# Wiring up new WebExtensions WebIDL files into mozilla-central ## Add a new entry in `dom/bindings/Bindings.conf` New WebIDL bindings should be added as new entries in `dom/bindings/Bindings.conf`. The new entry should be added in alphabetic order and nearby the other WebExtensions API bindings already listed in this config file (look for the `ExtensionBrowser` webidl definition and the other existing WebIDL bindings related to the WebExtensions APIs): ```text # WebExtension API ... 'ExtensionRuntime': { 'headerFile': 'mozilla/extensions/ExtensionRuntime.h', 'nativeType': 'mozilla::extensions::ExtensionRuntime', }, ``` :::{warning} `mach build` will fail if the entries in `dom/bindings/Bindings.conf` are not in alphabetic order, or if the `headerFile` referenced does not exist yet. ::: ## Add a new entry in `dom/webidl/moz.build` The new `.webidl` file has to be also listed in "dom/webidl/moz.build", it should be added in - the existing group of `WEBIDL_FILES` entries meant specifically for the WebExtensions API bindings - or in the group of `PREPROCESSED_WEBIDL_FILES` entries meant specifically for the WebExtensions API bindings, **if the generated \`.webidl\` includes preprocessing macros** (e.g. when part of an API is not available in all builds, e.g. subset of APIs that are only available in Desktop builds). ```text # WebExtensions API. WEBIDL_FILES += [ ... "ExtensionRuntime.webidl", ... ] PREPROCESSED_WEBIDL_FILES += [ ... ] ``` :::{warning} The group of PREPROCESSED_WERBIDL_FILES meant to list WebExtensions APIs `.webidl` files may not exist yet (one will be added right after the existing `WEBIDL_FILES` when the first preprocessed `.webidl` will be added). ::: ## Add new entries in `toolkit/components/extensions/webidl-api/moz.build` The new C++ files for the WebExtensions API binding needs to be added to `toolkit/components/extensions/webidl-api/moz.build` to make them part of the build, The new `.cpp` file has to be added into the `UNIFIED_SOURCES` group where the other WebIDL bindings are being listed. Similarly, the new `.h` counterpart has to be added to `EXPORTS.mozilla.extensions` (which ensures that the header file will be placed into the path set earlier in `dom/bindings/Bindings.conf`): ```text # WebExtensions API namespaces. UNIFIED_SOURCES += [ ... "ExtensionRuntime.cpp", ... ] EXPORTS.mozilla.extensions += [ ... "ExtensionRuntime.h", ... ] ``` ## Wiring up the new API into `dom/webidl/ExtensionBrowser.webidl` To make the new WebIDL bindings part of the `browser` global, a new attribute has to be added to `dom/webidl/ExtensionBrowser.webidl`: ```cpp // `browser.runtime` API namespace. [Replaceable, SameObject, BinaryName="GetExtensionRuntime", Func="mozilla::extensions::ExtensionRuntime::IsAllowed"] readonly attribute ExtensionRuntime runtime; ``` :::{note} `chrome` is defined as an alias of the `browser` global, and so by adding the new attribute into ``` ExtensionBrowser` the same attribute will also be available in the ``chrome ``` global. Unlike the "Privileged JS"-based WebExtensions API, the `chrome` and `browser` APIs are exactly the same and a the async methods return a Promise if no callback has been passed (similarly to Safari versions where the WebExtensions APIs are supported). ::: The additional attribute added into `ExtensionBrowser.webidl` will require some addition to the `ExtensionBrowser` C++ class as defined in `toolkit/components/extensions/webidl-api/ExtensionBrowser.h`: - the definition of a new corresponding **public method** (by convention named `GetExtensionMyNamespace`) - a `RefPtr` as a new **private data member named** (by convention named `mExtensionMyNamespace`) ```cpp ... namespace extensions { ... class ExtensionRuntime; ... class ExtensionBrowser final : ... { ... RefPtr mExtensionRuntime; ... public: ... ExtensionRuntime* GetExtensionRuntime(); } ... ``` And then in its `toolkit/components/extensions/webidl-api/ExtensionBrowser.cpp` counterpart: - the implementation of the new public method - the addition of the new private member data `RefPtr` in the `NS_IMPL_CYCLE_COLLECTION_UNLINK` and `NS_IMPL_CYCLE_COLLECTION_TRAVERSE` macros ```cpp ... #include "mozilla/extensions/ExtensionRuntime.h" ... NS_IMPL_CYCLE_COLLECTION_UNLINK_BEGIN(ExtensionBrowser) ... NS_IMPL_CYCLE_COLLECTION_UNLINK(mExtensionRuntime) ... NS_IMPL_CYCLE_COLLECTION_UNLINK_END NS_IMPL_CYCLE_COLLECTION_TRAVERSE_BEGIN(ExtensionBrowser) ... NS_IMPL_CYCLE_COLLECTION_TRAVERSE(mExtensionRuntime) ... NS_IMPL_CYCLE_COLLECTION_TRAVERSE_END ... ExtensionRuntime* ExtensionBrowser::GetExtensionRuntime() { if (!mExtensionRuntime) { mExtensionRuntime = new ExtensionRuntime(mGlobal, this); } return mExtensionRuntime } ``` :::{warning} Forgetting to add the new `RefPtr` into the cycle collection traverse and unlink macros will not result in a build error, but it will result into a leak. Make sure to don't forget to double-check these macros, especially if some tests are failing because of detected shutdown leaks. :::