Extension API for Windows and Tabs (and tab groups)

May 4, 2012 · by Arnstein Teigene

In Opera 12 beta we introduced a brand new windows and tabs API for extensions. It allows developers to create extensions that can access and control tabs and windows, e.g. to create tab groups of your Google search results, or extensions for managing your open tabs.

We already had a simple Windows and Tab API but this is a considerable update with many fixes and new features. It's currently still being polished and made ready for Opera 12 but certainly ready for trial.

Extension developers that have been using the old Windows and Tabs API are recommended to update their extensions to take advantage of the new APIs.

For more information please see our Windows and Tabs documentation over at dev.opera.com.

Readers' comments 5

Left under the original article, as archived.

DoTheEvoSaturday, May 5, 2012 5:19:17 PM
How about color / opacity of the tabs?
For making ageing tabs or other extensions..
SergeyMonday, May 7, 2012 11:59:46 AM
How it is intended to migrate from old (opera 11.x) API to new when Opera 12 will be released?

Will outdated extensions be broken in Opera 12?

Should I, as developer, put conditional code into extension now or should I wait?
SupuhstarThursday, May 10, 2012 7:35:24 AM
Originally posted by sorgoz:

Should I, as developer, put conditional code into extension now or should I wait?

Why bother? They're probably going to just discontinue everything, at this rate.
MyOpera team, please fix this!Thursday, May 10, 2012 12:59:56 PM
Originally posted by Supuhstar:

Why bother? They're probably going to just discontinue everything, at this rate.
You are sadly mistaken. The difference between extensions and Unite/widgets, is that extensions (if tooled correctly) could provide Unite and widget functionality. Neither of those technologies could provide us with extension functionality. They traded 2 mediocre things that internet as a whole didn't care about for extensions that people defintely care about in every browser.

Originally posted by sorgoz:

How it is intended to migrate from old (opera 11.x) API to new when Opera 12 will be released?
This is a very intriguing question. I'd like to know the answer as well.
icareFriday, May 11, 2012 6:14:07 PM
Originally posted by fearphage:

You are sadly mistaken. The difference between extensions and Unite/widgets, is that extensions (if tooled correctly) could provide Unite and widget functionality.

Extensions is a creation of Firefox. If I wanted Firefox, I'd use Firefox.
I want Opera.
I want Unite, IRC, Newsgroup and E-mails Readers. And I prefer widgets over extensions. Extensions do nothing except for crashing Opera and making it more unsafe.