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cannot debug addon

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  • 1 yana da wannan matsala
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  • Amsa ta ƙarshe daga admin101

admin101
admin101
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Hi,

Thanks to Mozilla for continuing to develop such a clean browser, with movies made of GIF instead of much larger files.

So we have developed an extension or add-on for many years using the same method. But recently ( maybe I forgot ), with a new developer profile, I am unable to edit any files because the .xpi extension in the extensions folder, is compressed and cannot be navigated in a file Explorer.

In the past, I just install the extension and change the file extension from .xpi to .zip, and then extract into a folder with the same name. Then delete the .xpi/.zip folder, and the new folder acts as a pointer for the same instance of installation. And I can just modify the files in that folder usually and I don't need to restart the browser to see the changes. But lately I cannot do this.

What is the best way to debug the add-on with the least number of steps?

Thanks,

Josh

Hi, Thanks to Mozilla for continuing to develop such a clean browser, with movies made of GIF instead of much larger files. So we have developed an extension or add-on for many years using the same method. But recently ( maybe I forgot ), with a new developer profile, I am unable to edit any files because the .xpi extension in the extensions folder, is compressed and cannot be navigated in a file Explorer. In the past, I just install the extension and change the file extension from .xpi to .zip, and then extract into a folder with the same name. Then delete the .xpi/.zip folder, and the new folder acts as a pointer for the same instance of installation. And I can just modify the files in that folder usually and I don't need to restart the browser to see the changes. But lately I cannot do this. What is the best way to debug the add-on with the least number of steps? Thanks, Josh

Mafitar da aka zaɓa

admin101 said

For example, these days I have to edit the JavaScript file, CTR+S, then open new Mozilla developer edition, open the debugging tab, then click the open temporary add-on, then select the file, check the operation of the add-on.

Once you temporarily load the extension via about:debugging, after modifying any of its source files, you just have to click the Reload button to reload the extension. (See attached screenshot.)

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All Replies (5)

Eve
Eve
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You should be able to point to a given file inside a folder (unzipped/compressed) with the appropriate contents (manifest.json, js, icon/48.png) to load an addon temporarily, then you can just reload it each time you make changes to those files? per https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Your_first_WebExtension (obviously this isn't your first but details this method)

In about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox

I think that'd be simplest, but someone might have a better method.

admin101
admin101 Mai mallakar tambaya
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Hi evhenry,

Thanks for the support.

Yes I know about loading the add-on from there, but it just seems quite cumbersome to keep reloading.

Josh

An gyara daga admin101

admin101
admin101 Mai mallakar tambaya
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For example, these days I have to edit the JavaScript file, CTR+S, then open new Mozilla developer edition, open the debugging tab, then click the open temporary add-on, then select the file, check the operation of the add-on.

Previously, after editing the JavaScript file, CTR+S, ALT+TAB to Mozilla developer edition, then check the operation of the add-on.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Zaɓi Mafita

admin101 said

For example, these days I have to edit the JavaScript file, CTR+S, then open new Mozilla developer edition, open the debugging tab, then click the open temporary add-on, then select the file, check the operation of the add-on.

Once you temporarily load the extension via about:debugging, after modifying any of its source files, you just have to click the Reload button to reload the extension. (See attached screenshot.)

admin101
admin101 Mai mallakar tambaya
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admin101 said

For example, these days I have to edit the JavaScript file, CTR+S, then open new Mozilla developer edition, open the debugging tab, then click the open temporary add-on, then select the file, check the operation of the add-on. Previously, after editing the JavaScript file, CTR+S, ALT+TAB to Mozilla developer edition, then check the operation of the add-on.

Thanks! That's very helpful.