Extension Installtion FAQ???

I've started with helloworld tutorial from RoachFiends site and have 
that working and am now trying to get things working from the tip using 
chrome.manifest files AND working out of a directory structure instead 
of having to package/install/unistall constantly.

I've read about a dozen different pages talking about the packaging 
stuff and development. Many of them seem old and possibly no longer 
relevant and at the very least aren't representing what is available 
currently as the "new way". Even the mozilla.org pages talking about the 
"new way" are slightly incomplete and confusing.

Is there a FAQ somewhere that deals with these issues? A wiki page? 
something? If not will someone who knows the system well work with me to 
create one?

Thanks,
John