| name | Hot Reloading for Chrome Extensions |
| description | This skill should be used when the user asks to "setup hot reload", "add hot reloading to chrome extension", "watch extension files", "auto reload extension", or mentions "manifest v3 hot reload". Provides a zero-dependency solution for automatic extension refreshing during development. |
| version | 0.1.0 |
Hot Reloading for Chrome Extension Development
Provide a zero-dependency hot-reloading system for Manifest V3 (MV3) extensions. This system enables automatic extension and tab refreshing whenever source files change, eliminating the need for manual reloads in chrome://extensions.
How It Works
The system consists of a server-side watcher and a client-side listener:
- The Watcher (Node.js): Runs on the developer's machine. It uses native
fs.watch to monitor the project directory and exposes a Server-Sent Events (SSE) endpoint (/events). When a file change is detected, it broadcasts a "reload" signal.
- The Client (JavaScript): Injected into the extension's background service worker. It connects to the watcher server using
EventSource. Upon receiving a "reload" signal, it reloads any open extension tabs (options pages, popups) and then calls chrome.runtime.reload() to refresh the extension itself.
Implementation Guide for the Agent
To implement hot reloading in the current project, follow these steps:
1. Copy the Source Files
Copy the following files from the skill's examples/ directory into the project root or a designated tools/ directory:
examples/hot-reload-server.mjs -> hot-reload-server.mjsexamples/hot-reload-client.js -> hot-reload-client.js
2. Configure the Background Script
Update the extension's background service worker (e.g., service-worker.js) to import the client script. This should be the first line in the file:
importScripts('hot-reload-client.js');
3. Update Permissions
Ensure the manifest.json includes management (to detect development mode) and tabs (to refresh open extension pages):
{
"permissions": [
"management",
"tabs"
]
}
4. Provide Execution Instructions to the User
Inform the user to start the watcher server in their terminal:
node hot-reload-server.mjs
Additional Resources
Examples
Working configuration and implementation scripts in examples/:
examples/hot-reload-server.mjs - The Node.js watcher server (to be copied to the project).examples/hot-reload-client.js - The extension-side client (to be copied to the project).
