linux.do Title Blur

A tiny Manifest V3 browser extension that softly blurs linux.do sticky topic titles until hover.

What it does

When browsing a linux.do topic page, the site can show the current topic title in a sticky header near the top-left of the page while you scroll. This extension makes that sticky title less readable by default and reveals it on hover.

The extension is intentionally minimal:

• No background service worker
• No popup
• No options page
• No storage permission
• No external dependencies

Install in Chrome or Edge

1. Open the extensions page:

   • Chrome: chrome://extensions/
   • Edge: edge://extensions/

2. Enable Developer mode.

3. Click Load unpacked.

4. Select this folder:

   linuxdo-title-blur
   

Install in Firefox

Firefox 109 or later is required (Manifest V3 support).

Temporary install (for development):

1. Open about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox.
2. Click Load Temporary Add-on….
3. Select manifest.json in this folder.

The temporary add-on is removed when Firefox restarts. For a permanent install, the extension must be signed by addons.mozilla.org; the browser_specific_settings.gecko.id in manifest.json is required for that.

Note: Firefox may ask you to grant the extension access to linux.do. If the blur does not appear, open the extension's Permissions settings and allow access to linux.do.

Verify

1. Open a linux.do topic page, such as https://linux.do/t/....
2. Scroll until the sticky title appears near the top-left of the page.
3. Confirm the title is softly blurred by default.
4. Hover the title and confirm it becomes clear.
5. Move the mouse away and confirm it becomes blurred again.

Also check that regular topic list titles, search results, notification items, and the main topic title are not blurred.

Tuning

The visual effect is defined in src/content.css:

• Blur amount: filter: blur(2.8px)
• Default visibility: opacity: 0.78
• Edge feathering: mask-image and extra inline spacing

The sticky title detection logic is in src/content.js. If linux.do changes its DOM, inspect the sticky title in DevTools and adjust the candidate selectors or position checks there.

Browser support

Supported:

• Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Other recent Chromium-based browsers
• Firefox 109+ (see install notes above)

Safari requires packaging as a Safari Web Extension via Xcode's safari-web-extension-converter. Mobile browsers are not supported: the reveal interaction relies on hover, which does not exist on touch screens.

Links

• linux.do — the community this extension is built for

Disclaimer

This project is not affiliated with linux.do.