Google plans to add a plug-in system to Chrome

Google has launched a program to give third-party developers the ability to create ad-blocking and other plugins for its Chrome browser. The plan could bring Chrome's customizability to a level comparable to that of Firefox.

The ability to install third-party plugins to provide more features is a major reason for Firefox's popularity, and Google is clearly inspired by Firefox's success.

Aaron Boodman, a programmer at Google, disclosed the company's Chrome plug-in plans in a blog post over the weekend. The article mentions some issues that Google needs to solve, such as the application programming interface that connects plug-ins to the Chrome engine. In his blog post, Budman listed some of the plugins Google wants third-party developers to build, such as ads and Flash blockers.

The one feature that users want most from Chrome is the plugin system. "If I can't install a third-party plugin, I will uninstall Chrome very soon," one user said on a Google forum.

Google has not set a timetable for the release of the Chrome add-ons system, but the documentation indicates that Google has already begun developing the technology.

Although tests show that Chrome largely meets Google's design goals, the lack of a plug-in system gives Firefox an edge over the competition. Microsoft's Internet Explorer has more than 70 percent of the browser market, while Firefox has about 20 percent and Chrome has less than 1 percent.