crx
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crx is a utility to package Google Chrome extensions via a Node API and the command line. It is written purely in JavaScript and does not require OpenSSL!
Packages are available to use crx
with:
Massive hat tip to the node-rsa project for the pure JavaScript encryption!
Compatibility: this extension is compatible with node>=10
.
Install
$ npm install crx
Module API
Asynchronous functions returns a native ECMAScript Promise.
const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');
const ChromeExtension = require('crx');
const crx = new ChromeExtension({
codebase: 'http://localhost:8000/myExtension.crx',
privateKey: fs.readFileSync('./key.pem')
});
crx.load( path.resolve(__dirname, './myExtension') )
.then(crx => crx.pack())
.then(crxBuffer => {
const updateXML = crx.generateUpdateXML()
fs.writeFile('../update.xml', updateXML);
fs.writeFile('../myExtension.crx', crxBuffer);
})
.catch(err=>{
console.error( err );
});
ChromeExtension = require("crx")
crx = new ChromeExtension(attrs)
This module exports the ChromeExtension
constructor directly, which can take an optional attribute object, which is used to extend the instance.
crx.load(path|files)
Prepares the temporary workspace for the Chrome Extension located at path
— which is expected to directly contain manifest.json
.
crx.load('/path/to/extension').then(crx => {
});
Alternatively, you can pass a list of files — the first manifest.json
file to be found will be considered as the root of the application.
crx.load(['/my/extension/manifest.json', '/my/extension/background.json']).then(crx => {
});
crx.pack()
Packs the Chrome Extension and resolves the promise with a Buffer containing the .crx
file.
crx.load('/path/to/extension')
.then(crx => crx.pack())
.then(crxBuffer => {
fs.writeFile('/tmp/foobar.crx', crxBuffer);
});
crx.generateUpdateXML()
Returns a Buffer containing the update.xml file used for autoupdate
, as specified for update_url
in the manifest. In this case, the instance must have a property called codebase
.
const crx = new ChromeExtension({ ..., codebase: 'https://autoupdateserver.com/myFirstExtension.crx' });
crx.load('/path/to/extension')
.then(crx => crx.pack())
.then(crxBuffer => {
const xmlBuffer = crx.generateUpdateXML();
fs.writeFile('/foo/bar/update.xml', xmlBuffer);
});
crx.generateAppId
Generates application id (extension id) from given path.
new crx().generateAppId('/path/to/ext')
CLI API
crx pack [directory] [--crx-version number] [-o file] [--zip-output file] [-p private-key]
Pack the specified directory into a .crx package, and output it to stdout. If no directory is specified, the current working directory is used.
Use the --crx-version
option to specify which CRX format version to output. Can be either "2" or "3", defaults to "3".
Use the -o
option to write the signed extension to a file instead of stdout.
Use the --zip-output
option to write the unsigned extension to a file.
Use the -p
option to specify an external private key. If this is not used, key.pem
is used from within the directory. If this option is not used and no key.pem
file exists, one will be generated automatically.
Use the -b
option to specify the maximum buffer allowed to generate extension. By default, will rely on node
internal setting (~200KB).
crx keygen [directory]
Generate a 2048-bit RSA private key within the directory. This is called automatically if a key is not specified, and key.pem
does not exist.
Use the --force
option to overwrite an existing private key located in the same given folder.
crx --help
Show information about using this utility, generated by commander.
CLI example
Given the following directory structure:
└─┬ myFirstExtension
├── manifest.json
└── icon.png
run this:
$ cd myFirstExtension
$ crx pack -o
to generate this:
├─┬ myFirstExtension
│ ├── manifest.json
│ ├── icon.png
│ └── key.pem
└── myFirstExtension.crx
You can also name the output file like this:
$ cd myFirstExtension
$ crx pack -o myFirstExtension.crx
to get the same results, or also pipe to the file manually like this.
$ cd myFirstExtension
$ crx pack > ../myFirstExtension.crx
As you can see a key is generated for you at key.pem
if none exists. You can also specify an external key. So if you have this:
├─┬ myFirstExtension
│ ├── manifest.json
│ └── icon.png
└── myPrivateKey.pem
you can run this:
$ crx pack myFirstExtension -p myPrivateKey.pem -o
to sign your package without keeping the key in the directory.
License
MIT License.