How to Create a Firefox Add-on

This tutorial guides you through building a Firefox add-on that lets users set custom alarms with personalized text. No prior experience with Firefox add-ons or browser extensions is needed; basic JavaScript knowledge suffices. The complete code is available on GitHub [GitHub Repository Link (Not Provided)], and the finished add-on is published [Published Add-on Link (Not Provided)].

Key Concepts:

• manifest.json Setup: This essential file defines your add-on's name, version, description, and icons. Manifest V2 is currently required for Firefox.
• Popup Implementation (popup.html): Creates a user interface displayed when the add-on icon is clicked.
• Storage APIs: Use local storage for browser-specific data and sync storage for data accessible across devices and sessions.
• Options Page (options.html): Provides a customizable settings interface, allowing users to manage alarms.
• Alarms API: Schedules and manages alarms that trigger notifications.
• Notification Handling: Sends notifications using the Notifications API.
• Alarm Deletion: Implements functionality to remove alarms from storage and cancel scheduled notifications.
• Mozilla Developer Hub Publication: Prepares your add-on for submission, ensuring the manifest.json is correctly configured.

Creating the Add-on:

1. manifest.json Creation: Begin by creating a manifest.json file with the following minimum information: name, version, manifest_version, description, and icons (with paths to your icon assets).

   <code class="language-json">{
     "name": "personalized-alarms",
     "version": "0.0.1",
     "description": "Create personalized alarms",
     "manifest_version": 2,
     "icons": {
       "16": "assets/images/icon16.png",
       "32": "assets/images/icon32.png",
       "48": "assets/images/icon48.png",
       "128": "assets/images/icon128.png"
     }
   }</code>

2. Loading in Firefox: Use Firefox's Add-ons Manager (accessible via ctrl shift A) to load the add-on in debug mode. This allows for testing and debugging before publication.

   

3. Popup Creation (popup.html): Design a popup HTML file to display upcoming alarms and a link to the options page. Include necessary CSS and JavaScript links.

4. Storage Integration: Add the "storage" permission to manifest.json to enable data persistence. Use browser.storage.sync.get and browser.storage.sync.set to retrieve and save alarm data. Remember to include a unique add-on ID in "browser_specific_settings" for local testing (remove before publishing).

5. Options Page (options.html): Create an options page to allow users to create new alarms. Use a form to collect alarm details (name and time). Use browser.storage.sync.set to save new alarms.

6. Scheduling Notifications (Alarms API): Use browser.alarms.create in your options page's JavaScript to schedule alarms based on user input. Set the when property for the alarm's trigger time.

7. Background Script (background.js): Create a background script to listen for alarm events using browser.alarms.onAlarm.addListener. When an alarm triggers, send a notification using browser.notifications.create. Add "alarms" and "notifications" permissions to manifest.json.

8. Notification Deletion: Add functionality to delete alarms from storage and cancel them using browser.alarms.clear.

9. Publishing: Remove "browser_specific_settings" from manifest.json before submitting your add-on to the Mozilla Developer Hub.

The tutorial then details the process of publishing the add-on to the Mozilla Add-ons website, including steps for updating the add-on after publication. Finally, it provides instructions on adapting the add-on for compatibility with Chrome. The provided FAQs cover common questions about Firefox add-on development.

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