ThinkMode is a Manifest V3 Chrome extension MVP that helps developers choose a thinking mode before prompting AI. The open-source build runs locally on supported AI chat pages and does not read conversations, scrape page content, call an LLM API, transmit data, or collect analytics.

• https://chatgpt.com/*
• https://chat.openai.com/*
• https://claude.ai/*
• https://gemini.google.com/*

• Detects supported AI chat pages by hostname.
• Injects a small floating ThinkMode button.
• Opens a Chrome side panel from that button.
• Lets you describe your task.
• Recommends one of five deterministic thinking modes: Explore, Challenge, Decide, Audit, Reflect.
• Generates a local prompt template for the selected mode.
• Lets you manually copy the generated prompt.
• Lets you manually log how you used AI after prompting.
• Shows a cognitive cost meter that rises faster for riskier usage modes.
• Temporarily blocks supported AI chat pages for 5 minutes when the meter fills.

The AI usage log is a manual tracker for the mode you used after prompting. Modes are grouped into Supportive, Mixed, and Risky categories:

• Supportive modes help expand your thinking and carry a low cognitive cost.
• Mixed modes save time but can compress understanding if used carelessly.
• Risky modes are cases where AI may replace your judgment and carry a high cognitive cost.

The cognitive cost meter lives in browser localStorage. When the meter reaches its limit, ThinkMode mirrors the active cooldown timestamp to Chrome local storage so supported chat pages can show a blocking overlay for 5 minutes. After the cooldown ends, the meter resets locally.

ThinkMode only uses text you type into the side panel and the AI usage modes you manually log. The open-source build does not read AI conversations, scrape page content, automatically insert prompts, send data to a backend, or use analytics.

Install dependencies:

pnpm install

Run a production build:

pnpm build

Run source-level logic tests:

pnpm test

For iterative UI development:

pnpm dev

The Chrome extension build is emitted to dist/.

1. Open Chrome and go to chrome://extensions.
2. Enable Developer mode.
3. Click Load unpacked.
4. Select this repo's dist/ directory.
5. Visit a supported page such as https://chatgpt.com/.
6. Click the floating ThinkMode button.

• The floating button appears only on supported hostnames.
• Clicking the button opens the Chrome side panel.
• Empty task input shows a validation error.
• Check mode recommends the expected mode using deterministic keyword rules.
• Manual mode switching regenerates the prompt.
• Copy shows Copied feedback.
• AI usage groups expand and collapse.
• Logging AI usage updates the cognitive cost meter.
• Filling the cognitive cost meter blocks supported chat pages for 5 minutes.
• The side panel privacy note is visible.
• The local event recorder remains a no-op and usage events contain metadata only.

src/
  background/
    serviceWorker.ts
  content/
    contentScript.ts
    detector.ts
    floatingButton.ts
    content.css
  sidepanel/
    App.tsx
    main.tsx
    sidepanel.html
    components/
      ModeForm.tsx
      AiUsageLogger.tsx
      RecommendationCard.tsx
      PromptOutput.tsx
  shared/
    aiUsageModes.ts
    modes.ts
    recommendationEngine.ts
    promptTemplates.ts
    messages.ts
    usageEvents.ts
  integrations/
    eventRecorder.ts

MIT