Consider using a cross-platform extension framework for easier development and maintenance

[SethBurkart123]

Hey there! 👋 I've been following the progress of open-webui and finally this extension, and I must say, I'm really excited about what you've accomplished so far. I develop chrome extensions for fun, and I know firsthand the challenges that come with making an extension work seamlessly across different platforms.

I wanted to reach out because I've been thinking about ways to make the development process smoother and more efficient. One idea that came to mind is using a cross-platform extension framework. These frameworks handle the heavy lifting of generating browser-specific packages and provide handy polyfills, making it a breeze to target different browsers without all the manual work.

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I've had some great experiences with two frameworks in particular:

1. Bedframe: Built on top of https://github.com/crxjs/chrome-extension-tools

• Simplifies targeting different browsers
• Implemented as a Vite plugin, which could be useful if you need any niche Vite plugins or just prefer Vite altogether

2. Plasmo: Built on https://parceljs.org/ (known for its speed and performance)

• Extensive support for a wide range of plugins
• Can handle pretty much any requirement you throw at it

I've personally converted a few large-scale extensions to use these frameworks, and the results have been fantastic. It significantly reduces the development effort and ensures a consistent user experience across platforms. If you're open to the idea, I'd be more than happy to lend a hand in integrating either Bedframe or Plasmo into the project. I think it could be a game-changer for the development workflow and make maintaining the extension a whole lot easier in the long run.

[yekruz]

@tjbck @SethBurkart123 as someone in love with the Open Source, I'd be glad to help creating the extension for an open source browser. how about FireFox? any suggestion?