How do I auto-reload a Chrome extension I'm developing?

javascript google-chrome google-chrome-extension
Andrey Fedorov picture Andrey Fedorov · Jun 3, 2010 · Viewed 73.4k times · Source

I'd like for my chrome extension to reload every time I save a file in the extension folder, without having to explicitly click "reload" in chrome://extensions/. Is this possible?

Edit: I'm aware I can update the interval at which Chrome reloads extensions, which is a half-way solution, but I'd rather either making my editor (emacs or textmate) trigger on-save a reload or asking Chrome to monitor the directory for changes.

Answer

Arik picture Arik · Oct 7, 2012

You can use "Extensions Reloader" for Chrome:

Reloads all unpacked extensions using the extension's toolbar button or by browsing to "http://reload.extensions"

If you've ever developed a Chrome extension, you might have wanted to automate the process of reloading your unpacked extension without the need of going through the extensions page.

"Extensions Reloader" allows you to reload all unpacked extensions using 2 ways:

1 - The extension's toolbar button.

2 - Browsing to "http://reload.extensions".

The toolbar icon will reload unpacked extensions using a single click.

The "reload by browsing" is intended for automating the reload process using "post build" scripts - just add a browse to "http://reload.extensions" using Chrome to your script, and you'll have a refreshed Chrome window.

Update: As of January 14, 2015, the extension is open-sourced and available on GitHub.

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