Official Google Icons in Your Extensions
How I Improved the Google Apps Script IDE
Developing scripts in the Google Apps Script online editor has a number of limitations that reduce productivity and ease of use. To address these issues, a new browser extension has been created that significantly expands the capabilities of the development environment. In the latest update, the extension received several long-awaited features.
Interface Theme Switching One of the main new additions is the ability to switch between light and dark themes for the editor. The dark theme creates a more relaxing working environment, reduces eye strain, and saves battery life. Switching between themes can be done with a single click.
File and Folder Icons The new icon system makes the project structure more visual. Now each file has a corresponding marker, which facilitates navigation. Files with names containing “config” are highlighted in a special way for quick access to project settings.
Git Integration A key new capability is integration with the Git version control systems. Right from the Apps Script editor, you can upload and update code from public or private Git repositories. This ensures secure storage and easy change management.
In addition to the new features, the extension also includes code autocompletion tools, formatting with settings, hotkeys, and other useful utilities for developers.
The extension is currently being refined, but it will soon be available in the Chrome Web Store.
Use Official Google Icons in Your Extensions
When creating extensions or add-ons for Google products such as Gmail, Google Docs, or Google Sheets, it’s crucial to ensure a consistent user interface that blends seamlessly with the core applications. One way to achieve this is by using Google’s official Material Icons library.
Material Icons is a scalable collection of vector icons following Google’s Material Design principles. It contains over 5,000 icons covering virtually any topic imaginable, from common symbols to specialized pictograms for various domains.
Using Material Icons in extensions for Google helps provide visual cohesion with the native Google apps. This creates a smoother and more unified user experience.
Google provides convenient access to the Material Icons library through a publicly available CDN: https://fonts.google.com/icons
Developers can easily include the icons in their web applications via an HTML link.
If you’re building an extension or add-on for Google products, it’s highly recommended to use Material Icons. This will help your user interface look professional and integrate harmoniously within Google’s ecosystem.
