How do I perform a shell execute in a chrome extension?

Question

I'm not finding a way to do this in the chrome.* API or even the experimental. It doesn't run through wscript so ActiveXObject("Shell.Application") isn't allowed.

I fear that my only option is to build a dll with NPAPI but I wanted to see if there was a simpler way.

Bueno

If you actually managed to succeed, in what sense would Chrome be sandboxed anymore? – Impropriate

@Kirk, well, you can use NPAPI plugins within extensions to go outside the sandbox. – Mckim

@Mohamed, Yikes, that's interesting. Does Chrome provide any special warning when an extension is being installed with such excess privileges? – Impropriate

@Kirk, well it goes to an approval process first which might take some time. Perfoming shell operations is a risky operation :) And only NPAPI can do risky stuff. – Mckim

Answer 1

If you want to do anything Natively, you need to use NPAPI. That allows you to run code outside the sandbox for your extensions.

http://code.google.com/chrome/extensions/npapi.html

Mckim

Looks like my only tool is a "hammer". Bummer, but it might do the job. thanks. – Bueno

There must be some NPAPI plugins out there already :) Try looking at this: goo.gl/SzUp – Mckim

Also, Chrome ended support for NPAPI. – Venuti

Answer 2

To update this for a fellow wary lonesome traveler, even NPAPI is deprecated and being phased out. One of the alternatives mentioned in the NPAPI deprecation blog post that looks suitable for this type of problem (and pretty nifty really) is the Native Messaging API.

Percival

Important caveat of this approach: unlike NPAPI plugins, Native Messaging hosts cannot be bundled with the extension in Chrome Web Store. – Thereunder

The current link to the Native Messaging API doc is: developer.chrome.com/extensions/nativeMessaging – Bianca

Answer 3

Alternatively, you might want to have two applications:

1. a "client" that works within a chrome extension and
2. a "local server" where the actual command is executed.

Whenever the extension needs to execute a command, it can connect to the local server via tcp connection.

Elenor

@penduDev, unfortunately, I don't have any code to share -- just the abstract idea. – Elenor