PNL Reader: Simple, Elegant, and Transparent

[river]

Dear Netizens and Web Novel Enthusiasts,

I’m excited to announce that PNL Reader is finally here! After a week of development sprint, it just hits the first milestone, and I’m already using it to read a novel myself. It’s a browser extension designed to make your reading experience smoother, more enjoyable, and relaxing. Whether you're diving into articles, novels, or any other web content, PNL Reader has your back with its simple yet elegant features.

This all started from a thread discussing the frustration many face when looking for a no-nonsense, simple reader mode that also plays nice with Dictionariez and respects privacy. So, I decided to create my own solution. Keep in mind this is the first version, so please be patient if you encounter any bugs.

Here’s a quick rundown of the features based on my own experience as an novel reader online:

Key Features

1. Dictionariez Compatibility
   Instantly look up any word on a webpage by simply clicking on it. PNL Reader is fully compatible with Dictionariez for seamless word lookup.

2. Privacy-First Approach
   Your privacy is a priority. PNL Reader only requires the ActiveTab permission to enable reader mode on the current webpage you’re on, with no additional host permissions required.

3. Dark & Light Mode
   Switch between dark and light modes depending on your preference, so you can reduce eye strain and read comfortably at any time of day.

4. Navigation Shortcuts
   Easily navigate through your favorite web novel websites, like Scribble and RoyalRoad, using convenient keyboard shortcuts for next and previous pages.

5. Open Source
   Full transparency is key. PNL Reader is open source, so it’s available for anyone to review, contribute to, or scrutinize as they wish.

Download Links

Chrome: PNL Reader on Chrome Web Store
Firefox: PNL Reader on Mozilla Add-ons

Getting Started

To see PNL Reader in action, check out our introduction video.

Your Feedback Is Important!

I would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and any issues you might encounter. Please reach out at the Programming N' Language Community.

As I am preparing for the second version of PNL Reader, here are a few specific areas where your feedback would be incredibly helpful:

1. Which websites would you like to use the reader mode on?
2. What more themes (beyond just dark or light) would you like?
3. Are there any additional features you’d like to see in the toolbar?
4. In your opinion, what are the essential features every reader must have?

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to improving PNL Reader based on your valuable feedback!

[river]

Happy weekend, everyone!

I am excited to announce the release of PNL Reader v1.0.2!

What's new:

• Reader mode now stays active on the same tab even after a refresh.
• Fixed an issue where the content script message couldn't wake up the service worker, ensuring smooth reader mode activation.
• Added multiple new themes for a personalized reading experience.
• Improved mobile support for seamless usage on the go.

Update now and enjoy the enhanced features!

[river]

v1.1.0 is out. Hopefully PNL Reader is full-fledged

• Introduced font type customization for enhanced readability.
• Added line spacing and line width adjustment options.
• Enabled justified text alignment for a cleaner look.
• Expanded theme library with additional handwriting and monospace styles.
• Implemented global settings configuration for streamlined customization.
• Enhanced mobile support for a better user experience.
  

[river]

v1.1.0 is out!
Most fonts now support Cyrillic, Greek, and some even include Indian scripts.
I also added a print button for easier and better-looking printing.

[river]

v1.2.0 Apr 09, 2025

• Cleared the webpage's head section when the reader is enabled to prevent original styles from interfering.
• Fixed an issue where exiting reader mode failed if the background script was inactive.
• Ensured the page always reloads upon exiting reader mode for consistent behavior.