X Bar – Account Sidebar

Overview

X Bar is a Chrome extension that adds a compact account launcher to every page on x.com. The extension renders a fixed sidebar showing the avatars and handles you care about most so you can jump between profiles without opening extra tabs or navigating menus.

Key Features

• Account sidebar on every X page – The content script in xbar-content.js injects a persistent sidebar that stays in view while you browse.
• Drag-and-drop ordering – Rearrange accounts directly in the options page (options.html/options.js) with native HTML5 drag-and-drop support.
• Duplicate prevention – Prevents adding the same account twice (case insensitive) to keep the sidebar tidy.
• Quick profile switching – Clicking an entry navigates to https://x.com/<handle> immediately.
• Configurable placement – Choose whether the sidebar pins to the left or right edge via the popup (popup.html/popup.js).
• Enable/disable toggle – Temporarily hide the sidebar without uninstalling, using the popup toggle backed by chrome.storage.local.
• Dark mode – Toggle a darker theme for the sidebar from the popup. Persisted per-browser via chrome.storage.local.
• Multi-column layout – View more accounts at once with an optional multi-column sidebar layout.
• Name display preference – Choose whether to show the profile’s real name or @handle in the sidebar.
• Import/Export accounts – Backup or migrate your list as JSON from the Options page; duplicates are skipped on import.

Installation

1. Clone or download this repository.
2. Visit chrome://extensions/ in Chrome.
3. Enable Developer mode in the top-right corner.
4. Click Load unpacked and select the project directory.
5. The "X Bar – Account Sidebar" extension should now appear in the toolbar.

Usage Guide

1. Enable the sidebar

• Open the extensions toolbar icon and click X Bar.
• Use the Enable XBar button to activate the sidebar (enabled by default).
• Choose Left or Right placement from the dropdown.
• Toggle the Dark mode checkbox to switch the sidebar theme.
• Configure multi-column layout and name/@handle display from the Options page.
• Any change reloads open x.com tabs so the sidebar reflects updated position, theme, layout, and name display.

2. Add accounts

• From the popup, click Open Options or right-click the extension icon and select Options.
• Enter a handle (username, @username, or full https://x.com/username URL) and press Add Account.
• X Bar fetches display information from the public api.fxtwitter.com endpoint and caches avatar images locally for offline use.

3. Manage your list

• Reorder: Drag the handle (::) beside any account card to rearrange the sidebar order.
• Remove: Click Remove to delete an entry from storage.
• Export: Click Export Accounts to download a JSON backup of your list.
• Import: Click Import Accounts and choose a previously exported JSON file; existing entries are preserved and duplicates are skipped.
• The extension automatically filters exact duplicates when loading or adding accounts.

4. Browse with the sidebar

• Navigate to any page on x.com.
• The sidebar appears on first load (or after a refresh when settings change).
• Click any avatar/handle to jump straight to that profile in the current tab.

Settings & Storage

• Preferences (enabled state, sidebar position, theme, layout, and name/@handle display) and the account list persist in chrome.storage.local.
• On install, the background service worker (background.js) initializes sensible defaults and never overwrites existing preferences.
• Open x.com tabs are reloaded when settings change so the injected UI updates immediately.

Permissions Explained

• storage: Save enabled state, sidebar placement, and your account list.
• tabs: Refresh matching x.com tabs so the sidebar reflects the latest settings.
• Host permissions *://x.com/*, *://*.x.com/*: Allow the content script to run on X pages.
• Host permission *://api.fxtwitter.com/*: Fetch public profile metadata used in the sidebar cards.

Privacy & Data Handling

• All configuration data and cached avatars are stored locally in your browser. Nothing is transmitted to external services beyond the single profile metadata request to api.fxtwitter.com when you add an account.
• The extension does not collect analytics or share information with third parties.

Troubleshooting

• Sidebar not visible: Open the popup and ensure the toggle is set to Disable XBar (meaning it is currently enabled). Refresh the current x.com tab.
• Accounts missing: Reopen the options page to confirm your accounts are listed. If not, re-add them or check Chrome's site-storage settings.
• Profile info fails to load: Verify internet connectivity. Retry adding the account later.
• Dark mode not applying: Toggle the Dark mode checkbox off/on in the popup or refresh the tab.

Support

For questions, feature requests, or issues, open a GitHub issue in this repository or contact the maintainer directly.