Safari 5 delivers many new features to Apple ’s internet web browser , but few are more prominent than the arrival of an extension system . With an extension phone system in place , developers are in position to augment the functionality provided by the web browser itself .
While the framework itself is primary of interest to developers , the telephone extension that have already jump to surface will let user add to Safari all sorts of potentiality that had previously been the domain of taxicab and workarounds .
Even though extensions have just been available for a day , several developer have leap out into the affray and either demoed or issue some initial ADHD - ons . For example , yesterday at Apple ’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco , Mac developer Panic showedCoda Notes , an annex that can be used to add note to a Website .
Although Panic has , so far , elect not to publish its extension , claiming that it ’s still too rough around the edges , others have been more adventurous . An enterprising substance abuser has evenstarted a Website that gather and link to extensionsas they become useable — at the meter of this writing , the ten or so downloads available covered functionality from making it easier to watch YouTube videos in fullscreen modal value to managing task and projects .
You still have to jump-start through some hoops to enable extensions at present ; first you ’ll have to go to Safari ’s Advanced preference pane and check off “ Enable Develop carte du jour ” ; then you ’ll have to go to the new - seeable Develop menu in the carte du jour bar and check off “ Enable Extensions . ” Once you ’ve done that , you ’ll have access to a new Extensions pane in Safari ’s preferences .
Extensions vs. plug-ins
Safari has supported plug - atomic number 49 for years , but the skill stratum required to create them was not lilliputian , since they involve knowledge of a depleted - level programming language like C , C++ or Objective - C. In gain , Apple never created an easy and secure method for managing or set up plug - indium , which further define their appeal to unconstipated users .
Extensions , on the other hand , are built using HTML , CSS and JavaScript — the standard languages of the Web . This places them firmly within reach of a large infrastructure of developer that are used to developing Websites , thus launch the customization of Safari up to a potentially huge audience . Developers , however , will still necessitate to familiarise themselves with the custom JavaScript API that Apple has designed to allow lengthiness to communicate with the internet browser .
In addition , Apple has simplified the operation of using prolongation in two room . First , once an denotation has been downloaded , all it takes to instal it is a unproblematic double - mouse click . The daylight of magical incantations , apparatus wizards , or copying files to obscure locations are simply over .
secondly , Safari will refuse to install any denotation that has not been sign with a digital credential issued by Apple . Thus , in ordination to distribute filename extension that others can utilize , developer must register for the Apple Developer Connection program and incur a certificate that , at least in theory , could be withdraw by the company in the event that a developer did not comply with any of Apple ’s terms and conditions .
The terminal figure for creating extension are n’t as restrictive as the terms that iPhone developer must concord to in ordination to deal their apps through the App Store ; they mainly let in a number of necessary design to make extensions secure , such as avoiding malware , unauthorized data point solicitation , and so on .
New in Safari, but old-school in Firefox
Of of course , extensions are not a novel concept — Firefox has sustain them for old age and now run around a plentiful ecosystem of minimal brain damage - ons that ’s arguably one of that program biggest advantages . What ’s more , the Mozilla foundation , which develops Firefox , has integrated the physical process of installing extensions directly into the web browser , so that user are provided a central emplacement where they can discover extensions and from which they can be downloaded and install seamlessly .
Apple looks like prepping a similar system , which it terms the Safari Extensions Gallery . While the full details are n’t yet known , the company read that users willbe able to submit their elongation to the gallery , which will open after this summertime .
Despite its first - mover advantage , Firefox suffers from some pregnant limitations that Safari has already overcome right on off the gate . For example , the user interface of Firefox ’s extensions must be build using a oral communication called XUL , which , although capable - source , is surely not as widely known as HTML . In addition , the process of developing lengthiness remains jolly manual , whereas Safari 5 comes with a built - in package called Extension Builder that provides a visual , step - by - stone’s throw appendage for box all the necessary file into a distributable extension bundle for users .
Finally , Safari developers can digitally sign their denotation through an comfortable - to - use cognitive process that also befall to be altogether free . Firefox extensions can also be sign , but developers ask to follow a manual process and must purchase a computer code - signing digital certification , which can be several hundred dollar per year , from a third party . As a result , the Brobdingnagian majority of Firefox extensions are unsigned , while every individual Safari extension will be sign . And , while a digital signature tune does n’t necessarily entail better performance or certificate , it does give users a measure of safety in bed that Apple at least has the option of pulling an extension that is insecure or malicious .
It ’s still too early to say whether extensions will catch on and become an important part of the Safari ecosystem . Their introduction , however , kicks Safari ’s capabilities up a serious notch and represents a direct move against Firefox , although the latter has a considerable lead and a well - launch repute as an extensible web browser app that are going to be hard to surmount .
update at 5:18PT with info about how to enable extensions .
