Google Delays Start of Manifest V2 Chrome Extension Deprecation (9to5google.com) 9
An anonymous reader quotes a report from 9to5Google: Google was originally set to phase out Chrome support for old Manifest v2 extensions in 2023, but that's now being postponed. In 2021, Google announced its deprecation plans and last provided an update this September. On Friday, the company said that the "Manifest V2 deprecation timelines are under review and the experiments scheduled for early 2023 are being postponed."
The original plan called for Chrome Beta, Dev, and Canary builds to start experiments that turned off Manifest V2 extension support. Additionally, Manifest V3 would be required to get the "Featured" badge in the Chrome Web Store. After "monitoring comments from the developer community," Google identified "common challenges posed by the migration": "...specifically the service worker's inability to use DOM capabilities and the current hard limit on extension service worker lifetimes. We're mitigating the former with the Offscreen Documents API (added in Chrome 109) and are actively pursuing a solution to the latter."
Google says it's "committed to providing developers solutions to migration challenges with new functionality, bug fixes, and adequate time for adoption." With the first step delayed, Google is also "evaluating all downstream milestones as well." This includes the original June 2023 plan to start testing the deprecation in Chrome Stable. The final step in January 2024 would have been to remove all MV2 Chrome extensions from the Web Store. Google will provide an "updated phase-out plan and schedule by March of 2023." Compared to the previous iteration, Manifest V3 is prioritizing privacy, though some complain that it's at the expense of ad blockers.
The original plan called for Chrome Beta, Dev, and Canary builds to start experiments that turned off Manifest V2 extension support. Additionally, Manifest V3 would be required to get the "Featured" badge in the Chrome Web Store. After "monitoring comments from the developer community," Google identified "common challenges posed by the migration": "...specifically the service worker's inability to use DOM capabilities and the current hard limit on extension service worker lifetimes. We're mitigating the former with the Offscreen Documents API (added in Chrome 109) and are actively pursuing a solution to the latter."
Google says it's "committed to providing developers solutions to migration challenges with new functionality, bug fixes, and adequate time for adoption." With the first step delayed, Google is also "evaluating all downstream milestones as well." This includes the original June 2023 plan to start testing the deprecation in Chrome Stable. The final step in January 2024 would have been to remove all MV2 Chrome extensions from the Web Store. Google will provide an "updated phase-out plan and schedule by March of 2023." Compared to the previous iteration, Manifest V3 is prioritizing privacy, though some complain that it's at the expense of ad blockers.
Dont be evil?! (Score:2)
When do they do things for the good of their users?
It's just a shame Mozilla have turned to We Know Better Than You shit.
Re: (Score:2)
When they listen to feedback and delay a change that many people had concerns about, until they can address them?
Re: (Score:1)
When they listen to feedback and delay a change that many people had concerns about, until they can address them?
... you assume the feedback says "please delay this feature" rather than "please fuck off already with this thing nobody asked for"
Re: (Score:3)
I don't assume anything, I read the feedback and even wrote some of it.
The basic idea is good, and paves the way for ad blocking on mobile. It should improve performance. It just needs to be expanded to support the advanced blocking that e.g. uBlock does.
Google has been working on that and there is an experimental version of uBlock for manifest V3, but it's highlighted some issues that need to be addressed. I don't recall the developer telling them to fuck off.
Re: (Score:1)
I "heavily criticize" your opinion:
"The company's plans were criticized heavily, by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and by extension creators such as Raymond Hill, known for his extension uBlock Origin. Google modified Manifest V3 several times since the initial draft to meet more use cases, but did not fully address all concerns."
https://www.ghacks.net/2022/12/13/google-delays-chrome-manifest-v3-rollout-once-again/
Just use a Firefox derivative (Score:1)
Google have played their hand, in plain view.
Use a Firefox or derivative if you care about blocking ads. Personally I use FireDragon, which is a derivative of LibreWolf, which is a Firefox derivative.
Automatically blocks ads, and respects your privacy.
Translation (Score:3)
We're turning the burner down a little because it looks like the frog is considering jumping out of the pot.
How About MS Edge? (Score:2)
Does Microsoft still have the option of supporting V2 extensions in Edge after Google discontinues them for Chrome? Or are the extensions baked into the engine in a way that everyone is forced to break older extensions at the same time?