► Intro
When running Google Chrome with multiple tabs, FLST provides a more natural browsing experience by maintaining tabs with MRU ordering (Most Recently Used); when the current tab is closed, the Last-Selected-Tab gets displayed (or "Focused").  A common usage example starts with search results from google.com (or any search engine) :

• next we open a linked page in a new tab, read some content, and later close the tab; the MRU ordering switches the selected/displayed tab back to the search results
• then we cycle through additional links until the target information is found
• when finished, we close the tab with search results, and again the display is returned to the Last-Selected-Tab from the MRU list

To suit user choices, the other FLST features are designed as configurable options.  When this extension is first installed, options are enabled.  Click the other buttons above for option details.  Be sure to read Limitations (next button)

► Method
Chrome assigns a numeric ID for each tab (eg 111, 14, 79).  During various tab-related events, FLST updates sets of tab-IDs with MRU ordering.  Tab ordering is privately maintained for each Chrome window.  Migrating tabs between windows is also supported.

► Background
After Google Chrome was introduced, many features from Mozilla Firefox and FF extensions were desirable for Chrome.  By 2011, a new independent FLST extension was created for Chrome, partly inspired by features from a mix of now-former Firefox versions.  (also see Limitations, next button)

► Extension history, FLST Chrome

Release Date	FLST Revision	Chrome Manifest
Jan 2011	Rev 1.0	V1
Jan 2012	Rev 1.1	V1
Jun 2013	Rev 1.2	V2
Feb 2021	Rev 2.1	V2

► Limitations:  Since 2011 / Chrome 8.x and probably earlier versions, when the current/displayed tab is clicked, Chrome ignores that event and does nothing.  Different methods are required to trigger Tab Flipping.  Click the next button for related details.

► All extensions including FLST cannot prevent others from altering tab-related activity.  So far all reported issues have been caused by another enabled extension.  To resolve any issues, first disable all other extensions, quit and restart Chrome, then retest.  Re-enable other extensions only 1 at a time between tests.

► ALERT!
Google announced the next major revision for extensions (MV3 / Manifest Version 3) along with drastic changes that migrate or eliminate access to many Chrome services.  For most of Chrome history, extensions were are all based on MV2.  The recent schedule for ending MV2 support starts "after June 2024".  Oddly, Google has maintained their plan despite years of adverse feedback from developers, including Chrome and W3C extension groups.  For related info, see this article on EFF.org (Electronic Frontier Foundation).

► 2024
Total donations to date are tiny – 290 times less than minimum wage, or about 2.5 cents an hour.
If you want a MV3 version of this extension, be sure to donate soon to FLST  (see links below).

(Option) Tab Flipping:  When there are 2 or more tabs, clicking the Extension Icon will flip (or toggle) between the current-tab and the Last-Selected-Tab.  The same flip/toggle can be done with a keyboard shortcut (example: Alt+N).  Chrome supports configuring shortcuts to most Ctrl+ or Alt+ combinations.  Instructions are also provided during installation.  Older extensions used a content script for shortcuts like F9 or F10, though Chrome support was always incomplete and now removed.  Click the previous button for related Limitations.

► To set FLST Options
► Right-click the extension icon and click Options

► To set Chrome Keyboard shortcuts   (2 choices)
► • Right-click the extension icon and click Keyboard shortcuts
► • or type Ctrl+T and paste this URL to the omnibox / address bar   ➔   chrome://extensions/shortcuts

(Option) New Tab Select:  After a right-click on a regular link and choosing Open link in new tab, also select/display the new tab.  When a tab is opened with that method, the Chrome standard creates a new tab usually with content, but does not display the new tab; the opener remains displayed.  This option automates selecting/displaying the new tab, eliminating the need to also click the new tab.

► To set FLST Options
► Right-click the extension icon and click Options

(Option) New Tab Location:  After a right-click on a regular link and choosing Open link in new tab, place the new tab on the far right.  When a tab is opened with that method, the Chrome standard places the new tab on the immediate right.  The difference is apparent in the common case where the opener / current-tab is not the furthest right.

► Note that Chrome places new blank tabs (Ctrl+T) and some chrome://  tabs on the far right; this extension does not alter that behavior.

► To set FLST Options
► Right-click the extension icon and click Options