The Excessiveness and Issues of Chrome's Command-Line Options
Google Chrome has approximately 1,400 command-line options, with 441 unique identifiers even after categorization. This sheer volume results from years of accumulated development, including debugging and platform-specific options. However, this excessive number poses significant usability issues.
One major issue is the lack of naming consistency. For example, some options use --disable-feature, while others use --no-feature, leading to confusion. Standardizing them into a single format, such as --feature=on/off, would improve clarity. Another problem is the retention of deprecated options, which increases complexity without providing value. Regular audits should be conducted to remove obsolete options while maintaining backward compatibility through aliases.
Additionally, most users only utilize a fraction of these options, making it necessary to prioritize and document the most relevant ones. A curated list of the top 100 commonly used options, with clear explanations, would greatly improve accessibility. Instead of merely listing all available options, focusing on usability and organization would enhance their practical application.