====== Gnome - Extensions - Create an Extension ======

===== Creating the files for an extension =====

Extensions only require two mandatory files, so create them:

  * [[Gnome:Extensions:extension.js|extension.js]]
  * [[Gnome:Extensions:metadata.json|metadata.json]]

Optionally create additional files:

  * See [[Gnome:Extensions:prefs.js|prefs.js]]

----

===== Distributing an Extension =====

Extensions are distributed as Zip files with the two required files: 

<code bash>
example@blah.zip
    extension.js
    metadata.json
</code>

----


==== Complete Extension Zip File Layout ====

If additional optional files were also used in the extension, then the zip extension usually looks like this:

<code bash>
example@blah.zip
    locale/
        de/
          LC_MESSAGES/
              example.mo
    schemas/
        gschemas.compiled
        org.gnome.shell.extensions.example.gschema.xml
    extension.js
    metadata.json
    prefs.js
    stylesheet.css
</code>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**

  * The topic of GSettings and the schemas/ directory is explained on the [[https://gjs.guide/extensions/development/preferences.html|Preferences]] page.
  * The topic of Gettext and the locale/ directory is explained on the [[https://gjs.guide/extensions/development/translations.html|Translations]] page
</WRAP>


----


===== Installation of an extension =====

Extension are installed in one of two places.

For User Extensions,

<code bash>
~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/example@blah/
</code>

For System Extensions,

<code bash>
/usr/share/gnome-shell/extensions/example@blah/
</code>

----

===== References =====

http://smasue.github.io/gnome-shell-tw

https://gjs.guide/extensions/overview/anatomy.html#metadata-json-required