https://github.com/vamshi-ka/keeping-tabs
Firefox extension for automatic tab numbering and keyboard navigation. Built for Zen Browser.
https://github.com/vamshi-ka/keeping-tabs
browser-extension firefox firefox-extension keyboard-shortcuts productivity tab-management webextensions zen-browser
Last synced: 4 months ago
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Firefox extension for automatic tab numbering and keyboard navigation. Built for Zen Browser.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/vamshi-ka/keeping-tabs
- Owner: vamshi-ka
- License: mit
- Created: 2025-11-10T10:35:53.000Z (8 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-11-11T11:27:38.000Z (7 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-11-11T13:09:34.507Z (7 months ago)
- Topics: browser-extension, firefox, firefox-extension, keyboard-shortcuts, productivity, tab-management, webextensions, zen-browser
- Language: JavaScript
- Size: 3.05 MB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Keeping Tabs
[](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keeping-tabs/)
A lightweight Firefox extension that automatically numbers both pinned and unpinned tabs with separate visual styles, enabling lightning-fast keyboard navigation.
## Personal Note
```
- Specifically built for zen browser.
- Why I built this? I was frustrated that pinned tabs just took up the first numbers 1 through 8 for tab navigation.
- And I wanted something to switch tabs easily without taking my fingers off the keyboard.
- Hence, this was built for my personal use. I thought maybe if someone else is also facing this frustration, they can use this.
- Makes my life so so easy, I can easily navigate by looking at the tab and just hitting the number.
- I am not an expert at JS or understanding firefox extensions, I used the general logic of event listeners to get what I want through Claude code
- Only this Personal Note section is not Claude code generated. So feel free to take this and do whatever you want with it and help me add features.
- Another important Prerequisite - Touch Typing
```
## Features
- **Dual Tab Numbering**: Numbers both pinned tabs `(1)-(9)` and unpinned tabs `[1]-[9]` for easy identification
- **Keyboard Navigation**: Jump to any tab instantly with keyboard shortcuts
- **Separate Navigation**: Pinned tabs use `Alt+1-9`, unpinned tabs use `Cmd+1-9` (Mac) or `Ctrl+1-9` (Windows/Linux)
- **Smart Updates**: Tab numbers update automatically when you create, close, or move tabs
- **Non-Intrusive**: Only numbers the first 9 tabs of each type to keep things clean
## Installation
### From Mozilla Add-ons (Recommended)
Install directly from the official Mozilla Add-ons store:
**[Install Keeping Tabs](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keeping-tabs/)**
1. Click the link above
2. Click "Add to Firefox"
3. Confirm the permission request
4. Start using the extension immediately!
### Manual Installation
1. Download the latest `.xpi` file from [Releases](../../releases)
2. Open Firefox and go to `about:addons`
3. Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top right
4. Select "Install Add-on From File..."
5. Select the downloaded `.xpi` file
### From Source
1. Clone this repository
2. Open Firefox and go to `about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox`
3. Click "Load Temporary Add-on"
4. Navigate to the repository folder and select `manifest.json`
## Usage
### Tab Numbering
Once installed, the extension automatically numbers your tabs with different styles:
**Pinned tabs** (round brackets):
```
(1) Email
(2) Calendar
(3) Slack
```
**Unpinned tabs** (square brackets):
```
[1] GitHub - Your Repos
[2] Stack Overflow - Questions
[3] MDN Web Docs
```
### Keyboard Shortcuts
**Unpinned Tabs:**
- `Cmd+1` (Mac) or `Ctrl+1` (Windows/Linux) - Go to tab 1
- `Cmd+2` through `Cmd+9` - Go to tabs 2-9
**Pinned Tabs:**
- `Alt+1` - Go to pinned tab 1
- `Alt+2` through `Alt+9` - Go to pinned tabs 2-9
## Demo
Watch the extension in action:
## Why Keeping Tabs?
Modern browsing often involves juggling multiple tabs. Built-in browser shortcuts (`Cmd+1`, `Cmd+2`, etc.) navigate to tabs by absolute position, including pinned tabs, which can be confusing when you have many pinned tabs.
**Keeping Tabs** solves this by:
- Clearly numbering only your active working tabs (unpinned)
- Providing separate navigation for pinned tabs
- Updating numbers dynamically as you work
- Enforcing a "keep it clean" approach (max 9 numbered tabs)
## Technical Details
- **Manifest Version**: 2
- **Permissions**: `tabs`, `` (required for title modification)
- **Browser Support**: Firefox 48+
- **Architecture**: Background script with event-driven tab management
### How It Works
1. Monitors tab events (create, remove, move, pin/unpin, title changes)
2. Filters unpinned tabs and numbers the first 9
3. Injects JavaScript to modify `document.title` on each page
4. Uses debouncing to prevent race conditions during rapid changes
## Development
### Prerequisites
- Node.js and npm
- `web-ext` CLI tool: `npm install -g web-ext`
### Building
```bash
# Set up API credentials in .env file
echo "WEB_EXT_API_KEY=your-key" > .env
echo "WEB_EXT_API_SECRET=your-secret" >> .env
# Sign the extension
./sign.sh
```
### Testing
```bash
# Load as temporary extension
web-ext run
# Or manually:
# 1. Go to about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox
# 2. Click "Load Temporary Add-on"
# 3. Select manifest.json
```
### Debug Mode
To enable debug logging, edit `background.js`:
```javascript
const DEBUG = true; // Set to false for production
```
## Roadmap / Future Features
- [ ] **Customizable Key Bindings**: Allow users to configure their own keyboard shortcuts
- [ ] **Theme Support**: Customize number display format (e.g., `(1)`, `#1`, `1.`)
- [ ] **Tab Limit Configuration**: Allow users to number more or fewer than 9 tabs
- [ ] **Chrome/Edge Support**: Port to Manifest V3 for Chromium-based browsers
- [ ] **Tab Groups Integration**: Support for Firefox tab groups
- [ ] **Settings Page**: GUI for configuration instead of editing code
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature`)
3. Commit your changes (`git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature'`)
4. Push to the branch (`git push origin feature/amazing-feature`)
5. Open a Pull Request
## License
MIT License - see [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details
## Author
Built with ☕ by [Vamshi Kodipaka](https://github.com/vamshikodipaka)
## Acknowledgments
- Inspired by the need for better tab management in modern browsers
- Built using the Firefox WebExtensions API
---
**Star this repo if you find it useful!** ⭐