Userscript
{{Short description|Program usually written in JavaScript for modifying web pages}}
{{for|use of userscripts on Wikipedia|Wikipedia:User scripts|selfref=y}}
A userscript (or user script) is a program, usually written in JavaScript, for modifying web pages{{Cite web |date=2017-04-26 |title=User script |url=https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/u/userscri.htm |access-date=2017-08-19 |website=Computer Hope Dictionary |publisher=Computer Hope |quote=script that is run in a Web browser to make live changes to a Web page. These scripts are oftentimes used to add some functionality to a page or to change its appearance. These are typically written in JavaScript, but can be written in other languages as well.}} to augment browsing. Uses include adding shortcut buttons and keyboard shortcuts, controlling playback speeds, adding features to sites, and enhancing the browsing history.{{Cite web |title=userScripts - Mozilla | MDN |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/userScripts |website=developer.mozilla.org |access-date=2021-06-21}}
On desktop browsers such as Firefox, userscripts are enabled by use of a userscript manager browser extension such as Tampermonkey or Greasemonkey. The Presto-based Opera-supported userscripts (referred to as User JavaScript{{Cite web |date=2012-06-02 |title=User JavaScript |url=https://www.opera.com/docs/userjs/ |access-date=2017-08-31 |website=Opera.com |quote=User JavaScript allows you to specify local JavaScript files for Opera to include on every page that you visit.}}) are placed in a designated directory. Userscripts are often referred to as Greasemonkey scripts, named after the original userscript manager for Firefox.
On Wikipedia, a user scripts feature is enabled for registered users that allows them to install userscripts to augment editing and viewing of the encyclopedia's pages.{{Cite book |last=Broughton |first=John |title=Wikipedia: The Missing Manual |publisher=O'Reilly Media |year=2008 |isbn=978-0596515164 |page=[https://archive.org/details/wikipediamissing00brou_0/page/401 401] |chapter=Chapter 21: Easier Editing with JavaScript |quote=You can customize Wikipedia in ways that make your editing easier with user scripts, which are written in JavaScript code. |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/wikipediamissing00brou_0/page/401 |chapter-url-access=registration}}
Userscript managers
{{Main|Userscript manager}}
A userscript manager is a type of browser extension and augmented browsing technology that provides a user interface to manage scripts. The main purpose of a userscript manager is to execute scripts on webpages as they are loaded. The most common operations performed by a userscript manager include downloading, creating, installing, organizing, deleting and editing scripts, as well as modifying script permissions (e.g. website exceptions).
Userscript repositories
One aspect of userscripts is that they can be shared. They can be uploaded to a userscript repository where they become available to other users for downloading.
Historically (circa 2005–2011) userscripts.org, created by American programmer Jesse Andrews, was the largest such repository for userscripts. Over time, the site was transitioned between various maintainers before it went offline completely in May 2014.{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2014 |title=Userscripts.org down for good? Here are alternatives - gHacks Tech News |url=https://www.ghacks.net/2014/05/09/userscripts-org-good-alternatives/ |website=gHacks Technology News |access-date=2021-06-13}} All that remains is a mirror, which is useful for archival purposes.{{Cite web |title=Jesse Andrews - Userscripts.org |url=https://userscripts-mirror.org/users/anotherjesse |website=userscripts-mirror.org |access-date=2021-06-13}}{{primary source inline|date=September 2019}}
A handful of the most active contributors in the userscripts.org community{{Cite web |title=Community - Userscripts.org |url=https://userscripts-mirror.org/users.html |website=userscripts-mirror.org |access-date=2021-06-13}} created OpenUserJS,{{Cite web |title=OpenUserJS |url=https://github.com/OpenUserJS |website=GitHub |access-date=2021-06-13}}{{primary source inline|date=September 2019}} which is actively in use today. Also available is Greasy Fork, a repository largely developed and maintained by Canadian programmer Jason Barnabe.{{Cite web |title=JasonBarnabe/greasyfork |url=https://github.com/JasonBarnabe/greasyfork |website=GitHub |access-date=2021-06-13}}{{primary source inline|date=September 2019}}
Users of the Greasemonkey{{Cite web |title=User Script Hosting - GreaseSpot Wiki |url=https://wiki.greasespot.net/User_Script_Hosting |website=wiki.greasespot.net |access-date=2021-06-13}} and Tampermonkey{{Cite web |title=Tampermonkey • FAQ |url=http://www.tampermonkey.net/ |website=www.tampermonkey.net |access-date=2021-06-13}} extensions may choose to install {{Not a typo|.user.js}} scripts from any location.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://greasyfork.org/ Greasy Fork]
- [https://openuserjs.org/ OpenUserJS]
- [https://userscripts-mirror.org/ Userscripts.org archival mirror]
- [https://www.greasespot.net/ Greasespot.net, official website for Greasemonkey (Firefox extension)]