Hacker News: JaredCampbell

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Show HN: I built a lightweight extension to simplify Gmail (free, local)"

JaredCampbell — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:53:05 +0000

Some basic features I'm planning to add: * Colour the unread message count for Spam (sometimes filtering isn't ideal) * Dark mode (for those that don't use Dark Reader, etc.) * Persistent undo/redo list (might not be practical/possible) * Keep right sidebar minimized * Collapsible labels list (for those that have a ton)

Show HN: Built a lightweight extension to simplify Gmail (free, local)

JaredCampbell — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:52:16 +0000

I got frustrated with Gmail's lack of customization, and built an extension for myself. It doesn't do much other than modify how Gmail is displayed in Chrome. Does it as minimally as possible (that I can engineer). Done locally, zero remote processing.

Currently built the following settings (want to add more soon):

Conversations: * Show newest message first * Show every message in a thread (sometimes they're collapsed into numbered bubbles) * Remove AI overviews (retches)

Layout/UI: * Minimize the search & top bar * Minimize the far left "rail" (Mail/Chat/Meet) * Hide a bunch of extraneous icons/buttons/items * Adjust width of Folders/Labels column (still in-process)

Mini-Automations: * Automatically open to inbox on page start/refresh * Automatically select first message if the reading pane is open (unless unread, or previous message already selected) * Add a recurring reminder (if wanted) to use Gmail's new Manage Subscriptions folder/feature

Bunch more features I'd like to add. Let me know if you think I should change anything. Or if you have any code/bug feedback... :)

jared2campbell@gmail.com

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47757667

Points: 1

# Comments: 1

New comment by JaredCampbell in "CRTC website down due to expired certificate"

JaredCampbell — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:18:27 +0000

How did they let this happen XD

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Show HN: Apparent – A lightweight extension to simplify and clean Gmail"

JaredCampbell — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:44:34 +0000

Features I'd like to add:

* Colour the unread message count for Spam (sometimes filtering isn't ideal)

* Dark mode (for those that don't use Dark Reader, etc.)

* Persistent undo/redo list (might not be practical/possible)

* Keep right sidebar minimized

* Collapsible labels list (for those that have a ton)

Any others?

Show HN: Apparent – A lightweight extension to simplify and clean Gmail

JaredCampbell — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:42:50 +0000

I got frustrated with Gmail's lack of customization, and built an extension for myself.

It doesn't do much other than modify how Gmail is displayed in Chrome. Does it as minimally as possible (that I can engineer). Done locally, zero remote processing.

Currently built the following settings (want to add more soon):

Conversations:

* Show newest message first

* Show every message in a thread (sometimes they're collapsed into numbered bubbles)

* Remove AI overviews (retches)

Layout/UI:

* Minimize the search & top bar

* Minimize the far left "rail" (Mail/Chat/Meet)

* Hide a bunch of extraneous icons/buttons/items

* Adjust width of Folders/Labels column (still in-process)

Mini-Automations:

* Automatically open to inbox on page start/refresh

* Automatically select first message if the reading pane is open (unless unread, or previous message already selected)

* Add a recurring reminder (if wanted) to use Gmail's new Manage Subscriptions folder/feature

Bunch more features I'd like to add. Let me know if you think I should change anything. Or if you have any code/bug feedback... :)

jared2campbell@gmail.com

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47662383

Points: 1

# Comments: 1

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Show HN: I Made a Tool to Cleanup Gmail"

JaredCampbell — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:41:55 +0000

Features I'd like to add:

* Colour the unread message count for Spam (sometimes filtering isn't ideal)

* Dark mode (for those that don't use Dark Reader, etc.)

* Persistent undo/redo list (might not be practical/possible)

* Keep right sidebar minimized

* Collapsible labels list (for those that have a ton)

Any others?

Show HN: I Made a Tool to Cleanup Gmail

JaredCampbell — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:38:33 +0000

I got frustrated with Gmail's lack of customization, and built an extension for myself.

It doesn't do much other than modify how Gmail is displayed in Chrome. Does it as minimally as possible (that I can engineer). Done locally.

Currently built the following settings:

Conversations:

* Show newest message first

* Show every message in a thread (sometimes they're collapsed into numbered bubbles)

* Remove AI overviews (retches)

Layout/UI:

* Minimize the search & top bar

* Minimize the far left "rail" (Mail/Chat/Meet)

* Hide a bunch of extraneous icons/buttons/items

* Adjust width of Folders/Labels column (still in-process)

Mini-Automations:

* Automatically open to inbox on page start/refresh

* Automatically select first message if the reading pane is open (unless unread, or previous message already selected)

* Add a recurring reminder (if wanted) to use Gmail's new Manage Subscriptions folder/feature

Bunch more features I'd like to add. Let me know if you think I should change anything. Or if you have any code/bug feedback... :)

jared2campbell@gmail.com

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47604774

Points: 2

# Comments: 1

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Ask HN: Why does Gmail still show threads oldest-first?"

JaredCampbell — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:01:55 +0000

I mean thats fair. The "entry" point though is usually at the newest message, for example WhatsApp, iMessage.

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Ask HN: Why does Gmail still show threads oldest-first?"

JaredCampbell — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:36:06 +0000

There's also the "newest/oldest" option at the top of the reading pane, but it never works.

Ask HN: Why does Gmail still show threads oldest-first?

JaredCampbell — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:34:22 +0000

Why do you think Gmail still uses oldest-first thread ordering instead of a more natural reading order?

Is it actually better for most users, or just a legacy UX choice that stuck?

I ended up making an extension because of this, and a bunch of other Gmail frustrations.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47590827

Points: 1

# Comments: 3

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Show HN: Apparent – Make Gmail easier to read and manage"

JaredCampbell — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:27:46 +0000

RIGHT?!

Show HN: Apparent – Make Gmail easier to read and manage

JaredCampbell — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:51:38 +0000

Built because I wanted Gmail to feel simpler. Built for myself, then realized why not give it to the world too.

Nothing is badly broken, but a lot of small things add friction: conversation order, collapsed messages, visual clutter, and newer UI elements that feel more distracting than useful.

It’s a small Chrome extension that changes a few of those things.

Right now it mainly:

* reverses conversation order

* shows every message in a thread

* reduces interface clutter

* hides some of the newer AI/Gemini UI

The goal wasn’t to heavily customize Gmail. I just wanted it to feel cleaner, easier to scan, and more straightforward to use.

It runs locally in the browser, with no remote processing or data collection. No account either. Free.

I’d love to know whether this matches problems other people have with Gmail, or whether I’ve mostly built something for myself.

UseApparent@gmail.com

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47587407

Points: 2

# Comments: 2

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Show HN: BreezePDF – Free, in-browser PDF editor"

JaredCampbell — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:35:59 +0000

keep it up.

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Turning a MacBook into a touchscreen with $1 of hardware (2018)"

JaredCampbell — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:19:46 +0000

It feels real because of the dirty touchscreen.

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Show HN: Memv – Memory for AI Agents"

JaredCampbell — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:16:19 +0000

I wish I was less dumb, to take advantage of this

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Show HN: The Alphabetical Clock"

JaredCampbell — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:14:59 +0000

HATE :-)

New comment by JaredCampbell in "Show HN: I made my fitness dashboard public and Apple Health needs an API"

JaredCampbell — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:14:24 +0000

Very cool