TabiCat — Local-first AI Chrome extension
Chrome side panel extension that connects to Ollama for private, on-device AI assistance.
Client: Open Source Project · Timeline: 2024
Stack: JavaScript, Chrome API, Ollama, Local LLMs, Chrome extension, Local-first AI, Privacy-respecting
Problem
- Users wanted AI assistance without recurring SaaS fees or sending data to third-party servers.
- Existing browser AI tools required cloud accounts and offered no privacy guarantees.
Approach
- Built a Chrome side panel extension that connects to locally-hosted Ollama models at http://localhost:11434.
- Implemented context menu capture for quick text selection, prompt templates for reusable workflows, and model profiles for different tasks.
- Persisted conversation history locally so users can review and continue previous sessions without cloud sync.
Results
- Delivers instant AI responses without recurring costs or third-party data collection.
- Supports multiple Ollama models and custom system prompts with one-click switching.
- Session history enables seamless follow-up conversations across browser sessions.
What you can verify
- Open source on GitHub with clear installation and usage docs.
- Supports any Ollama model, making it compatible with growing local LLM ecosystem.
- Context menu integration demonstrates native browser API mastery.