Chrome Extension Manifest Relative File Path for Scripts - google-chrome

Question

I have several utility script files that are used by multiple extensions. Thus far, I have been copy/pasting those utility scripts to each extension's root folder whenever I make a change. This is becoming less and less feasible. I would like to reference the same utility script files from both extensions' manifests. I have tried this:
{
"background":
{
"scripts":
[
"../utils.js",
"background.js"
]
}
}
But, I when I reload my extension, I get an Extension error saying:
Could not load extension from 'C:\...'. Could not load background script '../../utils.js'.
If I use backslashes instead (this seems like a more likely solution since I'm working with windows...), I get the same error (but with backslashes).
Is it even possible to achieve this type of relative file path?

Answer 1

How about creating a local server that hosts the JS files you need and then your extension can access those JS file through a localhost port and use their functionality? A simple lightweight server would do the trick (maybe bottle.py in Python).
Chrome v33 tightened up extension security so i'm not sure you can access a file like you tried in your manifest.json
Let me know how you get around this problem!

Answer 2

Have you considered using Shared Modules? According to the documentation you can export common functionality from one extension that can thusly be imported into another extension:
"The export field indicates an extension is a Shared Module that exports its resources:
{
"version": "1.0",
"name": "My Shared Module",
"export": {
// Optional list of extension IDs explicitly allowed to
// import this Shared Module's resources. If no whitelist
// is given, all extensions are allowed to import it.
"whitelist": [
"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
"bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb"
]
}
// Note: no permissions are allowed in Shared Modules
}
The import field is used by extensions and apps to declare that they depend on the resources from particular Shared Modules:
{
"version": "1.0",
"name": "My Importing Extension",
...
"import": [
{"id": "cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc"},
{"id": "dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd"
"minimum_version": "0.5" // optional
},
]
}
"