Building & distributing chrome extensions and web apps

Building & Distributing Chrome Extensions and Web AppsTiger Feng Sept 2, 2010Beijing, China

Agenda

Chrome ExtensionsHistory, current and beyond

Installable Web Apps

What, why and how

Q&A

What are Chrome Extensions

Enhancements / features for Google ChromeWritten in HTML, CSS, and JavaScriptIncluding browser action, page action, content script...Run in separate processesInstalled instantlyUpdated automatically

Hosting Chrome Extensions

Chrome Extensions Gallery A gallery hosting browser extensionsHelps Google Chrome users find extensionsHelps developers to publish extensions

History

Q3 2008, Google Chrome beta launches Q4 2008, Google Chrome entered stableQ3 2009, ThemesQ3 2009, Extensions developer launch Q4 2009, Extensions consumer launch (Gallery beta)Q1, 2010, Gallery official launch Q3 2010, next generation developer launchQ4 2010 and beyond, next generation consumer launch

Current usage

Thousands of extensions already, growing fast

10 million extensions downloaded per month

Many extensions are from China and are used by Chinese

What Gallery provides

Bridge between developers and users

Hosting service for extension packagesDirectory for discovering extensionsAuto-update serviceUser ratings & reviewsRanking extensions by popularity

Next Generation:Chrome Web Store

Open marketplace for web apps

Announced at Google I/O on June 19, 2010Opens later this year in the US, will expand internationally in 2011Will also supports themes, in addition to apps & extensions

Note: Chrome Web Store is not launched to China market yet.

New concept:Installable Web Apps

It's just a web app ... built using any server-side or web technologies you likeOnly addition: Packaging the app & making it "installable" in Google Chrome

New concept:Installable Web Apps

Types of Installable Web Apps

Packaged appAll content bundled into an archiveUsers download the archive during installationSimilar to extensions, but presents an app-like user interface

Hosted app

Regular web site, plus some metadataNeed verification that the developer owns the website

Building a Packaged App

A packaged app is just an extension that presents an app-style user interface.Sample manifest for a packaged web app:

Building a Hosted AppSample manifest for a hosted web app:

How to build and publish

1. Create an app using your favorite web technologies

How to build and publish

2. Create a wrapper: Manifest file with metadata + icons

How to build and publish

3. Upload: Upload the package (.zip file) to Chrome Web Store (Extension Gallery)

How to build and publish

4. Edit & add info: Description, language, categories, videos

How to build and publish

5. Publish: Most apps are immediately available to the world

Installation from Web StoreInstalled same way as extensions

No restart needed

Once installed, a big icon in Google Chrome's app launcher will show up

When running, has a special frame and other UI to make it easier to distinguish from other web content.

Benefits of Chrome Web Store

Distribute your web apps to 70M+ Google Chrome users (growing fast)Target HTML5 and the latest web technologies of modern browsers Small learning curveEasy to distributeLow maintenance needs

Business Opportunity!

Global impact Early mover advantageEasy access to the store and apps directly in Google Chrome Technical support and guidanceIn-store promotion and other on-going marketing efforts

Learn more

Google Chrome Web Store chrome.google.com/webstore

Chrome Extensions

code.google.com/chrome/extensions/

Installable Web Apps & Web Store APIscode.google.com/chrome/webstore/

Google I/O '10 about Chrome Web Store

bit.ly/webstore-googleio-video

Q&A

Thank you for your patience!

Questions, ideas, suggestions?

Keep in touch: groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/group/chromium-extensions tigerf@google.com