Extension Create (WXT & Plasmo)
Auto-scaffold a Chrome extension project. Do NOT just explain — execute the workflow.
Workflow (Execute This)
Step 1: Gather requirements from user
Ask the user to confirm:
- Extension name (kebab-case, e.g.
my-tab-manager) - Short description (1 sentence)
- UI framework: React / Vue / Svelte / Vanilla (default: React)
- Features needed (pick from list below):
- Popup UI - Content script (modify pages) - Background service worker - Side panel - Options page - Context menu - Tab management / Storage / Active tab only
Step 2: Pick scaffolder based on framework choice
| Framework | Recommended Scaffolder | Why |
|---|---|---|
| React | Plasmo or WXT | Plasmo has CSUI, quickstarts |
| Vue | WXT | First-class Vue support |
| Svelte | WXT | First-class Svelte support |
| Vanilla TS | WXT | Lightest setup |
Step 3: Scaffold
WXT — multi-framework, file-based entrypoints:
npx wxt@latest init <name> --template <react|vue|svelte|vanilla>
cd <name> && pnpm installPlasmo — React-first, auto-manifest, rich quickstarts:
# Basic React
npm create plasmo --with-src
# With Tailwind CSS
npm create plasmo -- --with-tailwindcss
# With specific template (see https://docs.plasmo.com/quickstarts)
npm create plasmo -- --with-reduxQuickstarts: https://docs.plasmo.com/quickstarts Full docs: https://docs.plasmo.com/
Step 3: Configure based on features
WXT: Edit wxt.config.ts with permissions and manifest fields. Plasmo: Edit package.json manifest section or plasmo.config.ts. Plasmo auto-generates manifest from code.
Step 4: Create entrypoints
Create files in entrypoints/ based on chosen features (see below).
Step 5: Verify setup
WXT: pnpm dev / pnpm build / pnpm zip Plasmo: pnpm dev / pnpm build / pnpm package (creates zip in build/)
Entrypoints Quick Reference
| Feature | WXT | Plasmo |
|---|---|---|
| Popup | entrypoints/popup/index.html + main.tsx | src/popup.tsx |
| Background | entrypoints/background.ts | src/background.ts |
| Content script | entrypoints/content.ts | src/contents/main.tsx |
| Options page | entrypoints/options/index.html | src/options.tsx |
| Side panel | entrypoints/sidepanel/index.html | src/sidepanel.tsx |
| Tab page | N/A | src/tabs/settings.tsx |
wxt.config.ts Template
import { defineConfig } from 'wxt';
export default defineConfig({
extensionApi: 'chrome',
modules: ['@wxt-dev/module-react'], // or vue/svelte
manifest: {
name: 'My Extension',
description: 'What it does',
permissions: ['storage', 'activeTab'],
host_permissions: ['<all_urls>'],
action: { default_popup: 'popup.html' },
},
});Extension Type → Entrypoints Map
| Type | Entrypoints | Permissions |
|---|---|---|
| Popup tool | popup | activeTab |
| Page modifier | content, background | activeTab or host_permissions |
| Side panel assistant | sidepanel, background | sidePanel, storage |
| Tab manager | popup, background | tabs, storage |
| Context menu | background | contextMenus, activeTab |
Post-Scaffold Checklist
pnpm installcompleted- Config has correct permissions (WXT:
wxt.config.ts/ Plasmo:package.json) - Entrypoints created for chosen features
pnpm devloads extension without errors- Load unpacked: WXT →
.output/chrome-mv3-dev/ Plasmo →build/chrome-mv3-dev
References
references/wxt-scaffold-guide.md— CLI options, project structure, configreferences/wxt-entrypoints.md— All entrypoint types, naming, manifest generationreferences/extension-templates.md— Ready-to-use patterns per extension typereferences/chrome-samples-reference.md— Google's official samples by category
Related Skills
extension-manifest— Generate/validate manifest.jsonextension-dev— Dev workflow, hot reload, debuggingextension-publish— Store submission