Make Your Own Firefox Extensions

Source: firefox website Author:firefoxer Read number:

Among the things that make Firefox such a popular
alternative to Internet Explorer are extensions—free add-ons that
can alter appearance, add features, even change how Web pages are
rendered. Most Firefox users have clicked through Tools | Add-ons | Get Extensions (or visited addons.mozilla.org) to download some from the main repository. But why not make your own?

Fortunately, it’s not hard. A typical Firefox extension is nothing
more than an XUL (XML User-interface Language) file you can edit with
Notepad. In contrast, IE extensions must be compiled into DLLs and then
installed into the operating system.

The easiest way to get started is to dissect someone else’s extension, such as the example at annoyances.org/firefox. Right-click the Install link and select Save Link As to copy the XPI file to your hard drive.

The XPI installer is really just a ZIP file, so change the extension to .zip and then open it. Inside, you’ll find three files: install.rdf (the install script for Firefox), install.js (the install script for SeaMonkey and other Mozilla derivatives), and a JAR file containing the extension itself. The JAR file is also a ZIP file; rename it with .zip and open it to edit the goodies inside—start with the steps below, and also check out xulplanet.com for in-depth XUL tutorials, including instructions for making menu bars, buttons, and more. When you’re done, repackage the XPI, leaving the directory structure intact, and you’re done! — next: Step by Step

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