How to build a chrome extension to add a panel in gmail windows?

Question

I want to build a chrome extension like rapportive.com . I'm new to Chrome extensions and Gmail Script content. Can anyone suggest how to do this?

I am currently reading Google Gadget Docs .

Answer 1

Here are some notes for you. There are more reliable ways to build this, but this is the “hello world” of functionality you are talking about:

• You will need to define the content of the script that you add to the gmail context. This part is pretty simple and can work with any sample script content available in the Google documentation. You need to read and find out what it means to be script content.
• The content script should know where to look for gmail for an email address. This address will be used to obtain information about the user's social networks. You send this email address from the contents of the script to an additional extension page.
• The background page must have social media integration that the user has previously configured. Basically, you need to connect the background image to the Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn APIs and use their APIs to collect email address information.
• In the background, a script message will appear, added to gmail, with social network information for the email address.
• The content script then modifies the Gmail user interface to contain your data on social networks.

The biggest long-term challenge that you will face is that the gmail layout will suddenly change and disrupt email detection or a changed interface. Both of these questions require some trick to resolve or require you to stay at night, wondering if Google will suddenly break your extension.

Good luck

Answer 2

I don’t know what a Google gadget is, and the link you provided gives 404, but I don’t think you even need it.

You need the script content that is injected into the gmail page, where it adds a panel. So, start by reading how to create a Chrome extension that uses content scripts .

Answer 3

There is a new SDK for modifying DOM elements in gmail: https://www.inboxsdk.com/docs/

They have a useful API for adding buttons and other elements.