Float

A fast, minimal command palette for chromium-based browsers, inspired by Arc and Zen.

Currently supports:

• Web search
• Search bookmarks, history, and open tabs
• Helium-style bangs
• Edit current URL

In browsers that allow it, such as Helium, you can bind it to Ctrl+T.

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Install

Float isn't in the Chrome Web Store yet, so you install it as an unpacked extension.

1. Download float-vX.Y.Z.zip from the latest release.
2. Optionally, verify it.
3. Extract it to a folder you'll keep. The browser loads the extension from that folder, so don't delete it.
4. Open chrome://extensions, turn on Developer mode, click Load unpacked, and select the folder.

To update, download a new release, overwrite the old folder, and hit reload in chrome://extensions.

From source

git clone https://github.com/ethantheb/float.git
cd float
git checkout vX.Y.Z   # or stay on main for the latest code
npm ci
npm run build

Then load the dist/ folder as in step 4 above.

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Configuration

The default shortcut is Alt+T. To change it, go to chrome://extensions/shortcuts.

Float options live in the palette. Simply search for "Float options".

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Permissions

Float makes no network requests and sends nothing anywhere. Web searches use your browser's search engine, or the search URL you set in Float's options.

Permission	Why
Read and change all your data on all websites	Shows the palette on top of the current page. Float's script is loaded in every page ahead of time so the palette opens instantly; it only adds the palette and doesn't read or change the page.
tabs	Searches open tabs by title and URL, including browser pages like chrome://settings.
bookmarks, history	Searches your bookmarks and history.
favicon	Shows site icons from the browser's local icon cache.
search	Runs web searches with your default search engine.
scripting	Adds the palette to tabs where it isn't running yet: pages still loading, and tabs open since before Float was installed or updated.
storage	Saves your settings, and a local copy of the bang list (sourced from Helium browser).

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AI Acknowledgement

Float is developed with substantial help from AI models, as I'm not a web developer and this started as a personal experiment. I do still direct changes and test extensively.