web-ext

Web-ext is a command line tool released by Mozilla for developing and testing web extensions. It allows developers to easily build, run, and debug their extensions for various browsers, including Firefox, Chrome, and Edge.

With web-ext, developers can quickly generate a scaffold for a new extension project, including all the necessary files and folders. This tool also provides a built-in web server that allows developers to test their extensions in a local environment. It automatically reloads the extension when changes are made, making the development process efficient and convenient.

Web-ext offers a wide range of commands and options, allowing developers to perform tasks like validating their extension's manifest, linting their code, and running comprehensive tests. It also provides support for internationalization and localization of the extension's messages.

This command line tool has a watch mode that can continuously monitor the extension's files for changes and build and reload the extension accordingly. It also offers a browser-specific feature, which allows developers to target a particular browser and execute commands specific to that browser.

Web-ext supports the use of APIs and frameworks like browser.runtime, browser.tabs, and more, to create powerful and interactive extension functionalities. Developers can also interact with the extension through a browser console for testing and debugging purposes.

Web-ext is an open-source tool and readily available for installation via npm. It's actively maintained by Mozilla and has a growing developer community that contributes to its development and improvement. Overall, web-ext simplifies the process of developing, testing, and debugging web extensions, empowering developers to create robust and feature-rich browser extensions efficiently.