Mozilla To Make Add-Ons Use WebExtensions API, Compatible With Chrome

Mozilla announced this morning they'll be making some major changes to Firefox Add-Ons, which includes a new extension API that will be largely compatible with the Chrome and Opera web-browsers.

Mozilla is looking to make Firefox Add-Ons work with new technologies, better protect users from adware/spyware, and shorten the time it takes to review add-ons. As part of this, they'll be implementing the new WebExtensions API that is "largely compatible with the model used by Chrome and Opera—to make it easier to develop extensions across multiple browsers." Add-ons will also support Electrolysis for the faster, multi-process version of Firefox.

With Firefox 41, Mozilla will also require all extensions be validated and signed by the browser company. Mozilla will also begin deprecating XUL and XPCOM add-ons.

More details can be found via Mozilla's new blog post out this morning entitled The Future of Developing Firefox Add-ons.