Turn difficult passages into clear explanations—right where you are reading.
Quick start · Features · Screenshots · Documentation · Privacy · Contributing
Learning Copilot is a browser extension for students, researchers, and curious readers. Select a passage on almost any webpage, choose how you want it explained, and stream the answer into a movable panel without breaking your reading flow.
Important
Learning Copilot v0.8.1 is the stable Chrome Web Store release. You need your own cloud-provider API key or a local model. AI output can be wrong, so verify important explanations against a reliable source.
| Capability | What it gives you | |
|---|---|---|
| ✨ | One-click explanations | Select text, pick a style, and explain it without opening another tab. |
| ⚡ | Streaming answers | Read the response as it arrives; stop an active request whenever you need to. |
| 🧠 | Multiple AI providers | Use Gemini, OpenAI, Claude, or a loopback Ollama/LM Studio-compatible endpoint. |
| 🎭 | Explanation styles | Start with Simple, Like a 5yo, Fun & Sarcastic, or Academic—or write reusable custom personas. |
| 🪟 | Adaptive in-page workspace | Resize down to a 220 px panel; text shrinks with the width, while Compact, Balanced, and Large preferences preserve user choice. |
| 🔌 | Connection checks | Test the current key and model, or a local endpoint, before saving the configuration. |
| 🛡️ | Direct data path | Settings stay in local extension storage; requests go directly to the provider you configure. |
The extension reads the text you explicitly select. It sends that text and the active prompt instructions only after you choose Explain. Learning Copilot has no analytics and no developer-operated backend.
Select a passage → Choose a style → Explain → Read, move, resize, or stop
Cloud mode sends the request directly to Gemini, OpenAI, or Anthropic. Local mode accepts only HTTP(S) endpoints on localhost or 127.0.0.1; the extension does not bundle or start a model server.
Select a difficult passage without leaving the page
Choose an explanation style and start from the text you are already reading.
Explain it in your own style
Use a custom persona to change the tone, depth, and structure.
Make room when you need it
Drag the explanation panel anywhere and resize it for longer answers.
Bring your preferred provider Configure and test a cloud key or local model endpoint. |
Make explanations sound right for you Create reusable instructions for tone, depth, and structure. |
- Node.js 24+
- npm
- Chrome, Edge, Brave, or another Chromium-based browser
git clone https://github.com/ari-abb/learning-copilot.git
cd learning-copilot
npm ci
npm run buildOpen chrome://extensions, enable Developer mode, choose Load unpacked, and select .output/chrome-mv3.
- Open Learning Copilot from the browser toolbar.
- Choose Gemini, OpenAI, Claude, or Local and enter the required connection details.
- Choose a Compact, Balanced, or Large interface, then select Test Key or Test Connection and Save Changes.
- Open a normal webpage and select up to 20,000 characters.
- Choose an explanation style and select Explain.
Provider-specific setup and troubleshooting live in Getting Started.
- API keys and settings are stored in
chrome.storage.local, not an encrypted credential vault. Anyone with access to the browser profile may be able to recover them. - Cloud requests may be retained, billed, or rate-limited under the selected provider's policies.
- Browser-internal pages, extension stores, and some embedded viewers block content scripts.
- Chrome's built-in PDF viewer does not expose selected PDF text as a normal webpage DOM. On arXiv, use the paper's HTML version for the in-page selection workflow.
- Selected webpage text is untrusted input and may contain prompt-injection instructions. Treat generated output as a learning aid, not medical, legal, financial, or security advice.
- Chrome is the reviewed release target. A Firefox build command exists, but this release has not completed a Firefox compatibility pass.
See the Privacy Policy for the full data flow and Security Policy for the trust model and reporting path.
| Guide | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Getting Started | Installation, provider setup, first use, and troubleshooting |
| Project Overview | Architecture, data flow, permissions, and technical constraints |
| Privacy Policy | Data handling, third-party providers, retention, and user control |
| Security Policy | Trust boundaries and private vulnerability reporting |
| Contributing | Local development, validation, and pull-request expectations |
npm run dev # Start WXT development mode
npm run check # Run TypeScript and runtime-boundary tests
npm run verify:store # Check, build, and audit the production package
npm run release:chromeThe production-package gate validates the Manifest V3 targets, permissions, provider-host allowlist, icon dimensions, source maps, starter assets, and common remote/evaluated-code patterns.
Learning Copilot v0.8.1 is the stable Chrome Web Store release. New changes are developed and validated on the dev branch before they are promoted to main.
No open-source license has been declared yet. Until a LICENSE file is added, the repository is source-available but does not grant general rights to copy, modify, or redistribute the code.