Specimen test hub

1. Install the build

Download the zip, then unzip it into a folder you will keep.

1. Open chrome://extensions and turn on Developer mode (top right).
2. Click Load unpacked and choose the unzipped folder.
3. Click the puzzle piece in Chrome's toolbar and pin Specimen.

Chrome should not show any site permissions when you load it. If it does, note that as a failed check.

Installing a newer build. Every test build shares one extension ID, so a new one replaces the old one rather than appearing as a second Specimen. The simplest way is to unzip the new download over the same folder and press the reload arrow on Specimen's card in chrome://extensions. If you unzip into a new folder instead, choose Load unpacked again and Chrome should swap the old copy for the new one. The card's version line shows the date and time the build was made, so you can confirm which one is running.

This test build shares anonymous usage counts and error reports with the developer, so problems can be fixed before release. It sends a random install ID, which features were used, Specimen's version, your Chrome version and your operating system, and never the addresses of pages you inspect or anything you copy. The version on the Chrome Web Store will send nothing.

2. The test websites

Invented sites that reproduce the pages drawn in the designs, so the values Specimen shows can be compared with the boards.

3. The checks

1. Clicking the icon grants access. Open Fieldnote Coffee and click the Specimen icon. The side panel opens without reloading the page, and the line under the tabs shows this site's address with a green Ready. If it says "Not read yet" (the Home screen with "This tab" at the top) instead, the click did not grant access: that is the key answer, so please report it.
2. The shortcut grants access too. Close the panel, open Orbit Analytics in another tab, and press Alt Shift S on Windows, or ⌘ Cmd Shift S on a Mac. The panel opens showing this site with Ready. If you loaded an earlier build, remove it from chrome://extensions and load this one fresh first, because Chrome seems to set up a suggested shortcut only on first install. If nothing happens, check chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
3. The shortcut toggles pick mode. With the panel open, press the shortcut again. A dark "Picking" pill appears at the top of the page. Press it again and the pill goes away.
4. The panel stays with its tab. With the panel open, switch to another tab without clicking anything. The panel steps aside there, and comes back where you left it when you return. On the new tab, click the icon or press the shortcut to open a panel for that tab.
5. Pick mode. On Fieldnote, press Start inspecting, hover the headline (the label reads h1 612 × 118 on a wide window), click it, then press Esc. The panel shows fonts, colours, box model and CSS. Press I while picking and links work again.
6. Measuring. On Orbit, start inspecting, click Start free trial, then hover Book a demo. The panel shows a 12px horizontal gap.
7. Protected pages. Open chrome://settings and click the icon. Note what the panel says.
8. Never asks for all sites. Install it fresh. No side panel appears until you click the icon or press the shortcut, and nothing ever makes Chrome ask whether Specimen may read all sites.
9. Closing leaves nothing behind. Close the panel while picking. The pill and outlines disappear and links work normally.

This site counts downloads of the zip and nothing else. It sets no cookies and runs no trackers. Specimen's privacy policy.