Is Chrome DevTools App still available to use?

No, the project is discontinued and not maintained. The creator recommends using inspect.dev instead, which is actively developed for modern debugging needs.

What's the difference between Chrome DevTools App and inspect.dev?

Chrome DevTools App was an experimental standalone debugger for Chrome, while inspect.dev is a newer tool focused on debugging Safari and WebViews on iOS devices, with better support and features.

How can I debug Chrome remotely without this app?

Enable remote debugging in Chrome by starting it with the --remote-debugging-port flag, then use Chrome's built-in DevTools in another browser tab or tools that support the Chrome DevTools Protocol.

Why was Chrome DevTools App discontinued?

It served as an experiment to explore standalone DevTools, and the maintainer shifted focus to develop inspect.dev, which addresses more specific and modern debugging scenarios.

Can I still download the Chrome DevTools App installer?

Old releases might be on GitHub, but it's not recommended due to being outdated and unsupported. For current use, inspect.dev or other official tools are better choices.

What are good alternatives for standalone web debugging tools?

Inspect.dev is the direct successor for iOS debugging, while tools like VS Code with debugger extensions or using the Chrome DevTools Protocol directly offer flexible options for remote debugging.

How to set up remote debugging for a web app on a mobile device?

Enable USB debugging on the device, connect it to your computer, start Chrome with remote debugging, and use tools like Chrome DevTools on desktop or specialized apps to inspect and debug.

Open-Awesome

Chrome DevTools

MITJavaScriptv1.1.0

Chrome DevTools packaged as a standalone desktop application using Electron.

GitHub

1.6k stars91 forks0 contributors

What is Chrome DevTools?

Chrome DevTools App was an experimental project that packaged Chrome DevTools as a standalone desktop application using Electron. It allowed developers to run DevTools independently of the Chrome browser, enabling remote debugging and exploring new workflows. The project aimed to investigate the benefits of decoupling DevTools from the browser.

Target Audience

Web developers and engineers interested in experimental tools for debugging and inspecting web applications outside the browser environment.

Value Proposition

It provided a unique standalone version of Chrome DevTools, allowing for remote debugging and exploration of new functionalities not tied to the browser, though it is now superseded by other tools.

Overview

Chrome DevTools packaged as an app via Electron

Use Cases

Best For

Debugging web applications remotely
Experimenting with DevTools outside the browser
Exploring Electron-based developer tools
Testing standalone debugging workflows

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring active maintenance and security updates for debugging tools
Developers needing to debug iOS Safari or WebViews, as inspect.dev is now the recommended tool for that
Teams relying on the latest Chrome DevTools features integrated into the browser

Pros & Cons

Pros

Standalone Debugging

Packaged Chrome DevTools as a separate Electron app, allowing developers to run DevTools independently of the Chrome browser for remote debugging workflows.

Cross-Platform Potential

Built on Electron, enabling it to run on multiple desktop operating systems, though initial releases were Mac-only.

Conceptual Innovation

Explored the separation of DevTools from the browser, inspiring future tools and demonstrating new possibilities for developer workflows.

Remote Debugging Facilitated

Connected easily to Chrome instances with remote debugging enabled, useful for testing on different devices without browser constraints.

Cons

Discontinued and Unmaintained

The project is no longer actively maintained or extended, meaning no bug fixes, updates, or support for modern development needs.

Superseded by Inspect.dev

Officially replaced by inspect.dev, which offers more functionality, active development, and focuses on iOS device debugging, making this app obsolete.

Experimental Limitations

As an early exploration, it likely had incomplete features, bugs, and limited documentation compared to official, integrated Chrome DevTools.

Frequently Asked Questions

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