"gnome-shell-extensions" Not able to upload the complete directory

First of all, I am sorry If this is not the rite place to ask.

Recently, I tried to upload the extension https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/2935/control-blur-effect-on-lock-screen/ to the extensions.gnome.org website.

this link says to make zip -j https://extensions.gnome.org/upload/ to create the zip file. Then to upload.

when I make the zip file with zip -r and try to upload.. It returns error that metadata.json file is not loaded and fails to upload though this file exists.

I must do zip -r to have the compatibility to work the shell extension installed with the command gnome-extensions install nameOfTheExtension

Where as I have seen some gnome-shell-extensions downloaded from the same website are having this.. I mean when you create a zip file with zip -r.

How can I achieve this?

Solution

These files must be in the top-level of the Zip:

metadata.json
extension.js
prefs.js (Optional file)
stylesheet.css (Optional file)

That is the only requirement. The -r and -j functions are explained by zip --help:

-j junk (don't record) directory names

-r recurse into directories

If all your extension files are in one, top-level directory then -j will work, otherwise it will probably break your directory hierarchy. You can check the layout of a zip with unzip -l.

Typically you will zip with zip -r extension@domain.zip [path with metadata.json]:

$ ls
extensions.js  metadata.json

$ zip -r extension@domain.zip .
  adding: metadata.json (deflated 33%)
  adding: extension.js (deflated 55%)

$ unzip -l extension@domain.zip 
Archive:  extension@domain.zip
  Length      Date    Time    Name
---------  ---------- -----   ----
      194  04-25-2020 17:47   metadata.json
      864  04-25-2020 17:47   extension.js
---------                     -------
     1058                     2 files