Chrome Extension Icons

Generate professional icons for Chrome browser extensions in seconds using Iconify's vast library of 275,000+ free open-source icons.

Quick Start Workflow

When the user requests an extension icon, follow these steps:

1. Understand the Request

Extract key information:

• Icon theme/keyword: What type of icon? (e.g., "calendar", "music", "settings", "bookmark")
• Target directory: Where to save icons (default: ./icons)
• Manifest location: Path to manifest.json (default: ./manifest.json)
• Color preference: Any specific color requirement (optional)
• Context: Is manifest.json already present? Is this a new project?

2. Search for Icons Automatically

Run the search command with the extracted keyword:

node ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons/scripts/generate-icons.js search "<keyword>"

Expected output:

• List of matching icons with preview URLs
• Best match automatically identified
• Top 5 results displayed (best match + 4 alternatives)

Present to user:

• Show the best matching icon with its ID and preview link
• Briefly mention that 4 alternative options are also available if they want to choose differently
• Provide the preview URL so they can see what the icon looks like

Example presentation:

I found a great calendar icon for your extension:

Best match: mdi:calendar
Preview: https://icon-sets.iconify.design/mdi/icons/calendar.html

I'll generate this icon in 4 sizes (16x16, 32x32, 48x48, 128x128) for your Chrome extension.
If you'd prefer a different style, I also have 4 alternatives saved that you can choose from.

Shall I proceed with this icon?

3. Generate Icons

Once confirmed (or auto-proceed if user said "yes" to any icon), run:

node ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons/scripts/generate-icons.js generate \
  --icon "<icon-id>" \
  --output "./icons" \
  --manifest "./manifest.json"

With custom color (if user specified a color):

node ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons/scripts/generate-icons.js generate \
  --icon "<icon-id>" \
  --output "./icons" \
  --manifest "./manifest.json" \
  --color "#ba3329"

4. Verify Results

After generation, check the output:

ls -lh ./icons/

Verify 4 PNG files are created:

• icon16.png
• icon32.png
• icon48.png
• icon128.png

Check manifest.json was updated:

cat ./manifest.json | grep -A 6 '"icons"'

5. Report to User

Provide a summary:

✅ Icon generation complete!

Generated files:
- icons/icon16.png (1.2 KB)
- icons/icon32.png (2.4 KB)
- icons/icon48.png (3.8 KB)
- icons/icon128.png (9.5 KB)

Your manifest.json has been updated:
{
  "icons": {
    "16": "icons/icon16.png",
    "32": "icons/icon32.png",
    "48": "icons/icon48.png",
    "128": "icons/icon128.png"
  }
}

📌 Alternative icons (if you want to try a different style):
1. mdi:calendar-month - https://icon-sets.iconify.design/mdi/icons/calendar-month.html
2. fa:calendar - https://icon-sets.iconify.design/fa/icons/calendar.html
3. heroicons:calendar - https://icon-sets.iconify.design/heroicons/icons/calendar.html
4. carbon:calendar - https://icon-sets.iconify.design/carbon/icons/calendar.html

Just let me know if you'd like to try any of these alternatives!

Advanced Features

Custom Color Icons

When user requests a specific color (e.g., "make it red", "use my brand color #ba3329"):

node ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons/scripts/generate-icons.js generate \
  --icon "mdi:home" \
  --color "#ba3329" \
  --output "./icons"

Note: Color customization works best with single-color SVG icons. Complex gradients may not render as expected.

Convert Local SVG File

When user has their own logo or SVG file:

1. First check if the file exists:

   ls -lh <svg-file-path>

2. Convert it:

   node ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons/scripts/generate-icons.js convert \
     --input "<svg-file-path>" \
     --output "./icons" \
     --manifest "./manifest.json"

3. Optionally apply color:

   node ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons/scripts/generate-icons.js convert \
     --input "./logo.svg" \
     --output "./icons" \
     --color "#ff0000"

Batch Generation

When user needs icons for multiple projects:

1. Create a configuration file icons-config.json:

   {
     "projects": [
       {
         "name": "Project A",
         "icon": "mdi:calendar",
         "output": "./project-a/icons",
         "manifest": "./project-a/manifest.json"
       },
       {
         "name": "Project B",
         "icon": "mdi:music",
         "output": "./project-b/icons",
         "manifest": "./project-b/manifest.json",
         "color": "#ff0000"
       },
       {
         "name": "Project C",
         "input": "./project-c/logo.svg",
         "output": "./project-c/icons",
         "manifest": "./project-c/manifest.json"
       }
     ]
   }

2. Run batch generation:

   node ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons/scripts/generate-icons.js batch \
     --config icons-config.json

3. Report summary showing success/failure for each project

Chrome Extension Icon Requirements

Always inform users about Chrome's icon requirements:

• 16x16 pixels: Favicon, toolbar icon (small displays)
• 32x32 pixels: Windows taskbar (optional but recommended)
• 48x48 pixels: Extension management page (required)
• 128x128 pixels: Chrome Web Store, installation dialog (required)

Format: PNG only (SVG is not supported in manifest.json)

Transparency: Supported and recommended for non-square logos

File size: Aim for < 100 KB total for all 4 files

Manifest.json Configuration

The script automatically creates or updates the icons field:

{
  "manifest_version": 3,
  "name": "My Extension",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "icons": {
    "16": "icons/icon16.png",
    "32": "icons/icon32.png",
    "48": "icons/icon48.png",
    "128": "icons/icon128.png"
  }
}

If action or browser_action exists, default_icon is also updated:

{
  "action": {
    "default_icon": {
      "16": "icons/icon16.png",
      "32": "icons/icon32.png",
      "48": "icons/icon48.png",
      "128": "icons/icon128.png"
    }
  }
}

Error Handling

Missing Dependencies

If the script fails with Sharp installation error:

macOS:

brew install vips
cd ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons && npm install

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt-get install libvips-dev
cd ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons && npm install

Windows:

npm install --global windows-build-tools
cd ~/.claude/skills/chrome-extension-icons && npm install

Inform the user of these steps if installation fails.

API Failures

The script has built-in retry logic (3 attempts with exponential backoff). If Iconify API fails:

• Suggest trying again in a moment
• Offer to use a local SVG if available
• Check internet connection

Rate Limiting

If HTTP 429 error occurs, the script automatically waits and retries. Inform user:

The icon API is experiencing high traffic. Waiting 60 seconds before retry...

Invalid Icon Selection

If an icon doesn't render well or user doesn't like it:

• Present the 4 saved alternative icons
• Offer to search for a different keyword
• Suggest using their own SVG file

Best Practices

1. Always preview: Show the user the icon preview URL before generating
2. Confirm before generating: Unless user explicitly requested immediate action
3. Check manifest.json exists: If not, inform user a new one will be created
4. Verify output: Always run ls to confirm files were created successfully
5. File sizes: Report file sizes to ensure they're reasonable (< 20 KB each)
6. Backup warning: If manifest.json exists, mention it will be updated (not replaced)

Common User Phrases That Trigger This Skill

• "I need an icon for my Chrome extension"
• "Add a calendar icon to my extension"
• "Generate extension icons"
• "Can you create icons for my browser extension?"
• "I need icons for manifest.json"
• "Convert my logo to Chrome extension format"
• "Make extension icons from this SVG"

Examples

See examples/usage.md for detailed conversation examples and edge cases.

Technical Details

• Icon source: Iconify API (https://iconify.design/)
• Total icons: 275,000+ from 200+ icon sets
• Image processing: Sharp library (high-performance Node.js)
• Supported input: SVG (from Iconify or local file)
• Output format: PNG with transparency
• Node.js requirement: >= 18.17.0

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

Issue	Solution
Sharp won't install	Install libvips: brew install vips (macOS)
API timeout	Retry after a moment, check connection
Icon looks bad	Try a different icon from alternatives
Wrong colors	Use --color flag for single-color icons
File too large	Complex SVGs may create large PNGs, try simpler icon
Manifest not updating	Check file permissions, verify path is correct

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Remember: This skill automates a tedious process. Be helpful, present clear options, and make the experience smooth for the user. Always show preview links so users know what they're getting before generation.