On Ubuntu 16.04, it just works. Using it with ["gvim","-f"].
I like the docs. Good job!

A good enough replacement for It's All Text.

- Easy set up (the native part is available on the AUR, making install trivial).
- Configuration is easy and well explained.
- Works exactly as advertised.
- Updates the text on each save, not just when the editor quits, which is helpful when editing markdown with a live preview on the browser side.

Thank goodness! I was really missing "It's All Text!" after Firefox 57. Thanks very much Jonathan!

Works cool -- I installed the native application and this extension in Firefox 57 (on Debian).

Good:

- Native application can be installed only for the current user (not system-wide),

- Everything is open-source,

- Works with Emacs nicely, as an editor I'm using a trivial script that does emacsclient --alternate-editor='emacs' "$@"

Notes:

- Test on textarea like https://github.com/jlebon/textern/issues/new .

- Note that it doesn't seem to work on textarea on https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/textarea , since it's in mozilla.org domain and Firefox seems to block script injections there (see jlebon comment below - thanks for catching this!).

- The default shortcut Ctrl+Shift+E for me always makes me type "e" (in addition to firing an editor). After changing it to Ctrl+Shift+F , it works perfect.

(This review is edited, as initially I thought that the extension doesn't work for me, but actually it was only blocked on mozilla.org. Thanks to jlebon for replying!)

I have Python 3.6.2. Followed the instructions for installing the native app. Tried launching with ["gvim", "-f"] and ["gvim"]. I only got the error: "this text is already being edited". Positive: an uninstall rule for the native app. BTW, in other fields than pure textarea fields Ctrl+Shift+E opens a developer frame.

Udate: the add-on works after I uninstalled the native client, and installed again with `make native-install USER=1` (I'm running Firefox from `~/bin`). Currently seems to work as advertised, I'll adjust the rating.

This works as a replacement for me. It's a bummer to have to install the native portion, but I understand the reasons. At least those are lightweight and easy with the well done instructions. To use gvim, I set my external editor to ["gvim", "-f"]. My only concern at this point is tracking updates on the native part. Hopefully the extension itself can help raise awareness when needed. In the meantime, I'll just follow the project on GitHub.

I've been using It's All Text for years, but it's not compatible with FF 57.

Help me Textern. You're my only hope!