mbostock/bl.ocks.org — explained in plain English
Analysis updated 2026-08-03 · repo last pushed 2018-06-29
Install the Chrome or Firefox extension to get a better experience browsing code examples on bl.ocks.org.
Use the extensions to more easily view and interact with D3.js data visualization demos hosted as GitHub Gists.
Share front-end code snippets on bl.ocks.org with an enhanced viewing experience for your audience.
| mbostock/bl.ocks.org | kaolti/monolith-terrain | aburousan/hilbert-editor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 94 | 94 | 93 |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Last pushed | 2018-06-29 | — | — |
| Maintenance | Dormant | — | — |
| Setup difficulty | easy | easy | easy |
| Complexity | 1/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Audience | developer | developer | researcher |
Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.
Install through the Chrome or Firefox browser extension stores, no configuration needed.
bl.ocks.org is a website that lets people share and view simple web examples, small HTML and JavaScript snippets, through GitHub's Gist service. The browser extensions in this repo add helpful features when you're browsing those examples, making it easier to view and interact with the code on the site. The extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox, and you install them through their respective browser extension stores. Once installed, they enhance your experience when visiting bl.ocks.org, though the README doesn't go into detail about exactly what features they add. A Safari version used to exist but was discontinued because Apple charges developers $99 per year for the certificate needed to publish Safari extensions. This project is for people who browse or share code examples on bl.ocks.org, likely data visualization folks, given that the site was created by Mike Bostock, the creator of the D3.js visualization library. If you regularly look at D3 examples or other front-end demos hosted as Gists, these extensions would smooth out that workflow. The most notable thing here is the blunt stance on Safari: the README explicitly says "Please don't use Safari," which reflects frustration with Apple's paid developer program for extension distribution. It's a small but real example of how platform fees can push smaller projects to drop support entirely.
Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox that enhance the bl.ocks.org website, where people share and view small HTML and JavaScript code examples hosted on GitHub Gists.
Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript, Chrome Extension, Firefox Extension.
Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2018-06-29).
No license information is provided in the README, so the code's usage terms are unclear.
Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.
Mainly developer.
This repo across BitVibe Labs
Don't trust strangers blindly. Verify against the repo.