View source for Add-ons/developer/communication/nov2016 update

=Evolution in Add-on Development=
[[WebExtensions|WebExtensions]] are becoming the standard for add-on development in Firefox. It will be the only type of add-on supported in Firefox by the end of 2017. 

This page contains timelines, tutorials, and other resources to help you port your add-on to WebExtensions. If you're looking for resources on creating a new add-on, please head over to [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions MDN].

=====What's New=====
*[http://webextensions-experiments.readthedocs.io/ WebExtensions Experiments]: prototype WebExtension APIs without having to build Firefox
*Help plan and prioritize WebExtensions APIs by joining the [[WebExtensions/Triage|weekly public triage]]. 
*Thanks to [https://github.com/aterranova-bv aterranova-bv] for the new [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Examples#Emoji_Substitution Emoji Substitution WebExtension Example]!

=Timelines & Roadmaps=
*[https://trello.com/b/ZpIDuMAW/addon-planning Add-on planning]: see what the add-on team is working on
*[https://trello.com/b/MwClom9J/addon-impacting-changes Impacting changes]: see what changes are coming up that impact compatibility
*[https://trello.com/b/PC9kB14s/webextensions-roadmap WebExtensions Roadmap]: see which APIs are coming up

=Migration paths for developers of legacy add-ons=
=====1) SDK add-on=====
Here is the comparison chart showing [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Comparison_with_the_Add-on_SDK SDK APIs and their WebExtensions counterparts]. If you don't see the APIs you need to port to WebExtensions, please take a look at [https://wiki.mozilla.org/index.php?title=Add-ons/developer/communication/nov2016_update&action=edit#Don.27t_See_the_WebExtensions_APIs_You_Need.3F some more] options below.

=====2) XUL or XPCOM add-on=====
Here is the comparison chart showing [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Comparison_with_XUL_XPCOM_extensions XUL/XPCOM APIs and their WebExtensions counterparts]. If you don't see the APIs you need to port to WebExtensions, please take a look at some [https://wiki.mozilla.org/index.php?title=Add-ons/developer/communication/nov2016_update&action=edit#Don.27t_See_the_WebExtensions_APIs_You_Need.3F more options] below.

=Don't See the WebExtensions APIs You Need?=

*If you're experienced with Mozilla infrastructure and would like to develop WebExtensions APIs directly for Firefox, here is a list of [https://mzl.la/2dVs5Ys approved APIs] that you can start contributing to.

*If you want to prototype and tinker with WebExtensions APIs without having to build Firefox, [http://webextensions-experiments.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html WebExtensions Experiments] is for you!

*If you just want to request a WebExtensions API, please [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Toolkit&component=WebExtensions:%20Untriaged file a bug]. These will be triaged and processed in a [[WebExtensions/Triage|weekly public meeting]]. 

[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Embedded_WebExtensions Embedded WebExtensions] - In Firefox 51, you will be able to embed a WebExtensions add-on inside an existing SDK or bootstrapped add-on. This is especially useful to developers of SDK or bootstrapped add-ons who want to start migrating to WebExtensions and take advantage of new APIs like Native Messaging, but can’t fully migrate yet. It’s also useful for developers who want to complete data migration towards WebExtensions, and who want to take parts of their add-on that are not compatible with [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Firefox/Multiprocess_Firefox multiprocess Firefox] and make them compatible.

Not all add-ons will be able to migrate to WebExtensions without having to drop any features. But we want to work with you to get as many add-ons migrated as possible with the functionality you created intact. We invite you to contribute to its evolution, and we look forward to [[Add-ons/developer/communication#Get_in_Touch|working with you]].

=Documentation=
*[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Porting_a_legacy_Firefox_add-on Porting guides that map SDK and XUL APIs to available WebExtensions APIs]
*[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions How-to guides] covering common add-on developer cases, like [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Intercept_HTTP_requests intercepting web requests] and [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Add_a_button_to_the_toolbar adding a button to the toolbar]
*[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Comparison_with_the_Add-on_SDK Comparison with the Add-on SDK]
*[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Comparison_with_XUL_XPCOM_extensions Comparison with XUL/XPCOM extensions]
*[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Browser_support_for_JavaScript_APIs Browser compatibility table] for all WebExtensions APIs
*[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Examples Examples of WebExtensions]

=Blog Posts=
*Nov 3, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/11/03/more-ways-to-contribute-to-webextensions/ More ways to contribute to WebExtensions]
*Sep 29, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/09/29/webextensions-in-firefox-51/ WebExtensions in Firefox 51]
*Sep 28, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/09/28/migrating-an-sdk-add-on-to-multiprocess-firefox/ How Video DownloadHelper Became Compatible with Multiprocess Firefox]
*Sep 13, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/09/13/webextensions-and-parity-with-chrome/ WebExtensions and parity with Chrome]
*Aug 25, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/08/25/webextensions-in-firefox-50/ WebExtensions in Firefox 50]
*Aug 12, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/08/12/webextensions-taking-root/ WebExtensions Taking Root]
*July 27, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/07/27/linting-and-automatically-reloading-webextensions/ Linting and Automatically Reloading WebExtensions]
*July 21, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/07/21/new-webextensions-guides-and-how-tos-on-mdn/ New WebExtensions Guides and How-tos on MDN]
*July 14, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/07/14/webextensions-support-on-amo/ WebExtensions support on AMO]
*June 9, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/06/09/webextensions-for-firefox-49/ WebExtensions in Firefox 49]
*May 9, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/05/09/results-of-the-webextensions-api-survey/ Results of the WebExtensions API Survey]
*Apr 29, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/04/29/webextensions-in-firefox-48/ WebExtensions in Firefox 48]
*Apr 26, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/04/26/migrating-popup-alt-attribute-from-xulxpcom-to-webextensions/ Migrating Popup ALT Attribute from XUL/XPCOM to WebExtensions]
*Apr 14, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/04/14/developing-extensions-with-web-ext-1-0/ Developing Extensions With Web-ext 1.0]
*Mar 30, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/03/30/tinkering-with-webextensions/ Tinkering with WebExtensions]
*Mar 14, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/03/14/webextensons-whats-in-it-for-developers/ Advantages of WebExtensions for Developers]
*Mar 11, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/03/11/webextensions-in-firefox-47/ WebExtensions in Firefox 47]
*Feb 2, 2016: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2016/02/02/webextensions-in-firefox-46/ WebExtensions in Firefox 46]
*Jan 9, 2016: [https://discourse.mozilla-community.org/t/webextensions-first-impressions/6459 WebExtensions First Impressions]
*Dec 21, 2015: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2015/12/21/webextensions-in-firefox-45-2/ WebExtensions in Firefox 45]
*Aug 21, 2015: [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2015/08/21/the-future-of-developing-firefox-add-ons/ The Future of Developing Firefox Add-ons]

=Add-on Developer Communication Calendar=
This calendar includes public meetings, scheduled blog posts, office hours, release milestones that affect add-on developers, and more. Links to add it to your own calendar: [https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/mozilla.com_ofjlct07k1784v1u51bqk476bk%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics iCal] | [https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=mozilla.com_ofjlct07k1784v1u51bqk476bk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Los_Angeles HTML]

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=Get in Touch=
* [[IRC|IRC]]:
** #teamaddons: team chat 
** #addons:  support for extensions, themes, plugins and addons.mozilla.org
** #amo: addons.mozilla.org bugs and development
** #amo-editors: add-on reviews and policy
** #extdev: extension development
** #themedev: theme development
** #webextensions: web extensions

* Mailing List: [https://mail.mozilla.org/listinfo/dev-addons dev-addons]
* Blog: https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/
* Forum: https://discourse.mozilla-community.org/c/add-ons