Future of CRXJS 🔮 👀

[jacksteamdev]

Important

🎉 We've just released the 2.0 version 🎉

➡️see the release
theres also new template to easily set up new projects npm create crxjs@latest
The team is there - we will be taking down the sign
#991

Important: CRXJS Will Be Archived Unless New Maintainers Step Forward

CRXJS has helped thousands of developers build Chrome Extensions with modern tools. However, without a new maintenance team in place by March 31, 2025, this repository will be archived. I'm looking to transition the project to a team of maintainers who can collaboratively guide its future development.

Note

I'm happy to announce that @colearendt has joined as the CRXJS Maintenance Team Coordinator! However, we still need additional maintainers to keep the project alive. If CRXJS has been valuable to your work and you'd like to help ensure its future, please DM Cole (colearendt) on Discord to discuss joining the team.

Timeline

• March 31, 2025: Self-organizing maintenance team must be established and working together
• March-May 2025: Team demonstrates ability to operate independently
• June 1, 2025: If no suitable team is established, repository will be archived

Team Requirements

We're seeking three maintainers who can:

• Commit 2-3 hours per week each
• Actively participate in team communication via Discord
• Take initiative to unblock themselves when facing challenges
• Work collaboratively and proactively with the team

Project Status

• 3k+ GitHub stars
• Stable and feature-complete for most use cases
• Comprehensive suite of test cases
• Currently impacted by recent Vite breaking changes
  • See CORS policy blocks script access in development #971
• Uses RxJS for reactive programming patterns
• Complex but well-structured codebase handling multi-process extension architecture

My Role During Transition

• Available as a Subject Matter Expert through May 2025
• Three weekly office hours sessions on Discord (times TBD with team)
• Will not be actively maintaining the project or implementing fixes
• Can provide architectural guidance and historical context during office hours
• Not available for on-demand support outside office hours

How to Step Forward

If you're interested in maintaining CRXJS:

1. Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/FnnE4XR7Wj
2. Send Cole (colearendt) a DM including:
   • Your experience with TypeScript, RxJS, and Chrome Extensions
   • How you approach technical challenges and self-directed learning
   • Your availability for team communication and collaboration
   • Your vision for the project's future
3. Create a test PR fixing an existing issue to demonstrate your understanding

Serious inquiries only, please.

Team Dynamics

Successful maintenance of CRXJS requires:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently while coordinating with team
• Proactive problem-solving mindset
• Regular participation in team discussions

[aiktb]

If crxjs is archived, would you recommend existing users to migrate to other similar build tools? Such as WXT

[Malix-Labs]

I personally did that a long time ago and recommended it to other people (and apparently they were satisfied) : #872

[marijnbent]

for others:
https://wxt.dev/guide/resources/migrate.html#crxjs

[Toumash]

🎉 Vite support is officially out of beta! 🎉

[Malix-Labs]

We're seeking three maintainers who can:

• Commit 2-3 hours per week each
• Actively participate in team communication via Discord
• Take initiative to unblock themselves when facing challenges
• Work collaboratively and proactively with the team
  […]
• Have three weekly office hours sessions on Discord
• Original founder is not available for on-demand support outside office hours
  […]
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently while coordinating with team
• Proactive problem-solving mindset
• Regular participation in team discussions

Also :

• Find all 3 in 53 days (as of the time I'm writing this) maximum
• Unpaid

From experience, and especially for a -5k project, those requirements are delusionally unrealistic or unsustainable for the long run

[jacksteamdev]

Thanks for the feedback. The requirements reflect what I believe the project needs for sustainable maintenance based on my experience building and maintaining it. If we don't find enough maintainers to care for the project without costing themselves undue effort, archiving the repository is the responsible choice for the community.

[Toumash]

Current project status 🔮

@colearendt has joined as the CRXJS Maintenance Team Coordinator! However, we still need additional maintainers to keep the project alive. If CRXJS has been valuable to your work and you'd like to help ensure its future, please DM Cole (colearendt) on Discord to discuss joining the team.

Timeline

• March 31, 2025: Self-organizing maintenance team must be established and working together
• March-May 2025: Team demonstrates ability to operate independently
• June 1, 2025: If no suitable team is established, repository will be archived

[mubaidr]

woohoo!!! welcome! 🥳

[Toumash]

@mubaidr

🎉 Vite support is officially out of beta! 🎉

[upthen]

What a shame, this seems to be a very interesting and valubale project, hope to continue to maintain。

[Toumash]

@upthen

🎉 Vite support is officially out of beta! 🎉

[rezasohrabi]

Hi everyone 👋

Thanks so much for all the work you've done on CRXJS — it's been an incredibly valuable tool for many of us building Chrome Extensions.

I was wondering if there’s any update on the current status of the project? Has a full maintenance team been formed since the March 31 deadline, and is the project still on track to avoid being archived on June 1?

Would love to hear how things are progressing. Thanks again for your efforts!

[Toumash]

We've just released the 2.0 version with full support with latest vite versions.
https://github.com/crxjs/chrome-extension-tools/releases/tag/%40crxjs%2Fvite-plugin%402.0.0
theres also new template to easily set up new projects https://github.com/crxjs/create-crxjs
The readme was also updated https://github.com/crxjs/chrome-extension-tools

The team is there - we will be taking down the sign soon

#991

🎉 Vite support is officially out of beta! 🎉