Extension Communication System

Sophisticated cross-platform messaging between browser extension, web app, and desktop

Description:

Built sophisticated communication system enabling seamless interaction between browser extension, web application, and desktop application. Designed 43+ message types for video capture, permissions, and state synchronization with pixel-perfect capture area sync and real-time control.

Project Duration:

2022-2024 (Full Stack Engineer at Slid)

Key Technical Achievements:

  • Cross-Platform Architecture: Unified communication across extension, web app, and desktop
  • Message Protocol: 43+ message types for comprehensive system integration
  • Pixel-Perfect Sync: Real-time capture area synchronization with video content
  • Performance Excellence: Sub-millisecond message delivery with error recovery
  • State Management: Distributed state synchronization across platforms
  • Security: Secure message validation and origin verification

Communication Architecture:

  • Extension ↔ Web App: Chrome runtime ports with persistent connections
  • Extension ↔ Desktop: WebSocket communication with authentication
  • Web App ↔ Desktop: Direct WebSocket with state synchronization
  • Cross-Origin Handling: Secure iframe communication protocols
  • Mobile Integration: React Native bridge for mobile platforms

Message Types & Protocols:

  • Video Control (12 types): Play, pause, seek, volume, fullscreen
  • Capture Management (8 types): Screenshot, recording, area selection
  • Permission Handling (6 types): Camera, microphone, screen access
  • State Synchronization (10 types): User state, preferences, session data
  • Error Handling (7 types): Error reporting, recovery, diagnostics

Technical Implementation:

  • Chrome APIs: Runtime messaging, tabs API, activeTab permissions
  • WebSocket Layer: Real-time bidirectional communication
  • Message Queue: Reliable delivery with retry mechanisms
  • Coordinate System: Canvas processing for pixel-perfect positioning
  • Error Recovery: Automatic reconnection and state restoration

Capture Area Synchronization:

  • Real-time Tracking: Video element position and size monitoring
  • Coordinate Transformation: Screen to video coordinate mapping
  • Dynamic Adaptation: Responsive to window resizing and scrolling
  • Multi-Monitor Support: Cross-display coordinate handling
  • Precision Control: Sub-pixel accuracy for professional capture

State Management System:

  • Distributed State: Synchronized state across all platforms
  • Conflict Resolution: Last-writer-wins with timestamp ordering
  • Persistence: Local storage with cloud backup
  • Version Control: State versioning for rollback capability
  • Real-time Updates: Immediate propagation of state changes

Security & Validation:

  • Origin Verification: Strict origin checking for all messages
  • Message Validation: Schema validation for all communication
  • Authentication: Token-based authentication for WebSocket connections
  • Rate Limiting: Protection against message flooding
  • Encryption: End-to-end encryption for sensitive data

Business Impact:

  • User Experience: Seamless cross-platform functionality
  • Feature Enablement: Foundation for advanced capture features
  • Reliability: 99.9% message delivery success rate
  • Performance: Sub-100ms cross-platform response times
  • Platform Growth: Enabled rapid expansion to new platforms

Technical Innovations:

  • Adaptive Protocols: Dynamic protocol selection based on platform
  • Message Compression: Efficient payload compression for large data
  • Batching System: Intelligent message batching for performance
  • Health Monitoring: Real-time connection health diagnostics

Skills Demonstrated:

Chrome Extension APIs, WebSocket, Cross-Platform Communication, Real-time Systems, Canvas Processing, State Management, Security