Mochi

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Mochi is a lightweight, local-first browser extension (Chromium-based) that injects a tiny, animated cat sprite onto web pages. It functions as a non-intrusive digital companion, operating entirely client-side within the user's browser environment.
2. Core Value Proposition: Mochi exists to reduce digital sterility and provide subtle, ambient companionship during web browsing. Its primary value is offering a customizable, persistent, and privacy-focused animated element that enhances the user's emotional experience without tracking, notifications, or productivity demands.

Main Features

1. Local-First, Animated Cat Companion: Mochi places a draggable, animated GIF sprite directly onto the DOM of compatible web pages. The animation and all assets (20+ cat style variants) are stored locally within the extension package (assets/ folder), ensuring zero latency and no external network requests for the core functionality.
2. Persistent State Synchronization: Using the Chrome Extension Manifest V3 APIs (storage.local, scripting, tabs), Mochi synchronizes the user's selected cat style and its precise on-screen XY coordinates across all browser tabs and sessions. This is managed by the background.js service worker which acts as a central state manager.
3. Privacy-Centric Architecture: The extension is designed with a strict privacy model. It requires host permissions to inject content.js but uses them solely to restore the cat sprite in already-open tabs. It does not collect, transmit, or analyze browsing history, page content, or personal data. All preferences are stored locally via chrome.storage.local.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: The modern web browsing experience can feel impersonal and transactional. Users lack ambient, customizable elements that provide a sense of comfort or whimsy without being disruptive or data-hungry.
2. Target Audience: This includes students, remote workers, developers, and general internet users who spend long hours in browsers and seek to personalize their digital workspace with a low-friction, emotionally positive element. It appeals particularly to users conscious of digital privacy.
3. Use Cases: Essential for users wanting a static but animated dashboard companion while working; a non-distracting "pet" during long research or study sessions; a gentle visual anchor for users with ADHD or anxiety who benefit from a consistent focal point; and as a tool for purely aesthetic browser customization.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike most browser extensions that focus on productivity, ad-blocking, or notifications, Mochi is purely an ambient experience tool. It contrasts with "live wallpaper" or "theme" extensions by being an interactive, page-level element rather than a static background. It also differs from chatbot companions by being non-interactive and visual.
2. Key Innovation: Its technical innovation lies in its minimalist implementation for cross-tab state persistence. Using a combination of Manifest V3's scripting.executeScript for targeted injection and a service-worker-managed storage sync, it maintains a consistent visual state across a dynamic browsing environment without complex frameworks or remote servers, all while adhering to a strong privacy-by-design principle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is the Mochi browser extension safe and private? Yes, Mochi is designed as a local-first extension. It does not contain ads, analytics, remote trackers, or require an account. All code is viewable on GitHub, and it only uses browser permissions to locally store your settings and display the cat on your tabs.
2. How do I install the Mochi cat extension from GitHub? To install Mochi manually, download the source code from GitHub, enable "Developer mode" in your browser's extension management page (chrome://extensions), and use the "Load unpacked" button to select the folder containing the manifest.json file.
3. Does the Mochi extension work on all websites? Mochi is designed to work on most standard websites (HTTP/HTTPS). It may not inject the cat sprite on restricted browser pages like chrome:// URLs or the extension's own popup page, as defined by its content_scripts matches rules in manifest.json.
4. Can I add my own custom cat sprite to the Mochi extension? Yes, but it requires technical modification. You would need to add your GIF and PNG assets to the assets/ directory and update the style lists in content.js, popup.html, background.js, and verify_extension.py to maintain compatibility, then reload the extension.
5. What browsers support the Mochi companion extension? Mochi is built for Chromium-based browsers using Manifest V3, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Opera. It is not natively compatible with Firefox, which uses a different extension manifest system.