[BUG] TM install drops originating page from browsing history

[JasonBarnabe]

When installing a script on Greasy Fork, the user is directed to the .user.js URL. Greasy Fork expects that a script manager will take over that request. After 2 seconds, Greasy Fork will direct the user's original tab to a post-install page, offering help if the script didn't install, a link to post feedback on the script, etc.

With TM on Chrome, this all works, but the user's browsing history loses an entry.

1. Go to https://greasyfork.org/
2. Click any script link (under the heading "Step 2" on the home page)
3. Click "Install this script". TM install tab opens.
4. Install or cancel, doesn't matter. TM install tab closes. User's left on Greasy Fork post-install page.
5. Click browser back.

Now we're back on the Greasy Fork home page instead of the script page we visited in step 2 above.

Environment

• Browser and Version: Chrome 142.0.7444.175
• Tampermonkey version: 5.4.0
• Operating System and Version: Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS

Additional context

I can change the logic from Greasy Fork's side if needed. Currently the button press is handled by JS, which eventually sends the user with location.href to the .user.js, then after a 2s timeout, sends the user with location.href to the post-install page. https://github.com/greasyfork-org/greasyfork/blob/main/app/javascript/install.js

[derjanb]

Tampermonkey uses history.back() to navigate back to the script page <script_url>,
but the navigation to <script_url>/post-install replaces this page in the browser history. Not sure why yet.

[derjanb]

I did some more research. The declarativeNetRequest redirect action doesn't add the script installation page to window.navigation, but window.history. That's why navigation.back(), doesn't work, while history.back() does.

<edit>window.navigation is origin specific so, it doesn't help to "debug" the issue.</edit>

Still have no idea how to fix this. This looks like a browser bug to me.

// ==UserScript==
// @name         Log Location
// @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
// @version      2024-08-29
// @description  try to take over the world!
// @author       You
// @match        https://*/*
// @icon         data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==
// @grant        GM_info
// @grant        window.onurlchange
// ==/UserScript==

const newURL = () => console.log('#####', location.href, history.length, navigation.currentEntry.index);
window.addEventListener('urlchange', newURL);
newURL();

[derjanb]

Fun fact: history.back() at <script_url>/post-install works correctly, but the browser's back button does not.