Apple Reminds Developers That Safari 14 Supports Extensions Ported From Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

[MacRumors]

Apple this week reminded developers that they can create web extensions in Safari 14 using the same WebExtensions API used in other browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. A new conversion tool in Xcode 12 beta also allows developers to port existing extensions from other browsers to Safari and make available on the Mac App Store later this year.

Apple says developers have two options for creating Safari web extensions:

• Convert your existing extension into a Safari web extension, so you can use it in Safari on macOS and distribute it in the App Store. Xcode includes a command-line tool to simplify this process.
• Build a new Safari web extension in Xcode using the built-in template. You can then repackage the extension files for deployment in other browsers.

Safari web extensions are available in macOS Big Sur and in macOS 10.14.6 or 10.15.6 with Safari 14 installed.

Not all Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extensions will work in Safari, and developers will be required to pay $99 per year for an Apple Developer Program membership in order to port their extensions to Safari. Apple has a WWDC video and documentation with more details for developers.

Article Link: Apple Reminds Developers That Safari 14 Supports Extensions Ported From Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

 

[Rudy69]

It's not quite as simple as they make it sound. Lots of restrictions mean that 'real' ad blockers like uBlock Origin can't be ported :/

 

[CarlJ]

Interesting, I did not know this. Will be curious to see what developers come up with.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

That’s great for Safari!

 

[nick9191]

I wish Apple or someone else would (re)introduce a WebKit based browser for other platforms. Google has a stranglehold on the web, Firefox is nearly dead and Microsoft’s answer is a (admittedly rather good) Chrome skin.

 

[trixx]

Except for the good ones. API’s used by ublock origin for example, aren’t implemented in Safari.

 

[jacobweber]

Just like Chrome, except you have to pay $99/year to distribute your extensions!

 

[ksgant]

It's not quite as simple as they make it sound. Lots of restrictions mean that 'real' ad blockers like uBlock Origin can't be ported :/

Wasn't Google going to change how they do their extensions that would effect how uBlock Origin worked? Or did they resolve that?

I didn't follow up on it, because I gave up using anything Chrome related a long time ago. But there are other ad blockers for Safari that work now, but admittedly not as good as uBlock Origin. But works fine on Firefox.

 

[nicho]

What an obnoxious mockery of the "dark mode" macrumors implemented not so long ago. My eyes!

On a related note... is there currently a safari extension that can dim images like this, or does it exist in other browsers and might come to safari because of this?

 

[Just sayin...]

I look forward to the YNAB toolkit Safari extension. That is the ONLY reason I keep a copy of Chrome around...

 

[Wowfunhappy]

I wish Apple or someone else would (re)introduce a WebKit based browser for other platforms. Google has a stranglehold on the web, Firefox is nearly dead and Microsoft’s answer is a (admittedly rather good) Chrome skin.

They have on Linux, you can use Midori or Gnome Web. Not sure why no one has brought it Windows.

 

[topdrawer]

that's cool. you then just have to cough up 100 bucks

 

[calstanford]

Except for the good ones. API’s used by ublock origin for example, aren’t implemented in Safari.

Then what's the point

 

[JoelTheSuperior]

The biggest issue from what I've heard is the $99 per year they have to pay Apple to port their extensions to Safari. Many extension developers are doing it as a hobby or as part of an open source project, making the $99 a year quite difficult to justify in some cases.

The relatively high fee is part of why RES no longer has a Safari version, for example. To be clear, I think the fee is totally reasonable for iOS / macOS development, but if all you're developing is an extension, it's a bit steep...

Not to mention that many aren't using Macs, and would need to get one to port their extension over.

 

[KidAKidB]

Just like Chrome, except you have to pay $99/year to distribute your extensions!

This made me laugh far more than it should have

 

[Wowfunhappy]

The biggest issue from what I've heard is the $99 per year they have to pay Apple to port their extensions to Safari. Many extension developers are doing it as a hobby or as part of an open source project, making the $99 a year quite difficult to justify in some cases.

Can extensions be sideloaded? Can unsigned ones be individually allowed through Gatekeeper or would you have to disable Gatekeeper completely?

 

[tosbsas]

anyone testing safari 14 beta 4 on catalina?

 

[ghostface147]

How about uBlock Origin????? The best! However YouTube is sneaky with their ads now and most blockers no longer block them, if you're logged into your YouTube account.

 

[tgwaste]

It also supports extremely high CPU usage. It's junk.

 

[hot-gril]

What about uBlock Origin? The inability to install recent versions of UBO will be the reason I eventually stop using Safari, even though it's my favorite in other ways.

 

[jonnysods]

Extensions needs some improvement. Heck, just the ability to search for something in the app store would be a game changer.

 

[4jasontv]

I don't use Safari on any of my devices is because it's not available on all of them.

 

[V.K.]

Will various mouse gestures extensions work in Safari? I use Foxy Gestures on Firefox and this one extension is pretty much the main reason I stick with Firefox instead of Safari.

 

[techpr]

Soon 1Password X for Safari.

 

[macsrcool1234]

pay apple 99 to make browser extensions lmao