Google Chrome 88 launched the Manifest V3 API for extensions, which not solely considerably modifications how some extensions work, but in addition can be necessary quickly. Google has now shared an up to date timeline for the change.
Manifest V3 is the brand new software program platform for Chrome extensions, supposed to make extensions sooner and safer. The change has been controversial as a consequence of Google’s elimination of the webRequest API, which is utilized by content material blocker extensions to filter out community site visitors. The API was changed with declarativeNetRequests, which has an higher restrict on the quantity of guidelines (round 30,000 proper now). Many content material blockers have lots of of hundreds of guidelines, which is why the favored uBlock Origin extension is at the moment being reworked to satisfy Google’s necessities, whereas the V3-compatible model of AdGuard doesn’t help the identical filtering guidelines as earlier than. The brand new limitations on background duties can even make some extensions much less helpful, or break them fully.
Google already stopped accepting new Manifest V2 extensions in January 2022, and now the corporate has shared a extra particular timeline on the transition to V3. Beginning in January 2023, with the discharge of Chrome 112, Google will begin testing experiments that flip off all Manifest V2 extensions within the Canary, Dev, and Beta channels. Later in June 2023, the Chrome Net Retailer will unpublish all V2 extensions, and Chrome will begin experimenting with turning off V2 extensions within the secure channel. Lastly, in January 2024, all Manifest V2 extensions can be totally faraway from the Chrome Net Retailer.
Google continues to be engaged on enhancements to Manifest V3 to deal with developer complaints, together with help for userscript extensions (like Tampermonkey), elevated storage, and restoring the flexibility for extensions to create background pages for some duties. Nonetheless, a number of the enhancements gained’t be prepared till near the shutdown date for Manifest V2, which doesn’t depart builders a lot time to check and launch updates.
Different browsers that help Chrome extensions are additionally engaged on Manifest V3 help, however a few of them are leaving the webRequest API in place. Safari 15.4 added Manifest V3, and Firefox is engaged on it.
Supply: Chrome Weblog
