Bridge Translate

A Chrome extension for professionals in global teams. Break language barriers instantly without leaving your browser - stop losing focus, switching tabs, and apps. 🌁

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Inspiration

Early in my career, I often struggled to find the right words when communicating in English, which isn't my native language. As a Brazilian Portuguese speaker, I frequently needed to switch between tabs or open external apps to translate text, which constantly disrupted my focus and workflow. I created Bridge Translate to solve this problem: a tool that provides instant translations without pulling you away from what you're doing.

What it does

Bridge Translate is a Chrome extension that offers instant AI-powered translations directly on the current page, in any input field.

How I built it

I built with vanilla JavaScript, Chrome extension APIs, and Gemini Nano Translator (Chrome Built-in). Content scripts inject translation functionality into pages, while a pop-up provides quick access to settings.

Challenges I ran into

Finding a simple pattern for calling the extension translation proved to be tricky. After the functional part was working, I spent considerable time refining the UI/UX to make it more user-friendly.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I created a tool that solves a problem I experience daily. The extension works seamlessly on Gmail, Slack, and other apps without interrupting your workflow.

What I learned

The only other extension I had created was a theme. With this one, I learned a great deal about the various possibilities extensions offer and how to integrate them into existing services.

What's next for BridgeTranslate

I want to show it to friends and colleagues, publish the extension, and gather feedback to iterate and improve the user experience.

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