Webpack WebExtension Plugin

Webpack plugin that compiles web-extension manifest.json files and adds smart auto reload.

What does it do?

• Autoreload extensions via websockets
• Use vendor prefixes in manifest properties
• Validates some manifest.json fields

Install

$ npm i webpack-webextension-plugin

Usage

const WebextensionPlugin = require('webpack-webextension-plugin')

const config = {
  plugins: [
    new WebextensionPlugin({
      vendor: 'chrome'
    })
  ]
}

API

new WebextensionPlugin([options])

Add result to webpack plugins to initialize.

options

Type: Object

Any of the options below.

vendor

Type: String
Default: chrome
Any of: chrome, opera, firefox, edge, safari

Used for vendor prefixing in the manifest.json. More infos regarding this can be found below.

port

Type: Integer
Default: 35729

Specify the listening port for the webstocket development server.

autoreload

Type: Boolean
Default: true

Enables auto reload. If not specified will be enabled when using webpacks watch mode.

quiet

Type: Boolean
Default: false

Disable plugin logging.

reconnectTime

Type: Integer
Default: 3000

Specify the reconnect time to the development server from the extension side.

manifestDefaults

Type: Object
Default: {}

Allows you to define defaults for the manifest.json file.

FAQ

How does smart autoreload work?

We create/extend a background page in the extension with a websockets client, that connects to our custom websocket server. As soon as a specific files changes the client checks how to reload the extension:

• if manifest.json change → full reload
• if manifest.json dependencies change → full reload
• if _locales change → full reload
• else reload current tab & all extension views

What are vendor prefixed manifest keys?

Vendor prefixed manifest keys allow you to write one manifest.json for multible vendors.

{
  "__chrome__name": "SuperChrome",
  "__firefox__name": "SuperFox",
  "__edge__name": "SuperEdge",
  "__opera__name": "SuperOpera",
  "__safari__name": "SuperSafari"
}

if the vendor is chrome this compiles to:

{
  "name": "SuperChrome",
}

Add keys to multiple vendors by seperating them with | in the prefix

{
  __chrome|opera__name: "SuperBlink"
}

if the vendor is chrome or opera, this compiles to:

{
  "name": "SuperBlink"
}

Why are you not using mozillas web-ext package?

• webpack-webextension-plugin should work for every browser in the same way.
• web-ext only works for firefox. Nevertheless if your primary browser is firefox, you should definetly check it out.

Links

• generator-web-extension
• webextension-toolbox

License

Copyright 2018 Henrik Wenz

This project is free software released under the MIT license.