Proposal: Extending Polaris-Web for Version Compatibility and Multi-Extension Handling

[HunnySajid]

Current Situation:
The polaris-web package currently interacts with compatible browser extensions but lacks mechanisms to:

• Ensure version compatibility between the package and extensions.
• Handle situations where multiple compatible extensions are installed.

Proposed Features:
1- Version Compatibility: Implement version-check functionality to detect compatible extension versions.
2- Multiple Extensions: Allow the detection of multiple installed extensions, enabling:

• User selection of a preferred extension.
• Broadcasting requests to all or specific extensions.

Additional Use Cases:

• Conflict resolution between multiple extensions’ responses.
• Prioritization of extensions based on features or user preference.
• Extensible support for new extensions in the future.

I’m looking for input on these ideas and any other potential use cases or challenges this might raise.

CC: @lenkan @2byrds

[2byrds]

Great write-up @HunnySajid I can't wait to hear from @rodolfomiranda and @lenkan so we can push this ⏩

[HunnySajid]

Linked Issue: WebOfTrust/signify-browser-extension#156

[lenkan]

Can a very first simple step be to store the signify-extension message on the client instance. If the client has received signify-extension from multiple extensions, it can reject all subsequent requests with an error message saying "Multiple signify extensions are currently not supported". At least the users will then get consistent behaviour?

[edeykholt]

I've been thinking through this and will have a set of suggestions soon.
A few questions first:

1. Other than the extension letting itself be known to the page when it injects its content script, are any of the extension's interactions with a page not in response to actions the user (or a page script) initiates? If so, what's an example?
2. Are any projects planning on not using polaris-web for interacting with signify browser extension(s)?

[edeykholt]

See refactoring proposal at #31