Simple Steem Block Explorer Browser Extension

A simple Chrome extension that allows you to explore the Steem blockchain directly from your browser. This extension provides real-time information about the blockchain and lets you search for specific blocks, transactions, and accounts.

Features

• Real-time display of blockchain global properties
• Current witness schedule information
• Automatic refresh every 3 seconds
• Search functionality for:
  • Blocks by number
  • Transactions by ID
  • Accounts by name
  • Posts by @author/permlink
• Quick search buttons next to Global Properties values
• "Show All" button to view complete API response
• Block navigation arrows for easy browsing between consecutive blocks
• Configurable API endpoint selector with custom endpoint support
• Formatted JSON output with syntax highlighting

Installation

Development Installation

1. Clone this repository:
   git clone https://github.com/remlaps/steemExplorer.git
2. Open Chrome and navigate to chrome://extensions/
3. Enable "Developer mode" using the toggle in the top-right corner.
4. Click "Load unpacked" and select the extension folder.
5. The extension should now appear in your browser toolbar.

Usage

1. Click the extension icon in your browser toolbar to open the Steem Block Explorer in a new tab

2. The top section displays current blockchain information that refreshes automatically every 3 seconds

3. To search for specific information:

• Enter a block number, transaction ID, account name, or post reference in the search box
• The extension will automatically detect the search type:
  • Block: Enter a number (e.g., 12345678)
  • Transaction: Enter a 40-character hex string (e.g., fcb28b1713467774f40d190e4c580d2b9bd6d100)
  • Account: Enter an account name (e.g., steemit)
  • Post: Enter @author/permlink (e.g., @remlaps/my-projects)
• Click "Search" or press Enter

4. Results will be displayed in the bottom section with formatted JSON

Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md for a history of changes.

Files

• manifest.json: Extension configuration
• background.js: Background script that opens the explorer window
• explorer.html: Main HTML interface
• explorer.js: JavaScript code for API queries and UI interactions
• styles.css: Styling for the explorer interface
• steemExplorerLogo.png: Extension icon
• steemExplorerScreenCapture.png: Extension screenshot

API Endpoints

The extension includes a configurable API endpoint selector with several default endpoints:

• https://api.steemit.com
• https://api.moecki.online
• https://api.steemitdev.com

You can also add custom endpoints using the "+" button in the API selector. Custom endpoints are saved permanently in your browser's localStorage.

The extension uses the following Steem API methods:

• condenser_api.get_dynamic_global_properties
• condenser_api.get_witness_schedule
• condenser_api.get_block
• condenser_api.get_transaction
• condenser_api.get_accounts
• condenser_api.get_content (for post searches)

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• Built for the Steem blockchain community
• Uses Steem's public API endpoints