1386428 - Allow WebExtensions to access the URL from which they were installed

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(WebExtensions :: Untriaged, enhancement, P5)

Description

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

This is just an idea that came up, and I thought it was interesting, so I wanted to throw it into the triage bucket.

It would be useful if an WebExtension could know the URL from which it was installed.

Right now, if you go AMO and do a search, you get a URL for the add-on that looks like this:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/test-pilot/?src=search

If you hover over the XPI link, you'll that the src is passed there as well:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/downloads/latest/test-pilot/addon-13661-latest.xpi?src=search

But the add-on can't get that.

What I'm asking for is that URL be stored and associated with the WebExtension (its original install link) and then be able to be queried.

This would allow the add-on to know its src (and perhaps use it for campaign tracking).

Comment 1

[Caitlin Neiman [:caitmuenster]]

Hi Mike, this has been added to the agenda for the August 8 WebExtensions APIs triage meeting. Would you be able to join us? 

Wiki: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Add-ons/Contribute/Triage#Next_Meeting

Agenda: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I-i1FQ38nwFHNl4hnzTctdsYHXOjJpeAgm1Bm3VoUUA/edit#

Comment 2

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

Unfortunately I will be presenting the new hires at that exact moment.

What can I do to share my thoughts in advance?

Comment 3

[Caitlin Neiman [:caitmuenster]]

Thanks, Mike! I think you're ok for now (team, please correct me if I'm wrong). Sometimes it's helpful to have the reporter in the meeting in case there are any questions or requests for use cases, but this seems fairly straightforward. We'll follow up after the meeting.

Comment 4

[Mike Conca [:mconca]]

I talked this over with Kev and we'd rather not have this capability in Firefox. Third party installed extensions already have this info, and AMO can provide this info via referal logs. If the use case is that an extension can dynamically modify its UI/UX/behavior if it knows its installation URL, that may not align very well with the Mozilla Data Privacy Principles (https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/principles/).