Project write-up
HomeTab
A customizable browser dashboard that turns a new tab into a personal workspace.
New tab pages are mostly ornamental or disposable. I wanted a home screen that could be shaped as per whims of the individual.
What it is
HomeTab lets users build a start page out of movable, configurable widgets. Idea is to create a flexible landing page that can hold the pieces people reach for repeatedly and arrange them in a way that matches their workflow.
The core experience is centered around:
- a drag-and-resize grid for layout control
- a widget picker for composing custom dashboards
- built-in modules like clocks, calendar, weather, world clock, tabs, and embeds
- theme and hue controls
- support both as a web app and as a Chrome new tab extension
Product is targeted to people who want their new tab page to be functional instead of decorative.
The product decisions
This kind of project can get bloated very quickly. Once you allow widgets, layouts, settings, themes, and onboarding, it becomes easy to drift into a full application with too many knobs.
My guiding principle when building for public is ease of use. I would have failed as a maker if user feels confused at any point of time.
That is why onboarding mattered. HomeTab includes first-run sample layouts so the user does not begin from an empty grid with too many decisions to make. A blank canvas sounds flexible, but in practice it often increases friction. Giving people a strong starting point makes the flexibility much more usable.
What I like about this project
HomeTab sits in a category I find interesting: software that shapes environment rather than just performing tasks.
It is not only about utility. It is about giving someone a surface they return to over and over, and making that surface calmer, more useful, and more reflective of how they think.