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How to Build Chrome Extensions? | Deploy Chrome Extension to Chrome Web Store | A Complete Guide to Beginner

2022-09-18T15:00:00.000+05:30

Chrome Extensions are small programs that add functionality and more interactivity to the Chrome Browser. It's like an app for the Chrome Web browser, that allows you to alter the behavior of browser. You can also modify a web page using the Chrome Extensions. These extensions are developed and designed with HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

In this article we will be learning how to develop, debug and deploy Chrome Extensions. Just tighten up your belts and start learning.

Prerequisites for building a Chrome Extension:

Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

You can also use JavaScript libraries like jQuery to add more functionality.

The work of extension is to bundle up all their files into a single file, that the user can download and install on the browser. Bundling means that unlike web apps, extensions do not need to depend on content from the web.

How Chrome Extensions work?

Chrome extensions consist of Manifest, HTML, CSS and JavaScript files, packed in a .crx zipped file and this zip file is deployed into the Chrome Web store, where the users can install the extensions.

We will learn in detail about each of the file and create our own Chrome Extension.

Different Types of Extensions:

1). Browser Action (BA) Extensions

Stays in the tool bar.
Accessible all times and easily manageable.

2). Page Action (PA) Extensions

Works only on certain pages, as decided and designed by the developer.

3). Neither BA nor PA Extensions

These extensions run in the background.

Let's learn about the different files in Chrome Extension and then we will be developing and deploying our own extension.

Manifest File

Manifest file is a special file that tells Chrome everything it needs to know to properly load and set up the extension. Manifest is a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format file.

A Manifest file must contain the following:

Information about the extension

Manifest version - this version is provided by the Google

Name of the extension

Version of extension

Type of Extension

You also need to specify the default icon for your extension and and a pop-up file (HTML file), when the extension is clicked/opened.

HTML File

Our extension can have more than one HTML pages, which represent the UI (User Interface) of the extension. The basic structure, what needs to be displayed when a user clicks on your extension (a pop-up).

CSS File

CSS make things look nice and clean and in a styled way.

JavaScript File

This file helps us to add logic and increase interactivity in our extension. You need to externally link the JavaScript file in the HTML file. Internal Linking of JavaScript will not work.

Creating our own Chrome Extension:

=> Let's learn how to create an extension that provides easy access to TechyChefs website and Facebook Page on the internet:

Step-1: Create a folder and name it as "Extension" (you can choose your own name) and open this folder in VS Code (you can choose your own editor).

Also, select an image and bring it to the folder in which you are creating the extension. This image will be the icon of your Chrome Extension.

Step-2: Within the 'Extension' folder, create a file and name it as 'manifest.json'. This is the Manifest file of your extension.

Click on the image to view

You need to write the following code in your Manifest file, containing all the properties as specified above.

Manifest file:

 {  
   "manifest_version": 2,  
    
   "name": "TechyChefs Launcher",     
   "description": "Easy access to TechyChefs",  
   "version": "1.0",  
    
   "browser_action": {  
    "default_icon": "icon.png",  
    "default_popup": "popup.html"  
   }  
   
 }

Step-3: Create a HTML file and name it as 'popup.html'. Enter the following code in your HTML file. Here, we have used icons of Facebook and Web from Bootstrap.

In the link section, I have entered TechyChefs website and Facebook page link, you can enter your own links.

HTML Code:

 <!DOCTYPE html>  
 <html lang="en">  
   
 <head>  
   <title>TechyChefs Launcher</title>  
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">                                                    
 </head>  
   
 <body>  
   <span class="text">TechyChefs Easy Access</span>
   <br>
   <div class="container">  
     <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TechyChefs-104326221376431/" target="_blank">  
       <link rel="stylesheet"  
         href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css">  
       <i class="fa fa-facebook-official"></i>  
     </a>  
   
     <a href="https://www.techychefs.com/" target="_blank">  
       <link rel="stylesheet"  
         href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css">  
       <i class="fa fa-globe"></i>  
     </a>  
   </div>  
 </body>  
   
 </html>

Step-4: Now, create a CSS file and name it as 'style.css'. We will link this CSS file to our HTML file using the 'link' tag in the head section. You can also add inline or internal CSS.

To know more about CSS, read this - What is CSS ? | Some Basic Properties in CSS to get started

CSS Code:

 body{  
   background: #111;  
   margin: 0;  
   min-width: 250px;  
   min-height: 100px;  
 }  
  
 .text{
   margin-left:20px;
   font-size:20px;
}
 
 .container{  
   height:1000vh;  
   display:flex;  
   justify-content:center;  
   align-items: center;  
 }  
   
 a{  
   color:blue;  
   font-size: 30px;  
   margin: 0 10px;  
 }  
   
 .fa-facebook {  
   background: #3B5998;  
   color: white;  
   
 }

Step-5: Now, we have made our own extension. If you want to add JavaScript file to your extension, you can create a JavaScript file and add our logic and link it to your HTML file.

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Some Amazing Google Chrome Extensions - You must know!
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How to View and Debug your Chrome Extension on your Chrome browser?

To view the extension in your Chrome browser, follow the steps below:

In the search bar of your chrome browser, search for "chrome://extensions".

Make sure your Developer Mode (top right corner) is ON.

Click on "Load Unpacked" button and upload your folder in which you have developed your extension and follow the pop-ups.

Click on the image to view

After following the above steps, your extension will be visible to you on the Chrome Web browser in the Extensions tab.

Click on the image to view

To debug your extension, you can use the developer tools, by right clicking on your extension and select 'Inspect' or press Ctrl+Shift+I.

How to Deploy Chrome Extension to the Chrome Web Store?

After developing and designing your own Chrome Extension, you would be very excited to Deploy your extension to the Chrome Web Store, so that everyone can download and use your extension.

For deploying your extensions to the Chrome Web Store, it requires a developer account.

To Deploy your extension to the Chrome Web Store, follow the steps below:

Search for "chrome dashboard" on your Chrome browser.

Click on the first link. It will ask you to login using your Google (Gmail) account.

If you are deploying a Chrome Extension for the first time, it will ask you to create a Chrome Web Store Developer account.

Attention: You need to pay $5 for creating a Developer's account. So, I will leave this to you, whether you want to make a developer account or not.

After creating the developer's account, Developer Dashboard will be accessible by you and now you can deploy your chrome extensions to the chrome web store.

On your Developer's dashboard, click on "Add new item".

Here, you will be asked to upload the zip file of your extension.

After uploading is done, it will take you to the other page, where you have to provide some description, icon, screenshots of your extension.

You can also specify the category of your extension and also select the countries in which the extension will be available.

After filling up all the necessary details, click on "Publish".

Hence, your extension is deployed to the Chrome Web Store and is available for use and download by everyone.

Have some doubts? Let us know in the comments section.

TED Fellowship | Apply to be a TED Fellow | Ideas Worth Spreading

2021-05-30T14:11:00.004+05:30

The TED Fellows program provides transformational support to a global community of over 500 remarkable individuals who are collaborating across disciplines to spark future-shaping change around the world.

Every year the TED Fellows program selects a new group of extraordinary, multidisciplinary individuals by open application. We look for innovators on the rise in their respective fields who are doing bold, original work.

Selection Process:

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Applicants may receive requests for additional information from our team. But unless we reach out to you, we require no further information from you.

Ultimately, there is no algorithm for selection of TED Fellows. You are selected based on your accomplishments in your respective fields, the potential impact of your work and also your character.

Who should apply:

The TED Fellows Program recognizes the folks working on-the-ground on world-changing ideas -- the doers, makers, inventors, advocates, filmmakers and photographers, musicians and artists, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and human rights activists. If you’re at work on a future-shaping idea and over the age of 18, you should apply.

The TED Fellows program is not an academic fellowship and non-traditional educations are welcome.

In addition to impressive accomplishment, fine character and a good heart are also important traits we look for in TED Fellows.

Before applying do check out the tips for applying.

Flutter with Firebase Build a Store app from scratch | Udemy Course for FREE

2021-05-13T23:29:00.006+05:30

Flutter Full Store app with firebase which can be used in real life.

Course prerequisites:

Basic knowledge in programming to get started
Basic knowledge in Flutter
Concepts are explained clearly. You will always learn what you're building and why, and then how to do it.

How this course can be of help:

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Learn how to make an online shopping application simply

What's in the course:

Complex UI done simply
State management
Firebase
Clean-code and avoid Boilerplate code
Styles for UI
State Management: setState, lifting state up via callbacks, global access, scoped access with Provider and ChangeNotifier
Navigation
Dart
Forms, input handling and validation
Managing and updating packages
Databases and Cloud Firestore
ListViews and multiple UI states
Firebase Authentication
Firebase Firestore
Firebase Storage
Dart Programming Language - Fundamentals and intermediate topics
How to understand Flutter Mobile Development by building apps incrementally.
How to design, build, debug Flutter Android and iOS Apps
How to get Flutter apps to communicate with a realtime database - Firestore
How to build robust apps with Flutter

Coupon Code - HAPPY_EID (Coupon will be applied automatically)

Price - ~~₹6,400~~ 100% FREE

Certification Included

Course Content:

Introduction to Flutter

Start Coding

State Management

Cart State Management

Wishlist State Management

More UI improvements

What you'll Learn:

This Flutter course a complete guide that helps in learning and building a fully functioning Flutter application with Firebase.
Teaching how to write Clean-code and avoid Boilerplate code
Clear state management in a very detailed manner
Introduce new widgets and how to use them correctly

Who this course is for:

Flutter and Dart learning cravers
Beginner Flutter

Technology-for everything technical

How to Build Chrome Extensions? | Deploy Chrome Extension to Chrome Web Store | A Complete Guide to Beginner

How Chrome Extensions work?

Creating our own Chrome Extension:

-----------------------Some Amazing Google Chrome Extensions - You must know!-----------------------

How to View and Debug your Chrome Extension on your Chrome browser?

How to Deploy Chrome Extension to the Chrome Web Store?

TED Fellowship | Apply to be a TED Fellow | Ideas Worth Spreading

Flutter with Firebase Build a Store app from scratch | Udemy Course for FREE

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Some Amazing Google Chrome Extensions - You must know!
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