How to write a browser plugin?

Question

I'm curious as to the procedure for writing browser plugins for browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Opera. I'm thinking specifically of Windows here and would prefer working with C++.

Are there any tools or tutorials that detail the process?

Note: I am not referring to extensions or 'addons'. I'm referring to a plugin similar to how Flash and Adobe Reader have plugins to handle specific content-types.

Answer 1

Implement NPAPI.

Answer 2

Browsers like Netscape-based browsers, Chrome, Safari and Opera uses NPAPI plugin system, you can learn how to write NPAPI plugins in https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Plugins and http://code.google.com/chrome/extensions/npapi.html

Answer 3

If you know Qt then they have got some classes that makes it easier to implement browser plug-ins

Answer 4

As others point out, plugins for those browser are written using the NPAPI.

Resources for getting started with NPAPI:

• MDC plugin section
• three part NPAPI tutorial
• memory management in NPAPI
• npsimple - the "Hello World" of NPAPI plugins

The NPAPI itself is however relatively low-level, but there are tools and frameworks that can help you with it:

• FireBreath - cross-browser, cross-platform frame-work for plugins
• Nixysa - generate glue-code for NPAPI plugins
• JUCE - application framework also providing support for plugins
• QtBrowserPlugin - Qt based browser plugin framework