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/chrome-extension-wxt

Build Chrome extensions using WXT framework with TypeScript, React, Vue, or Svelte. Use when creating browser extensions, developing cross-browser add-ons, or working with Chrome Web Store projects. Triggers on phrases like "chrome extension", "browser extension", "WXT

shell
$ npx -y skills add tenequm/skills --skill chrome-extension-wxt --agent claude-code

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How this skill gets triggered: by you, by Claude, or both.

  • Fires itselfAuto-invocation. Claude auto-loads it when your prompt matches the work.
  • You can call itInvoke it directly when you want it.
  • Slash command/chrome-extension-wxt
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Build Chrome extensions using WXT framework with TypeScript, React, Vue, or Svelte. Use when creating browser extensions, developing cross-browser add-ons, or working with Chrome Web Store projects. Triggers on phrases like "chrome extension", "browser extension", "WXT

SKILL.md

chrome-extension-wxt.SKILL.md
name: chrome-extension-wxt
description: Build Chrome extensions using WXT framework with TypeScript, React, Vue, or Svelte. Use when creating browser extensions, developing cross-browser add-ons, or working with Chrome Web Store projects. Triggers on phrases like "chrome extension", "browser extension", "WXT framework", "manifest v3", or file patterns like wxt.config.ts.
metadata:
  version: "1.1.2"
  openclaw:
    homepage: https://github.com/tenequm/skills/tree/main/skills/chrome-extension-wxt
    emoji: "๐Ÿงฉ"

Chrome Extension Development with WXT

Build modern, cross-browser extensions using WXT - the next-generation framework that supports Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and all Chromium browsers with a single codebase.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

  • Creating a new Chrome/browser extension
  • Setting up WXT development environment
  • Building extension features (popup, content scripts, background scripts)
  • Implementing cross-browser compatibility
  • Working with Manifest V3 (mandatory standard as of 2025, V2 deprecated)
  • Integrating React 19, Vue, Svelte, or Solid with extensions

Quick Start Workflow

1. Initialize WXT Project

# Create new project with framework of choice
npm create wxt@latest

# Or with specific template
npm create wxt@latest -- --template react-ts
npm create wxt@latest -- --template vue-ts
npm create wxt@latest -- --template svelte-ts

2. Project Structure

WXT uses file-based conventions:

project/
โ”œโ”€โ”€ entrypoints/              # Auto-discovered entry points
โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ background.ts         # Service worker
โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ content.ts           # Content script
โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ popup.html           # Popup UI
โ”‚   โ””โ”€โ”€ options.html         # Options page
โ”œโ”€โ”€ components/              # Auto-imported UI components
โ”œโ”€โ”€ utils/                   # Auto-imported utilities
โ”œโ”€โ”€ public/                  # Static assets
โ”‚   โ””โ”€โ”€ icon/               # Extension icons
โ”œโ”€โ”€ wxt.config.ts           # Configuration
โ””โ”€โ”€ package.json

3. Development Commands

npm run dev              # Start dev server with HMR
npm run build           # Production build
npm run zip             # Package for store submission

Core Entry Points

WXT recognizes entry points by filename in `entrypoints/` directory:

Background Script (Service Worker)

// entrypoints/background.ts
export default defineBackground({
  type: 'module',
  persistent: false,

  main() {
    // Listen for extension events
    browser.action.onClicked.addListener((tab) => {
      console.log('Extension clicked', tab);
    });

    // Handle messages
    browser.runtime.onMessage.addListener((message, sender, sendResponse) => {
      // Handle message
      sendResponse({ success: true });
      return true; // Keep channel open for async
    });
  },
});

Content Script

// entrypoints/content.ts
export default defineContentScript({
  matches: ['*://*.example.com/*'],
  runAt: 'document_end',

  main(ctx) {
    // Content script logic
    console.log('Content script loaded');

    // Create UI
    const ui = createShadowRootUi(ctx, {
      name: 'my-extension-ui',
      position: 'inline',
      anchor: 'body',

      onMount(container) {
        // Mount React/Vue component
        const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(container);
        root.render(<App />);
      },
    });

    ui.mount();
  },
});

Popup UI

// entrypoints/popup/main.tsx
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom/client';
import App from './App';

ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('root')!).render(
  <React.StrictMode>
    <App />
  </React.StrictMode>
);
<!-- entrypoints/popup/index.html -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Extension Popup</title>
</head>
<body>
  <div id="root"></div>
  <script type="module" src="./main.tsx"></script>
</body>
</html>

Configuration

Basic wxt.config.ts

import { defineConfig } from 'wxt';

export default defineConfig({
  // Framework integration
  modules: ['@wxt-dev/module-react'],

  // Manifest configuration
  manifest: {
    name: 'My Extension',
    description: 'Extension description',
    permissions: ['storage', 'activeTab'],
    host_permissions: ['*://example.com/*'],
  },

  // Browser target
  browser: 'chrome', // or 'firefox', 'edge', 'safari'
});

Common Patterns

Type-Safe Storage

// utils/storage.ts
import { storage } from 'wxt/storage';

export const storageHelper = {
  async get<T>(key: string): Promise<T | null> {
    return await storage.getItem<T>(`local:${key}`);
  },

  async set<T>(key: string, value: T): Promise<void> {
    await storage.setItem(`local:${key}`, value);
  },

  watch<T>(key: string, callback: (newValue: T | null) => void) {
    return storage.watch<T>(`local:${key}`, callback);
  },
};

Type-Safe Messaging

// utils/messaging.ts
interface Messages {
  'get-data': {
    request: { key: string };
    response: { value: any };
  };
}

export async function sendMessage<K extends keyof Messages>(
  type: K,
  payload: Messages[K]['request']
): Promise<Messages[K]['response']> {
  return await browser.runtime.sendMessage({ type, payload });
}

Script Injection

// Inject script into page context
import { injectScript } from 'wxt/client';

await injectScript('/injected.js', {
  keepInDom: false,
});

Building & Deployment

Production Build

# Build for specific browser
npm run build -- --browser=chrome
npm run build -- --browser=firefox

# Create store-ready ZIP
npm run zip
npm run zip -- --browser=firefox

Multi-Browser Build

# Build for all browsers
npm run zip:all

Output: `.output/my-extension-{version}-{browser}.zip`

Modern Stacks (2025)

Popular technology combinations for building Chrome extensions:

WXT + React + Tailwind + shadcn/ui

Most popular stack in 20

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