A Chrome extension designed specifically for web developers to test and optimize their web applications for e-ink devices. Provides accurate e-ink display simulation, debugging tools, and performance analysis without requiring physical e-ink hardware.
The E-ink Simulator Extension helps web developers create e-ink-friendly web experiences by simulating the unique characteristics of e-ink displays directly in the browser. Whether you're building reading applications, documentation sites, or any web content intended for e-ink devices, this extension provides the tools you need to test and optimize your work.
- Realistic Visual Transformations: Converts web pages to grayscale with device-specific contrast adjustments
- Frame Rate Limiting: Simulates e-ink refresh constraints (1-15 Hz) for authentic performance testing
- Scroll Flash Effects: Mimics the characteristic white/black flash during e-ink screen refreshes
- Image Dithering: Floyd-Steinberg algorithm creates authentic e-ink dithering patterns
- Video Processing: Automatic e-ink optimization for video elements with reduced playback rates
- Device Profiles: Pre-configured settings for popular e-ink devices (Kindle, Kobo, reMarkable)
- Performance Metrics: Real-time FPS monitoring and e-ink compatibility analysis
- Element Inspection: Analyze how individual elements perform on e-ink displays
- Video Optimization: Automatic e-ink-appropriate video playback rate and visual filters
- Image Dithering: Floyd-Steinberg dithering algorithm for realistic e-ink image rendering
- Lazy Loading Support: Advanced detection and processing of dynamically loaded images
- Cross-tab Testing: Independent simulation settings per tab for A/B testing
- Debug Interface: Console methods for testing and verification of all features
- One-Click Toggle: Instantly switch between normal and e-ink simulation modes
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Quick access to simulation controls during development
- Settings Persistence: Maintains your preferred configurations across browser sessions
- Export/Import: Share simulation settings with team members
- Visit the Chrome Web Store
- Search for "E-ink Simulator Extension"
- Click "Add to Chrome"
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Clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/williamchong/e-ink-sim.git cd e-ink-sim -
Install dependencies:
npm install
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Build the extension:
npm run build
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Load in Chrome:
- Open Chrome and navigate to
chrome://extensions/ - Enable "Developer mode"
- Click "Load unpacked" and select the
distfolder
- Open Chrome and navigate to
npm run dev- Build with watch mode for developmentnpm run build- Production buildnpm run lint- Run ESLintnpm run type-check- TypeScript type checkingnpm run format- Format code with Prettier
- Enable Simulation: Click the extension icon and toggle "E-ink Simulation"
- Choose Device: Select a device profile (Kindle, Kobo, or reMarkable)
- Test Your Site: Navigate to your web application and observe the e-ink simulation
- Analyze Performance: Check the performance metrics in the extension popup
- Optimize: Use the debugging tools to identify and fix e-ink compatibility issues
- Grayscale Conversion: Device-specific grayscale filters with contrast adjustments
- Frame Rate Limiting: JavaScript animation throttling via requestAnimationFrame override
- Scroll Flash Effects: Authentic e-ink refresh simulation during scrolling
- Video Handling: Automatic playback rate reduction and visual filtering
- Image Dithering: Floyd-Steinberg algorithm with configurable intensity
- Lazy Loading Support: Advanced detection of dynamically loaded images
- Options Interface: Comprehensive settings page with real-time updates
- Cross-tab State: Independent simulation settings per browser tab
- Debug Tools: Console methods for testing and verification
- Settings Persistence: Chrome storage integration with sync across devices
- Performance metrics display in popup
- Advanced debugging recommendations
- Export/import functionality for settings
- DevTools panel integration
- Visual regression testing
- Community device profiles
- CI/CD integration
- Refresh Rate: 5 FPS
- Display: High contrast grayscale
- Best For: Reading applications, text-heavy content
- Refresh Rate: 4 FPS
- Display: Balanced contrast grayscale
- Best For: Mixed content with text and images
- Refresh Rate: 8 FPS
- Display: Paper-like grayscale with enhanced contrast
- Best For: Note-taking applications, interactive content
- Manifest V3: Modern Chrome extension architecture with service worker
- TypeScript: Type-safe development with comprehensive type definitions
- Vite Build System: Modern build tooling with hot reload and optimization
- Content Scripts: Page-level simulation and CSS injection
- World Scripts: Main world JavaScript API overrides (bypasses CSP)
- Service Worker: Background processing and cross-tab state management
- CSS Filters: Device-specific grayscale conversion with contrast adjustments
- requestAnimationFrame Override: JavaScript animation throttling via world script
- Scroll Event Handling: Custom scroll behavior with authentic flash effects
- Image Dithering: Floyd-Steinberg algorithm with canvas-based processing
- Video Processing: Automatic playback rate reduction and visual filtering
- Lazy Loading Detection: Multi-strategy image observation and processing
- Animation Timing: Throttles JavaScript animations to e-ink appropriate speeds
- CSS Animations: Slows down transitions and animations via injected CSS
- Video Playback: Reduces video frame rates and applies grayscale filters
- Scroll Physics: Modifies scroll behavior to match e-ink refresh limitations
- Image Processing: Real-time dithering with overlay system for non-destructive editing
The extension includes a comprehensive test suite to verify functionality across different scenarios.
- Open
tests/index.htmlin Chrome - Load the extension in developer mode
- Follow the on-screen test instructions
- Local Tests: Use
tests/manual/test-page.htmlfor basic functionality verification - Video Tests: Use
tests/manual/video-test-page.htmlfor video handling verification - Website Tests: Test on GitHub, Medium, and Wikipedia using guides in
tests/docs/ - Console Tests: Run verification scripts from
tests/scripts/in browser console
The extension includes automated test scripts for each major feature:
- Grayscale Conversion:
verify-task-1.4a.js - Frame Rate Limiting:
verify-task-1.4b.js - Scroll Flash Effects:
verify-task-1.5.js - Video Handling:
verify-task-2.2.js - Image Dithering:
verify-task-2.3.js
tests/
├── index.html # Test suite homepage
├── manual/ # Manual testing resources
│ ├── test-page.html # Basic functionality tests
│ ├── video-test-page.html # Video handling tests
│ ├── dithering-test-page.html # Image dithering tests
│ └── lazy-loading-test-page.html # Lazy loading tests
├── scripts/ # Console testing scripts
├── docs/ # Testing documentation and implementation summaries
└── README.md # Detailed testing guide
For detailed testing instructions, see tests/README.md.
- ✅ Basic e-ink simulation with grayscale conversion
- ✅ Frame rate limiting for JavaScript animations
- ✅ Simple popup UI with device profiles
- ✅ Core extension infrastructure
- ✅ Content script injection and CSS modifications
- ✅ Service worker with settings persistence
- ✅ Cross-browser message passing system
- ✅ Advanced visual effects (scroll flash effects)
- ✅ Video element handling with e-ink optimizations
- ✅ Comprehensive options interface
- ✅ Cross-tab state management
- ✅ Enhanced debugging tools and test methods
- ✅ Image dithering with Floyd-Steinberg algorithm
- ✅ Lazy loading image detection and processing
- ✅ World script injection for API overrides
- DevTools panel integration
- Visual regression testing
- CI/CD integration for automated testing
- Community device profiles
We welcome contributions from the developer community! This extension is built to help developers create better e-ink experiences.
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch:
git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature - Install dependencies:
npm install - Start development:
npm run dev - Make your changes and test thoroughly
- Submit a pull request
- TypeScript: All code must be type-safe
- ESLint: Follow the configured linting rules
- Prettier: Code formatting is enforced
- Testing: Include tests for new features
- Additional device profiles
- Enhanced visual effects
- Performance optimizations
- Documentation improvements
- Bug fixes and stability improvements
- Chrome: Full support (Manifest V3) - All features implemented and tested
- Edge: Full support (Chromium-based) - Compatible with Chrome implementation
- Firefox: Planned (requires Manifest V2 compatibility layer)
- Safari: Under consideration (requires Safari Web Extensions conversion)
- Cross-origin Content: Limited control over iframe content from different domains
- Native Scrolling: Cannot override touch scrolling physics on mobile devices
- Video Frame Rate: Cannot directly control video decoding frame rates (uses playback rate instead)
- Hardware Refresh: Cannot control actual monitor refresh rates
- CSP Restrictions: Some websites with strict Content Security Policies may limit functionality
- CSP Restrictions: World script injection via service worker bypasses most CSP limitations
- API Failures: Graceful fallbacks to CSS-only simulation when JavaScript overrides fail
- Lazy Loading: Multi-strategy detection handles various lazy loading implementations
- Performance: Optimized for development use with minimal overhead (~2-5% CPU usage)
- Memory: Minimal impact (~5MB additional memory usage)
- CPU: Low overhead during simulation (~2-5% CPU usage)
- Battery: Negligible impact on laptop battery life
- Disable simulation when not actively testing
- Use device profiles appropriate for your target hardware
- Test on representative content and user flows
- No Data Collection: Extension does not collect or transmit user data
- Local Storage Only: All settings stored locally using Chrome's storage API
- No External Requests: Extension operates entirely offline
- Open Source: Full source code available for security review
- Documentation: Check the Wiki for detailed guides
- Issues: Report bugs on GitHub Issues
- Discussions: Join the community in GitHub Discussions
We're actively developing new features based on community feedback. Submit feature requests through GitHub Issues with the "enhancement" label.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
- E-ink device manufacturers for hardware specifications
- Web developer community for feedback and testing
- Open source contributors who make this project possible
- Core Infrastructure: Manifest V3 extension with TypeScript and Vite build system
- Grayscale Simulation: Device-specific grayscale conversion with contrast adjustments
- Animation Control: requestAnimationFrame throttling for e-ink appropriate frame rates
- Scroll Flash Effects: Authentic e-ink refresh simulation with white/black flash sequences
- Video Optimization: Automatic playback rate reduction and visual filtering for video elements
- Image Dithering: Floyd-Steinberg algorithm with configurable intensity and lazy loading support
- Advanced UI: Popup interface and comprehensive options page with real-time updates
- Cross-tab Support: Independent simulation settings per browser tab
- Debug Tools: Console methods and verification scripts for all features
- Settings Management: Chrome storage integration with cross-device sync
- World script injection via service worker (bypasses CSP restrictions)
- Multi-strategy lazy loading detection for dynamic images
- Enhanced error handling and graceful fallbacks
- Comprehensive test suite with automated verification scripts
- Performance optimizations with minimal CPU overhead
- Complete implementation summaries for all features
- Detailed testing guides and verification procedures
- Developer-focused documentation with technical specifications
Built with ❤️ for the web developer community
Making e-ink web development accessible to everyone, one simulation at a time.