One of the biggest complaints of Google Chrome fans (yes, they are growing in numbers) is that the amount of customization one can do is minimal. Hackers have already found ways to install custom themes, create a portable Google Chrome and block ads.
One of the most popular Firefox extensions is Greasemonkey – which most Chrome users envy. Though there have been some clumsy workarounds of installing Greasemonkey in Chrome with bookmarklets, there haven’t been any proper solutions.
Meet Greasemetal. Greasemetal is a small, 1.2 MB application to hook up userscripts (Greasemonkey scripts) to Chrome. Greasemetal does not have any user interface, so scripts that have to be managed (for example, if you need to add any details to get the script to function properly), Greasemetal will not work.
First, download Greasemetal and install it. After installation, launch Greasemetal from start menu. Greasemetal will in turn start up Google Chrome.
Greasemetal source code is available for all to see, so hopefully other smart developers will look into the code and develop other extensions (hint, hint!). Until Chrome gets extension API officially, of course (which will be soon).
Related: Google Chrome Backup backs up and restores Chrome and Chromium profiles
Related reading
- Google Chrome adds native support for Greasemonkey scripts
- Greasemonkey scripts for GMail
- 15 kickass Greasemonkey scripts for Twitter
- The complete guide to Greasemonkey extension and scripts
Google Chrome has support for Greasemonkey-like scripts. Start it with C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe –enable-greasemonkey
(for Vista). Add “–enable-greasemonkey” and put the scripts in C:\scripts and it should work.
20 measley scripts for Greasemetal isn’t worth anyone’s time. Why bother installing Greasmetal in the first place?