How to debug Google Chrome background script?
JavascriptDebuggingBackgroundGoogle Chrome-ExtensionJavascript Problem Overview
I have very simple extension:
manifest.json
{
"name": "historyCleaner",
"version": "0.1.1",
"manifest_version": 1,
"description": "This is my first Chrome extension",
"background": {
"scripts": ["cleaner.js"]
},
"permissions": [
"history"
]
}
cleaner.js
chrome.history.onVisited.addListener(function(HistoryItem result) {
console.log("it works!");
alert("it works!");
});
I've loaded it in Google Chrome, it is turned on and... it doesn't work. It doesn't log anything in console, it doesn't alert anything and what is worse, I can't find it in developers tools "Scripts" tab. How can I find why it doesn't work?
//edit
I've changed manifest.json to this one:
{
"name": "historyCleaner",
"version": "0.1.5",
"manifest_version": 1,
"description": "This is my first Chrome extension",
"background_page": "background.html",
"permissions": [
"history",
"background"
]
}
And embeded JavaScript in background.html
Javascript Solutions
Solution 1 - Javascript
and also if your console.log("it works!");
does not show up, then that's mean chrome.history.onVisited
is not fired yet.
ps: For function(HistoryItem result)
, you may want to change it to function(result)
.
Solution 2 - Javascript
This response might be late but would help the rest. if your background.html has javascript errors then the page will not load (to inspect).
To find out whats wrong with your background.html, under chrome://chrome/extensions/ (i.e., manage extensions), click on the background.html link. This will load the developer tools but without background.html. At the botton-right of the window, you will see a red error symbol, and clicking on it will provide line numbers that needs to be fixed.