[Feature request] CRX builds

[KaKi87]

Hi,

It would be nice to be able to download the extension as CRX so it can be installed without Git cloning or ZIP extracting, and can be updated automatically.

Thanks

[peterbenoit]

Thanks for the suggestion, @KaKi87!

Google has moved away from direct CRX installs for security reasons since Chrome now blocks installation of CRX files that aren't hosted on the Chrome Web Store.

The best path to achieve what you're describing (easy installation + automatic updates) would be to publish the extension to the Chrome Web Store. That would handle both concerns natively without any manual CRX management on either end.

If you really need to get at the CRX, I'd recommend a tool like https://robwu.nl/crxviewer/

[KaKi87]

Google has moved away from direct CRX installs

Fortunately for me, I don't use Google Chrome, but Chromium-based alternatives such as Vivaldi, Helium, Thorium and Brave, which don't prevent CRX installs.

For example, one extension that I will always have to install via CRX (unless an open third-party store is ever created) is LibRedirect, as its features can only work on Manifest V2.

The best path to achieve what you're describing (easy installation + automatic updates) would be to publish the extension to the Chrome Web Store.

I'm not against it. But I also won't push for supporting the Google monopoly.