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androidgoogle-chrome-extensiondependenciesinstallationgoogle-chrome-arc

Installing Chrome extension via zip, requires App Runtime for Chrome: 'import' extension is not installed


We are releasing an Android app for Chromebook. This has to be available as a file download (i.e. flash drive, private login) and not through the Chrome Web Store.

ARC Welder gave me the Chrome Extension zip based on the original Android App apk. The zip easily installed on a Chromebook which has ARC Welder, Evernote or one of the other Android-on-Chrome apps; because the Chrome App Store would have pre-installed the App Runtime for Chrome.

If those apps are removed, and my zip becomes the first app to require the App Runtime for Chrome, I get this error

Error Loading Extension

Failed to load extension from: /tmp/MyApp_RanDoM
'import' extension is not installed.

Followed by some JSON which looks like the manifest. There is an import line which has the key of the dependency I'm looking for.

...
"import": [{"ID": "mfaihdlpglflfgpfjcifdjdjcckigekc"}],
...

To prevent this error for new users, I would rather not require them to install ARC Welder, Evernote, etc.

How can I either

  • obtain the App Runtime for Chrome zip so that they can install the App Runtime manually, or
  • provide a way for them to download ARC Welder without any of the apps it relies upon

This is to avoid publishing the app through the Chrome Web Store. I am considering making them take this route, but if we could distribute file(s) by a more traditional means that would be preferable.


Solution

  • From the web store, one can install just the dependency, without the ARC Welder or any other reliant app. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/app-runtime-for-chrome-be/mfaihdlpglflfgpfjcifdjdjcckigekc