GENEXIS-AI/chromex provides a Chrome MV3 side-panel assistant that integrates Codex capabilities directly into the browser. It empowers users to interact with web pages, selected tabs, local files, voice, and images through a unified interface, while crucially keeping sensitive credentials outside of extension storage for enhanced security. This project is designed for power users and developers seeking to leverage AI for advanced browser-based workflows.

How It Works

Chromex employs a multi-component architecture: a Chrome MV3 extension communicates with Codex via a local native bridge. This setup involves the Chrome Extension, a Native Messaging Host, a Local Bridge daemon, and the Codex app-server. This layered approach ensures that sensitive data like API keys and OAuth tokens are handled securely by the local bridge and Codex app-server, rather than being stored within the browser extension's storage.

Quick Start & Requirements

Installation requires cloning the repository, installing Node.js dependencies, building the project, and installing the native host. The primary commands are: git clone https://github.com/GENEXIS-AI/chromex.git cd chromex npm install npm run build node scripts/install-native-host.mjs The unpacked extension must then be loaded from packages/extension/dist in Chrome's developer mode (chrome://extensions). Prerequisites include Node.js 20 LTS or newer and the Codex CLI (npm install -g @openai/codex). Windows users require specific PowerShell commands and may encounter TLS certificate issues outside the project's scope.

Highlighted Details

• Persistent MV3 side panel with a chat-first user experience.
• Automatic routing for diverse requests including page content, files, images, voice input, and browser actions.
• Features an @ picker for selecting open tabs and a / picker for choosing custom profiles.
• Supports attachments for various file types: images, text, PDF, DOCX, CSV, TSV, XLSX, and XLSM.
• Offers site-aware suggestions tailored for platforms like YouTube, news sites, research pages, and more.
• Includes non-destructive image editing capabilities for uploaded images, page screenshots, or visible screen captures.
• Renders Markdown content with support for code blocks, tables, and links.
• Allows loading optional Codex skills from local .codex/skills/ directories.

Maintenance & Community

The project follows a standard open-source release history documented in RELEASE.md. Specific details regarding active contributors, sponsorships, or dedicated community channels (like Discord or Slack) are not detailed in the provided README.

Licensing & Compatibility

Chromex is released under the MIT license, which generally permits broad use, modification, and distribution, including for commercial purposes, with attribution. No specific compatibility restrictions for closed-source linking are mentioned, but users should consult the LICENSE file for full terms.

Limitations & Caveats

Installation, particularly on Windows, demands strict adherence to folder structures and command execution to avoid errors like ENOENT. Users may need to manually specify the extension ID for the native host installer if Chrome assigns a non-default one. Accessing page context requires explicit site permissions or user approval when prompted by a workflow. The project releases source code only, necessitating a local build process for users.