smoothly without having to search for a meeting URL.
• 
  Even plans that are not registered in the Local Event Management You can record sudden notes and ideas without missing them.
• 
  Create your own easy-to-use timeline with options that can be adjusted to your liking, such as customizable setup

What I felt after actually using it

I have started using this extension on a daily basis, and I have rarely missed plans. When I'm working in a web browser, my schedule is always displayed in the side panel, so I no longer panic because I think about it, "Oh, there was a meeting."

Another surprising effect is that today's remaining work time is visualized, making it easier to plan "what work should I do in this free time?" It also seems to have an effect that naturally increases awareness of how to use your time.

What's particularly useful is that with a Google Meet meeting set up, you can simply click on the event on the side panel to join the meeting directly. Previously, a few minutes before a meeting would reopen the calendar by saying, "Huh, where is the URL?", but now you can connect to Meet with just one click, lowering the psychological hurdle to joining a meeting.

The strengths of SideTimeTable

In fact, there are surprisingly few extensions that display information in Chrome's SidePanel. As it is a relatively new feature in Chrome, there is still room for development in this area. As a pioneer, SideTimeTable proposes a new form of scheduling management on the browser.

The great advantage is that by placing the information in an exquisite position called the side panel that is always visible but not in the way, you don't have to switch tabs or launch another app, allowing you to check your schedule without interrupting the flow of work. You can see the value of this extension, especially when you have a high meeting day or when you have a project with close deadlines.

How to use and install

SideTimeTable is already available on the Chrome Web Store.
Simply click the "Add to Chrome" button from the Chrome SideTimeTable page and install it immediately.
In addition, detailed usage and screenshots can be found on https://badfalcon.github.io/SideTimeTable/ (The appearance will be improved in the future...)

The behind-the-scenes story of development

The initial development of SideTimeTable was carried out with the intention of bringing it into shape as quickly as possible from the moment the idea came to mind.
We were able to efficiently coding using AI tools (ChatGPT before Cline became popular) as an auxiliary, and completed the initial version in a short period of time.

However, the most difficult part was Google's application process for OAuth certification. User calendar information is confidential, so we had to prepare a page with detailed explanations of the purposes of use and a disclaimer. This is the first time I've learned that there is a more strict screening than I expected, with applications being rejected several times.

I was surprised that "it's a simple feature, but requires so much procedure," but I realized that this is an important step in protecting user privacy. It is only because of a lot of learning that I have overcome these processes and have settled into what I am today.

Future prospects

This release is just the first step. Actually, there's so much I want to do that I don't have enough time! We are considering the following improvements and new features to incorporate your feedback and make it even easier to use.

• Support for displaying multiple calendars
  Currently, only the schedules from the main calendar can be displayed, so you can switch between multiple calendars, such as for work or private use.
• Alert/Remind Function
  We plan to introduce a system that will further prevent oversight of appointments by adding a reminder function that will notify you before the schedule starts.
• Add notes to free space
  The ability to add simple notes to free time in the calendar, allowing you to manage small tasks.
• Expanding display customizations for enhanced
  display customizations by adding finer customization options such as colors, fonts, and display formats to improve usability.
• Bug fixes and stability improvements
  Based on feedback from users, we will continue to work on bug fixes and improving stability in operation.
• Supports Chromium browsers other than Google Chrome
  We will continue to improve the browser to make it more comfortable to use with Chromium-based browsers, such as Sidekick, other than Google Chrome.

About the contribution

SideTimeTable is published on GitHub as an open source project.
We would be very happy if anyone could contribute to everyone's opinions, suggestions for improvements, and new features.
If you're interested, please check out
the badfalcon/SideTimeTable Please contact us primarily through GitHub issue.

summary

The Chrome extension "SideTimeTable" was developed to solve the everyday challenge of forgetting meeting schedules yourself.

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

We would like to propose a new form of schedule management as one of the few extensions that utilize Chrome's SidePanel function. It is still in development, but we plan to continue to evolve it into a better tool, so please give it a try!

Please install SideTimeTable from the Chrome Web Store and try using it for yourself.

• SideTimeTable (Chrome Web Store)
• GitHub (participated in source code and development)

We look forward to hearing from you feedback and contributions. We will continue to improve your daily schedule management so that we can make it even more convenient, so please take care of us!