## We've All Been There
You're deep in a conversation with Claude or ChatGPT. You ask for a chart, a styled component, a quick landing page mockup. The AI delivers beautiful HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
And then... nothing. Just code sitting there in a text block.
Maybe your AI doesn't have canvas/artifacts enabled. Maybe you forgot to turn it on. Maybe you're using the API or a third-party interface that doesn't support it. Whatever the reason, you're staring at code you can't see running.
## Your Portable Canvas: SideCanvas
**SideCanvas** is a free Chrome extension that gives you a canvas whenever you need one.
Click the extension icon, and a full HTML/CSS/JS editor opens in Chrome's side panel - right next to your AI conversation. Paste the code, see it render instantly. No tab switching. No external sites. No friction.
## It's Always There When Canvas Isn't
- AI canvas feature disabled? **SideCanvas.**
- Using an AI that doesn't support previews? **SideCanvas.**
- Working through an API or terminal? **SideCanvas.**
- Canvas glitched out mid-conversation? **SideCanvas.**
## More Than Just a Fallback
Once you start using it, you might prefer it:
- **Persistent** - Your code stays saved, even after closing the AI chat
- **Editable** - Tweak the AI's output directly and see changes live
- **CDN Libraries** - One-click add Chart.js, jQuery, Bootstrap, Tailwind
- **Responsive Preview** - Test mobile, tablet, desktop views
- **Export** - Download as a standalone HTML file
- **Multiple Projects** - Save different experiments
## Get It
Install from the [Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/sidecanvas/fappagkmeihpielhomppggflcbkimeml) - free, no account, all code stays local on your
machine.
Here's the home page for it:
https://mikestools.io/Home/Product/sidecanvas
This is my own creation. It's my first Chrome Extension published. I was published yesterday (today is 2026-01-21).
Next time your AI hands you code with no way to run it, you'll be ready.