I was tired of hitting the 2× button every time I opened a YouTube video. So I built 2XFun, a tiny extension that automatically plays every video at 2× speed. It was simple, lightweight, and honestly, a lot of fun to make.
I didn’t just put it online and forget about it. I made a short launch video, created a small landing page for both Firefox and Chromium users, and shared it with friends. People actually liked it. From designing the logo to showing off the features, it felt like a mini product launch, and it reminded me why building small tools can be so rewarding.
At first glance, 2XFun might seem trivial. But some of the most successful tech products started the same way: small tools solving tiny, everyday problems. Gmail started as an internal email hack. Slack began as a messaging tool for a single team. These small solutions eventually grew into products used by millions.
2XFun is a micro-version of that idea. Solve a small frustration, share it, and suddenly people notice. Even tiny, focused tools can make a real impact for users and for the lessons you take away as a creator.
Under the hood, 2XFun is minimal. A lightweight script waits for the YouTube player and sets the playback speed to 2×. No tracking, no extra permissions just speed. Keeping it simple made updates easy, especially when YouTube occasionally changed things under the hood.
Even a small extension can teach big lessons. The tiniest friction, like pressing the 2× button repeatedly, can inspire tools that users genuinely appreciate. Sharing your work matters too a simple demo video, a few screenshots, and a clean landing page made people notice. Keeping things minimal also meant fewer headaches later.
And the best part? Early users are gold. A single thank-you or enthusiastic comment felt better than any analytics chart.
2XFun reminded me that building small tools isn’t just fun. It’s also a lesson in product design, user experience, and even business strategy. Tiny, focused products teach you how to solve real problems, delight users, and sometimes create something that ends up having a bigger impact than you ever imagined.