title: How to tell if a Chrome extension is installed by a real user vs. by me during development?
body: <p>I'm using Analytics in my Chrome extension. I want to execute the analytics code only if the extension is being used by a real person (not me while I'm working on it). Are any of the following doable and which is the best?</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>Identify whether the extension was installed packed or unpacked. I think this is the best because unpacked clearly means it's "in development" and it's not specific to my machine in any way. Can the extension know this programatically?</p></li>
  <li><p>Have the extension look for something that's specific to my environment. I'm not sure what that something is (extension is open-source so it can't be anything too private).</p></li>
  <li><p>Have a "developer mode" option on the options page. Doable but that means anyone who installs the extension can just turn it on.</p></li>
  <li><p>Set a localStorage variable manually and never erase it. Doable but not the best solution because if it ever disappears, I'd have to reset it. And I have to remember not to delete it if I ever delete keys from localStorage.</p></li>
  <li><p><code>var useAnalytics = false</code> while developing, set it to true before releasing. It's not automatic but its an option.</p></li>
  <li><p>Something else?</p></li>
  </ol>