Extensions support in Google Chrome may finally be enabled by default, on all platforms, but the dev team isn't slowing down and has now introduced internationalization features enabling developers to offer localized versions of their extensions. What it means is that you're going to start seeing versions of your favorite Chrome extension in your own language soon, but only if you're using Windows for now.

"Starting with Google Chrome developer channel release 4.0.288.1 and beta channel release 4.0.249.64 for Windows, an internationalization (i18n) framework for Google Chrome Extensions is available and enabled by default. This framework lets extension developers translate user-visible parts of the extension manifest — such as the name and description, and localize messages using simple JavaScript calls to the chrome.i18n.getMessage() method. We've implemented this feature as described in the design docs for Chromium," Nebojsa Ciric, software engineer at Google, wrote.

Enabling localization for your extension's manifest is easy enough and requires a few modifications to the code by redefining the user-visible strings into message catalogs. To retrieve the localized messages, you'll then have to use the 'chrome.i18n.getMessage()' method. Google is also providing full documentation explaining the entire process here. The feature is only available in the latest dev channel release and the latest beta and only on Windows.

The lack of internationalization features was one of the things some developers complained about and where Firefox add-ons fared better. With the pace at which new features are being added, the gap should be getting smaller. And with Mozilla working on implementing its own add-on platform based on web technologies, Jetpack, it looks like the Chrome developers may be onto something. Full extensions support for Google Chrome came about a month ago along with the beta releases for Mac OS X and Linux, despite the feature being integrated for several months now. Google also launched the Chrome Extensions Gallery for developers to showcase their creations and to make it easier to find the tools they need.


The latest beta and dev releases of Google Chrome for Windows are available for download here.