cannot find chrome extension manifest file

[Abdullah Bakhach]

background 
I'm learning how to build a chrome extension app, and I'm following the instructions in [this](https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/app_identity) tutorial (you can see my code [here](https://github.com/abbood/chrome-extension-sandbox/tree/3-use-identify-api)). 
The instructions in the [copy key to your manifest](https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/app_identity#copy_key) section states that it's important to keep their application id constant and in order to do that, they must copy the key in the _installed_ manifest.json to the source manifest. 
The instructions state that this manifest.json file must exist in the user data directory, in my case (mac):
    ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Extensions
a folder corresponding to my chrome extension app id should show up there
problemI couldn't find my folder in that directory. By failing to include they key in the manifest file as they did [in the chrome identity example](https://github.com/GoogleChrome/chrome-app-samples/tree/master/samples/identity#readme) then evey time I click on the sign in button, it simply opens a new tab and prompts the user to enter their email/password, but then the extension never gets the token. 
what I have triedI realized that there are many app id folders that exist on the said directory, but they are only for the apps I installed from google chrome webstore (ie google docs etc).. but not any of the apps I loaded by checking the _developer mode_ checkbox then clicking on the <kbd>Load unpacked extension..</kbd> button. 
consider this (my app is documentivly, and the tutorial app is identity api sample):


If I go to 


    ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome
and search for the folder containing my app's id:
    find . | grep cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn
I get
    3521:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb    3522:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/000003.log    3523:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/CURRENT    3524:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOCK    3525:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOG    3526:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOG.old    3527:./Default/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/MANIFEST-000001    7747:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn    7748:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def    7749:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache    7750:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_0    7751:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_1    7752:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_2    7753:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_3    7754:./Profile 1/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/index    7793:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn    7794:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app    7795:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents    7796:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Info.plist    7797:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/MacOS    7798:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/MacOS/app_mode_loader    7799:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/PkgInfo    7800:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Resources    7801:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Resources/app.icns    7802:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Resources/en-US.lproj    7803:./Profile 1/Web Applications/_crx_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/Profile 1 cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn.app/Contents/Resources/en-US.lproj/InfoPlist.strings    9484:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb    9485:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/000003.log    9486:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/CURRENT    9487:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOCK    9488:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/LOG    9489:./Profile 2/IndexedDB/chrome-extension_cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn_0.indexeddb.leveldb/MANIFEST-000001    10348:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn    10349:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def    10350:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache    10351:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_0    10352:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_1    10353:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_2    10354:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/data_3    10355:./Profile 2/Storage/ext/cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn/def/GPUCache/index
so none of the folders appear in the `Default/Extensions` directory as instructed by the tutorial.
If I search for the app id of google drive (lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh), I find the folder in the `Default/Extensions`
    2572:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh    2573:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0    2574:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata    2575:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/computed_hashes.json    2576:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/verified_contents.json    2577:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/background.js    2578:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images    2579:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync16.png    2580:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync256.png    2581:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync64.png    2582:./Default/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/manifest.json    5092:./External Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh.json    6552:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh    6553:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0    6554:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata    6555:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/computed_hashes.json    6556:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/verified_contents.json    6557:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/background.js    6558:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images    6559:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync16.png    6560:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync256.png    6561:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync64.png    6562:./Profile 1/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/manifest.json    9027:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh    9028:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0    9029:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata    9030:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/computed_hashes.json    9031:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/verified_contents.json    9032:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/background.js    9033:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images    9034:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync16.png    9035:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync256.png    9036:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync64.png    9037:./Profile 2/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/manifest.json    11067:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh    11068:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0    11069:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata    11070:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/computed_hashes.json    11071:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/_metadata/verified_contents.json    11072:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/background.js    11073:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images    11074:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync16.png    11075:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync256.png    11076:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/images/drive-sync64.png    11077:./Profile 3/Extensions/lmjegmlicamnimmfhcmpkclmigmmcbeh/3.2_0/manifest.json
What's interesting is that there is no `manifest.json` to be found anywhere in any of the directories of my installed app.. consider this:
    ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome$ find . grep manifest.json | grep cmfbnommmmeccnkbochkfakncgnebckn
returns nothing! 
ideas?



  [1]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/pggsm.png

[PhistucK]

During development, the application/extension ID is persistent as long as you load the application/extension from the same path, if I remember correctly. So during development, you can just register a Google OAuth application for that ID.

Once you decide to put your application/extension in the Chrome Web Store, you publish it only to testers (or anyone with a link), install it and get the web store generated key using the instructions you followed.

Alternatively, you can pack your application using the "Pack extension" button and install it by dragging the generated file into chrome:extensions. This will generate a key.pem file that you can later re-use for future updates to your locally packed application.

☆PhistucK

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