Private beta testing a Chrome extension
Publishing on Chrome Web Store has 3 (well, 4) options:
- Public. The extension will be listed in search and gallery, everyone can install and use.
- Unlisted. The extension will not be listed in search and gallery, but everyone with a direct link can install.
- (Google Apps domains only) People with accounts on [example.com] only. This allows to publish items privately, as long as you administer a Google Apps domain.
- Private. The item will only be available to a selected list of Google accounts, or a Google Group. Note that this is aptly aliased as "Trusted Testers".
That said, you most probably have 2 options:
Have a restricted set of accounts that can use your app. CWS allows to either specify an explicit but short list, or to link with a Google Group you administer.
Use "unlisted" and send everyone the link. Use only if you don't care if the link leaks: you won't be able to remotely kill any install.
Note that if you have enough (10000+) users you can do partial rollouts of regular updates, to have less impact from problematic updates if they happen.