MetaTalk

Back in the aughts, MetaFilter and sites like it were often improved by community-designed "userscripts" that added useful features to the default experience. Unfortunately, as more and more sites moved to mobile-first design, this power-user approach to customization declined in popularity (and accessibility). But that's no reason for such clever code to go to waste! We've reached out to some developers of classic, much-loved MeFi scripts who have generously agreed to let frimble incorporate their functionality directly into the site so it runs easily on any device -- initially as a direct port, then as a model for the new codebase if it proves popular and workable. First up: Plutor's humble MeFiQuote script, which adds a [quote] button to the byline of every comment on the site. Click to jump to the reply field while quoting the comment in full, with the username linking back to the original -- or on most platforms, highlight some text first to quote that excerpt directly! It's especially handy for mobile, where you'd normally have to type out a lot of tedious HTML and multiple copy-pastes to do the same thing. And if you used to use userscripts (or still do!), check out this list of classic MeFi scripts and share which ones you think would be worth adapting. [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Mar 26, 2025 - 43 comments

This is a userscript I've been working on that adds the appearance of pages to threads. It's a visual change only, so you still have to wait for the full thread to load, but it might help a little with responsiveness and navigation. [more inside]
posted by lucidium on Aug 14, 2018 - 2 comments

In the site activity megathread some suggested users ought to have some way of knowing just how much of a thread they're occupying. I added a userscript just for that purpose to the MefiScripts repository. It puts summary stats just below the comment box. [more inside]
posted by waninggibbon on Jun 20, 2018 - 21 comments

MefiReply is a new userscript for quote-replying to comments. It works on all Metafilter subsites in both Modern and Classic modes. If you have Tampermonkey or Greasemonkey, you can install it by visiting this page. [more inside]
posted by waninggibbon on Jan 3, 2018 - 5 comments

I created a GreaseMonkey/TamperMonkey userscript to show post tags on main pages. Check the page out for a screenshot of what I'm talking about. [more inside]
posted by XtinaS on Mar 8, 2017 - 10 comments

I've written a userscript to sort the page comments by favorites. It's only been tested on the latest Firefox with Greasemonkey but it should work on Chrome with Tampermonkey. You can grab / install the script here.
posted by querty on Aug 2, 2016 - 7 comments

I made a Greasemonkey script that allows you to assign a color of your choosing to any MeFi user and displays each user's comments in their corresponding color. [more inside]
posted by valrus on Mar 11, 2016 - 32 comments

Need some help getting Mefiquote script running again. [more inside]
posted by Chrysostom on Feb 11, 2016 - 12 comments

As someone who finds writing in Markdown much easier than writing in HTML, I put together Markdown for MeFi. It's a browser extension that lets you use Markdown in your comments and posts. (Not sure what this Markdown thing is? Check out the short guide.) [more inside]
posted by evand on Apr 15, 2015 - 20 comments

With help from pb, I've put together a Greasemonkey userscript to display the old "x new posts and comments since your last visit" message that's been removed from the new Modern Theme. [more inside]
posted by xqwzts on Feb 26, 2015 - 8 comments

A lot of people have complained about FanFare's professional white background. Well, DRUNK WITH POWER after somehow kludging together a successful CSS theme for /r/MetaFilter with zero experience, I decided to try my hand at giving our new subsite a makeover, too -- the layout is fine, but that glaring white is painful to read in a darkened teevee room. Inspired by the original soothing dark blue color scheme from film/TV review aggregator Metacritic (which discarded it for an unpopular redesign years ago), I put together a complete FanFare theme (screenshot*) that adjusts not just the background and text, but stuff like visited links, link hovering, the pop-up video button and lightbox, posting page notes, live preview area, and the sidebar and Deck ad box. You can install it in Firefox (with Greasemonkey or Stylish), Chrome (with Stylish or Blank Canvas Script Handler), and jailbroken iOS (with Userscript Loader, using this URL) -- it's tested and working properly on all three. [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Aug 8, 2014 - 63 comments

I haven't seen one in the usual haunts, but is there an existing or easily-adaptable script to remove a post from the front page?
posted by griphus on Mar 25, 2013 - 30 comments

Calling all scientists and scientist-lovers! Do you like knowing when a comment you're reading on MeFi was written by a Person of Science? Well, have I got a greasemonkey script for you. [more inside]
posted by Scientist on Mar 2, 2012 - 132 comments