Include get-manifest-external.js in a Google Chrome App or Extension's background page and it will allow you to request the manifest file from an external page.
npm install get-manifest-external --save
// require the file in background.js
require('get-manifest-external');
// or import the file into background.js (requires babel)
import 'get-manifest-external';
...
"externally-connectable": {
"matches": ["your-external-page-here"]
}
chrome.runtime.sendMessage(<your extension key>, { message: 'getManifest' }, function(manifest) {
console.log(manifest);
});
Can be used to check if an extension is installed as well as displaying the currently installed extension's version.