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https://github.com/simov/native-messaging

Native Messaging Host Protocol for Browser Extensions
https://github.com/simov/native-messaging

browser-extension chrome chrome-extension firefox firefox-addon firefox-extension javascript native-messaging nodejs

Last synced: about 1 month ago
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Native Messaging Host Protocol for Browser Extensions

Host: GitHub
URL: https://github.com/simov/native-messaging
Owner: simov
License: mit
Created: 2018-09-15T09:26:09.000Z (about 6 years ago)
Default Branch: master
Last Pushed: 2023-06-03T23:53:58.000Z (over 1 year ago)
Last Synced: 2024-04-14T04:45:58.106Z (7 months ago)
Topics: browser-extension, chrome, chrome-extension, firefox, firefox-addon, firefox-extension, javascript, native-messaging, nodejs
Language: JavaScript
Size: 5.86 KB
Stars: 47
Watchers: 2
Forks: 12
Open Issues: 5
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE

Awesome Lists containing this project

README

        
# native-messaging

[![npm-version]][npm]

> Native Messaging Host Protocol for Browser Extensions ([Chrome][native-messaging], [Firefox][native-messaging-ff])

# API

```js

#!/home/s/.nvm/versions/node/v8.11.2/bin/node

// Might be good to use an explicit path to node on the shebang line

// in case it isn't in PATH when launched by Chrome/Firefox

var sendMessage = require('native-messaging')(handleMessage)

function handleMessage (req) {

  if (req.message === 'ping') {

    sendMessage({message: 'pong', body: 'hello from nodejs app'})

  }

}

```

# Tips

- `chrome.runtime.connectNative` returns a `Port` that can be used to establish persistent connection between the browser and the native app

- the Port's `disconnect` method can be used to disconnect from the native app

- the native app can use the OS's machinery to kill its own process at any time

- `chrome.runtime.sendNativeMessage` can be used to send single message to the native app, useful with _non persistent background pages_

- single native app can communicate with multiple browser extensions

- single browser extension can communicate with multiple native apps

# Things to look for

1. Add `nativeMessaging` permission to the `manifest.json` file of your extension

2. Load the extension to get its ID generated

3. Put the `native.messaging.example.json` in `~/.config/google-chrome/NativeMessagingHosts/` or `~/.mozilla/native-messaging-hosts/`

  - The name of the file should be identical to the `name` field specified in that file

  - Only dots `.` are allowed as delimiters in the file name

  - The `path` key should be absolute path to your nodejs script `example.js`

  - Chrome - the `allowed_origins` key should contain the extension's ID loaded in step 2

  - Firefox - the `allowed_extensions` key should contain the extension's ID specified in its `manifest.json` file

4. Make sure that `example.js` is executable `chmod 755`

5. Make sure nodejs is reachable from the shebang line in `example.js`

6. Use the `name` specified in `native.messaging.example.json` to connect to the native app from the extension's background page `background.js`

> Note that the install location for the `native.messaging.example.json` differs for each OS and browser. In case you plan to support multiple platforms, it's best to use install script. Here is an example of [such script][install].

# References

Topic                            | Chrome                      | Firefox

:--                              | :---                        | :---

Native Messaging Host Protocol   | [link][native-messaging]    | [link][native-messaging-ff]

chrome.runtime.connectNative     | [link][connect-native]      | [link][connect-native-ff]

Port                             | [link][port]                | [link][port-ff]

chrome.runtime.sendNativeMessage | [link][send-native-message] | [link][send-native-message-ff]

host.json location               | [link][host-location]       | [link][host-location-ff]

official example                 | [link][example]             | [link][example-ff]

  [npm-version]: https://img.shields.io/npm/v/native-messaging.svg?style=flat-square (NPM Package Version)

  [npm]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/native-messaging

  [native-messaging]: https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/nativeMessaging

  [connect-native]: https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/runtime#method-connectNative

  [port]: https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/runtime#type-Port

  [send-native-message]: https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/runtime#method-sendNativeMessage

  [host-location]: https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/nativeMessaging#native-messaging-host-location

  [example]: https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/chrome/common/extensions/docs/examples/api/nativeMessaging

  [native-messaging-ff]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Native_messaging

  [connect-native-ff]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/runtime/connectNative

  [port-ff]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/runtime/Port

  [send-native-message-ff]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/runtime/sendNativeMessage

  [host-location-ff]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Native_manifests#Manifest_location

  [example-ff]: https://github.com/mdn/webextensions-examples/tree/master/native-messaging

  [background-pages]: https://developers.chrome.com/extensions/background_pages

  [install]: https://github.com/browserpass/browserpass/blob/master/install.sh

  [example-1]: https://github.com/flashlizi/node-chrome-bridge

  [example-2]: https://github.com/jdiamond/chrome-native-messaging