How to modify an extension from the Chrome Web Store?
I've seen this extension in the Chrome Web store, which shows the newest videos of a YouTube channel. I want to modify this extension in order to make it work with a different channel.
How can I get this done?
Answer
You've got two options:
- Contact the extension's developer, and ask for assistance.
- Edit the source code
I'm going to explain how you can modify an extension, and install it, in easy terms.
Getting the source and modifying it
- Install the Chrome extension source viewer.
- Go to the page in the Chrome Web Store of the extension you want to modify.
- Click on the yellow CRX button, and choose Download (screenshot).
- Extract the zip file.
- Read the source code, and change what needs to be changed (in your particular case, I had quickly identified that you wanted to change edit
config.jsand change the"channel"property). Save the changes.
Using the modified version of the extension.
- Visit the Chrome extension page (
chrome://extensions/). - Enable Developer mode, by activating the switch in the upper-right corner.
- Click on the "Load unpacked extension" button.
- Select the folder of your extension (to know which folder is correct, check whether the folder contains a file called
manifest.json). - Confirm. You're done.
Unless you've made a mistake in either of these steps (including the modification of the source code), the modified extension should work as intended.
Ethics
Modifying someone else's extension for personal use is not a big deal. However, do not distribute this extension without the original developer's consent. The original author has put lots of efforts in creating the extension, and might even have his/her contact details on it. If you distribute a (modified) copy of the extension, the original author cannot update the extension any more, so s/he cannot resolve bugs.
Even worse, if you turn the extension in a bad shape, users will complain to the original author, because their contact details are on it.