Thunderbird/Add-ons Guide 63: Difference between revisions

Thunderbird/Add-ons Guide 63 (view source)

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 <big>'''Add-ons Guide for Thunderbird 63 and beyond'''</big>
-'''(First Draft)'''
+If you have programming questions or wish to discuss the future can be posted in the mozilla.dev.apps.thunderbird newsgroup, see [[Thunderbird/CommunicationChannels#If_you.27re_a_developer|Communication Channels]].
-The picture beyond Thunderbird version 60 is rather uncertain, given the continued high rate of change in Firefox platform code. We will work with add-on authors in the coming months to determine a viable post-60 add-on strategy. Below are some general thoughts, which if you have programming questions or wish to discuss the future can be posted in the mozilla.dev.apps.thunderbird newsgroup, see [[Thunderbird/CommunicationChannels#If_you.27re_a_developer|Communication Channels]].
+__TOC__
+The following extension types are supported in from Thunderbird 63 and beyond:
+=== WebExtensions ===
+WebExtensions with a manifest.json. The following WebExtension APIs are available in Thunderbird:
+* Tabs and Windows API, {{bug|1455471}}, TB 60 and TB 63+
+* Address Book API, {{bug|1469238}}, TB 60 and TB 63+
+* FileLink API, {{bug|1481052}}, TB 64+, will be in TB 60.4
+* Toolbar buttons WebExtensions API, {{bug|1487008}}, TB 64+
+* Folder tab (3-pane) API, {{bug|1499617}}, in preparation
+* Composition API, {{bug|1503423}}, in preparation
+* And more, check meta-{{bug|1396172}}
+WebExtension Experiments can be used for any API that is not yet provided. You can read more information at https://github.com/thundernest/tb-web-ext-experiments/
-Work has been undertaken to keep supporting legacy add-ons "somewhat" in Thunderbird 63 and beyond. We implemented an overlay loader that will load XUL overlays for add-ons but may cause graphical glitches or malfunctions. We're tracking this in {{bug|1476259}}.
+=== Bootstrapped extensions ===
+Bootstrapped/restartless extensions with an install.rdf manifest. The code to handle bootstrapped extension and install.rdf has been moved to comm-central in {{bug|1510097}} and should be stable now. Important: Bootstrapped legacy extensions continue to work without a manifest.json file and will in fact break if you add that file.
-To use this overlay loader, XUL overlay legacy add-ons must replace install.rdf file with a WebExtensions style manifest.json file, which includes the key "legacy" set to true. See Lightning as an example:<br />https://hg.mozilla.org/comm-central/rev/e81f4b59a00a7d3e18d50fd3851ecbd47762a186#l2.5 <small>(Note: In this changeset the @variables@ are build variables, add-ons need to use fixed strings)</small>.<br />Important: Bootstrapped legacy add-ons continue to work without a manifest.json file and will in fact break if you add that file.
+=== "Legacy" XUL extensions with overlays ===
+"Legacy" XUL extensions with overlays are still "somewhat" supported in Thunderbird 63 and beyond. An inbuilt overlay loader will load XUL overlays for extensions but may cause graphical glitches or malfunctions. We're tracking this in {{bug|1476259}}.
-Add-on authors who want to make their add-ons compatible with Thunderbird version from 63 and beyond to version 68 ESR have three options:
+To use this overlay loader, XUL overlay legacy extensions must replace install.rdf file with a WebExtensions style manifest.json file, which includes the key "legacy" set to true. See Lightning as an example:<br />https://hg.mozilla.org/comm-central/rev/e81f4b59a00a7d3e18d50fd3851ecbd47762a186#l2.5 <small>(Note: In this changeset the @variables@ are build variables, add-ons need to use fixed strings)</small>.<br />
-* Rely on the mentioned XUL overlay loader. This is only a short-term stopgap solution.
-* Make their add-ons restartless, although the replacement for restartless add-ons in TB 68 isn't yet clear. Further reading on restartless add-ons:
-** https://mail.mozilla.org/pipermail/firefox-dev/2018-June/006503.html
-** https://mail.mozilla.org/pipermail/firefox-dev/2018-June/006507.html
-** https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1413432#c7
-* Convert their add-on to a WebExtension, using WebExtension Experiments for any API that is not yet provided. This is the preferred approach. You can read more information at https://github.com/thundernest/tb-web-ext-experiments/
-<br><p>
-__TOC__
+Examples of extensions converted to this type include "Lightning", "Compact Header", "Signature Switch" and "ThunderHTMLedit" (as of 3rd December 2018).
 == Removed in Thunderbird ==