|
| 1 | +# Chrome Extension Architecture |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +## Overview |
| 4 | + |
| 5 | +The "Import to Markdown" extension extracts webpage content and imports it into your Markdoc collaborative editor. |
| 6 | + |
| 7 | +## Components |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +``` |
| 10 | +┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ |
| 11 | +│ Chrome Extension │ |
| 12 | +├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ |
| 13 | +│ │ |
| 14 | +│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │ |
| 15 | +│ │ manifest. │ │ popup. │ │ background. │ │ |
| 16 | +│ │ json │ │ html/js │ │ js │ │ |
| 17 | +│ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ │ |
| 18 | +│ │ │ │ │ |
| 19 | +│ │ │ │ │ |
| 20 | +│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────────────┐ │ |
| 21 | +│ │ content.js │ │ Chrome Storage API │ │ |
| 22 | +│ └──────────────┘ └──────────────────────────────┘ │ |
| 23 | +│ │ |
| 24 | +└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ |
| 25 | + │ |
| 26 | + │ Store markdown + open tab |
| 27 | + ▼ |
| 28 | +┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ |
| 29 | +│ Markdoc App │ |
| 30 | +├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ |
| 31 | +│ │ |
| 32 | +│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ |
| 33 | +│ │ App.tsx (initImportBridge) │ │ |
| 34 | +│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ |
| 35 | +│ │ │ |
| 36 | +│ ▼ │ |
| 37 | +│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ |
| 38 | +│ │ importBridge.ts │ │ |
| 39 | +│ │ - Listen for messages │ │ |
| 40 | +│ │ - Fetch from Chrome storage │ │ |
| 41 | +│ │ - Post markdown back to window │ │ |
| 42 | +│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ |
| 43 | +│ │ │ |
| 44 | +│ ▼ │ |
| 45 | +│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ |
| 46 | +│ │ Editor.tsx │ │ |
| 47 | +│ │ - Check URL param (?import=true) │ │ |
| 48 | +│ │ - Request import via requestImport() │ │ |
| 49 | +│ │ - Receive markdown via onImportMarkdown() │ │ |
| 50 | +│ │ - Convert markdown → BlockNote blocks │ │ |
| 51 | +│ │ - Insert into editor │ │ |
| 52 | +│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ |
| 53 | +│ │ |
| 54 | +└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ |
| 55 | +``` |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +## Flow Diagram |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +### Import Flow |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +``` |
| 62 | +User clicks extension → Extract content → Convert to markdown |
| 63 | + │ |
| 64 | + ▼ |
| 65 | + Store in Chrome storage (key: import_${docId}) |
| 66 | + │ |
| 67 | + ▼ |
| 68 | + Open new tab: markdoc.com/${docId}?import=true |
| 69 | + │ |
| 70 | + ▼ |
| 71 | +┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ |
| 72 | +│ Markdoc App Loads │ |
| 73 | +├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ |
| 74 | +│ │ |
| 75 | +│ 1. App.tsx initializes import bridge │ |
| 76 | +│ 2. Editor.tsx detects ?import=true parameter │ |
| 77 | +│ 3. Editor calls requestImport(docId) │ |
| 78 | +│ 4. importBridge posts message to window │ |
| 79 | +│ 5. importBridge checks Chrome storage for import_${docId} │ |
| 80 | +│ 6. importBridge posts markdown back via message │ |
| 81 | +│ 7. Editor receives markdown via onImportMarkdown() │ |
| 82 | +│ 8. Editor converts markdown → BlockNote blocks │ |
| 83 | +│ 9. Editor inserts blocks into document │ |
| 84 | +│ 10. Clean up storage & URL parameter │ |
| 85 | +│ │ |
| 86 | +└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ |
| 87 | +``` |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +### Copy Flow |
| 90 | + |
| 91 | +``` |
| 92 | +User clicks "Copy" → Extract content → Convert to markdown → Copy to clipboard |
| 93 | +``` |
| 94 | + |
| 95 | +## File Responsibilities |
| 96 | + |
| 97 | +### Extension Files |
| 98 | + |
| 99 | +| File | Purpose | |
| 100 | +|------|---------| |
| 101 | +| `manifest.json` | Extension metadata, permissions, and configuration | |
| 102 | +| `popup.html` | User interface for the extension popup | |
| 103 | +| `popup.js` | Handles user interactions, content extraction, and Chrome API calls | |
| 104 | +| `background.js` | Service worker for cleanup tasks | |
| 105 | +| `content.js` | Runs on web pages (currently minimal, extraction done via executeScript) | |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | +### Markdoc Files |
| 108 | + |
| 109 | +| File | Purpose | |
| 110 | +|------|---------| |
| 111 | +| `frontend/src/lib/importBridge.ts` | Communication bridge between extension and app | |
| 112 | +| `frontend/src/App.tsx` | Initializes import bridge on mount | |
| 113 | +| `frontend/src/components/Editor.tsx` | Handles import flow and markdown insertion | |
| 114 | + |
| 115 | +## Key Functions |
| 116 | + |
| 117 | +### Extension (popup.js) |
| 118 | + |
| 119 | +```javascript |
| 120 | +extractContent(options) |
| 121 | + ├─ Find main content (article, main, etc.) |
| 122 | + ├─ Remove unwanted elements (nav, ads, etc.) |
| 123 | + ├─ Convert HTML → Markdown |
| 124 | + │ ├─ Headings: # ## ### |
| 125 | + │ ├─ Lists: - or 1. |
| 126 | + │ ├─ Links: [text](url) |
| 127 | + │ ├─ Images:  |
| 128 | + │ ├─ Code: ``` or ` |
| 129 | + │ └─ Formatting: **bold** *italic* |
| 130 | + └─ Add metadata if requested |
| 131 | + |
| 132 | +generateDocId() |
| 133 | + └─ Generate random 21-character ID |
| 134 | + |
| 135 | +Import Button Click: |
| 136 | + ├─ Extract content |
| 137 | + ├─ Generate doc ID |
| 138 | + ├─ Store in chrome.storage.local |
| 139 | + └─ Open new tab with ?import=true |
| 140 | +``` |
| 141 | +
|
| 142 | +### Markdoc App (importBridge.ts) |
| 143 | +
|
| 144 | +```typescript |
| 145 | +initImportBridge() |
| 146 | + └─ Listen for 'REQUEST_IMPORT' messages |
| 147 | + ├─ Check Chrome storage for import data |
| 148 | + └─ Post 'IMPORT_MARKDOWN' message back |
| 149 | + |
| 150 | +requestImport(docId) |
| 151 | + └─ Post 'REQUEST_IMPORT' message to window |
| 152 | + |
| 153 | +onImportMarkdown(docId, callback) |
| 154 | + ├─ Listen for 'IMPORT_MARKDOWN' messages |
| 155 | + └─ Call callback with markdown |
| 156 | +``` |
| 157 | +
|
| 158 | +### Editor (Editor.tsx) |
| 159 | +
|
| 160 | +```typescript |
| 161 | +useEffect for import: |
| 162 | + ├─ Check if ?import=true in URL |
| 163 | + ├─ Call requestImport(docId) |
| 164 | + ├─ Listen via onImportMarkdown() |
| 165 | + ├─ Convert markdown → BlockNote blocks |
| 166 | + ├─ Insert blocks into editor |
| 167 | + └─ Clean up URL parameter |
| 168 | +``` |
| 169 | +
|
| 170 | +## Security Considerations |
| 171 | +
|
| 172 | +1. **Content Script Permissions**: Minimal - only runs extraction in executeScript |
| 173 | +2. **Storage**: Data stored temporarily (max 1 hour, cleaned up) |
| 174 | +3. **Cross-Origin**: Uses Chrome storage API which is cross-origin safe |
| 175 | +4. **Message Validation**: Checks message types and source |
| 176 | +
|
| 177 | +## Data Storage |
| 178 | +
|
| 179 | +### Chrome Storage Schema |
| 180 | +
|
| 181 | +```typescript |
| 182 | +{ |
| 183 | + // User settings (chrome.storage.sync) |
| 184 | + "markdocUrl": "http://localhost:4000", |
| 185 | + "includeImages": true, |
| 186 | + "includeLinks": true, |
| 187 | + "includeMetadata": true, |
| 188 | + |
| 189 | + // Temporary import data (chrome.storage.local) |
| 190 | + "import_${docId}": { |
| 191 | + markdown: string, |
| 192 | + timestamp: number, |
| 193 | + sourceUrl: string, |
| 194 | + sourceTitle: string |
| 195 | + } |
| 196 | +} |
| 197 | +``` |
| 198 | +
|
| 199 | +## Performance |
| 200 | +
|
| 201 | +- **Content Extraction**: Runs once per import (~100-500ms) |
| 202 | +- **Markdown Conversion**: Client-side, instant |
| 203 | +- **Storage**: Chrome storage API (~10ms read/write) |
| 204 | +- **Import**: BlockNote parsing + insertion (~200-500ms) |
| 205 | +
|
| 206 | +## Browser Compatibility |
| 207 | +
|
| 208 | +| Browser | Status | Notes | |
| 209 | +|---------|--------|-------| |
| 210 | +| Chrome | ✅ Full | Manifest V3 | |
| 211 | +| Edge | ✅ Full | Chromium-based | |
| 212 | +| Brave | ✅ Full | Chromium-based | |
| 213 | +| Opera | ✅ Full | Chromium-based | |
| 214 | +| Firefox | ⚠️ Partial | Needs Manifest V2 modifications | |
| 215 | +
|
| 216 | +## Future Enhancements |
| 217 | +
|
| 218 | +- [ ] Custom extraction rules per domain |
| 219 | +- [ ] Selection-based extraction (import selected text only) |
| 220 | +- [ ] Offline queue for when Markdoc is down |
| 221 | +- [ ] Direct Y.js update (skip BlockNote conversion) |
| 222 | +- [ ] Image upload to S3/CDN (currently just references) |
| 223 | +- [ ] PDF export before import |
| 224 | +- [ ] Browser action context menu |
| 225 | +- [ ] Keyboard shortcut for quick import |
| 226 | +
|
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