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Browser Extension Setup

The CivicOS browser extension is the primary user interface. It runs as a Chrome side panel showing civic data for your jurisdiction.

Install (End Users)

Chrome Web Store listing coming soon.

For now, install from source:

  1. Clone the repository and build: 

    cd apps/civicos-extension
npm install
npm run build

  2. Open Chrome and go to chrome://extensions

  3. Enable Developer mode (top right toggle)
  4. Click Load unpacked and select apps/civicos-extension/dist
  5. Click the CivicOS icon in your toolbar, then Open City Pulse

What You'll See

The side panel shows collapsible sections:

  • Meetings — Upcoming council meetings with dates, locations, and agendas
  • Agenda Items — Current items with AI-enriched summaries, voice counts, and stance buttons
  • Decisions — Past decisions with outcomes and vote records
  • Issue Map — Community issues (311/SeeClickFix) plotted geographically
  • Budget — Municipal budget breakdown by department
  • Initiatives — Community-submitted initiatives with attestation badges

Identity

The extension manages a local Nostr identity (secp256k1 Schnorr keys):

  1. Click the extension icon and go to Settings
  2. Under Identity, create a new identity or import from a recovery phrase (BIP-39 mnemonic)
  3. Set a password to encrypt the key (stored in chrome.storage.local, never leaves your device)
  4. Unlock at the start of each session — lock state clears when the browser closes

The extension also acts as a NIP-07 provider, injecting window.nostr for compatible websites.

Voice (Stances)

On any agenda item, you can express: - Support — you're in favor - Oppose — you're against - Watching — you're tracking but not taking a position

Stances are stored locally and submitted to the CivicOS relay with your Nostr signature.

Settings

Access via the extension icon > Settings:

  • Jurisdiction — Select your active city
  • AI Provider — Choose from: CivicOS proxy (default, no key needed), Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, Ollama (local), or Chrome Nano (on-device)
  • Theme — Light, dark, or auto
  • Civic Journal — Local markdown notes that feed into AI context
  • Profile — Name, neighborhood, interests (stored locally only)
  • Endpoints — API server, relay URL, personal MCP server URL

Attestation

If you receive a single-use attestation code from an administrator:

  1. Go to Settings > Identity
  2. Enter the code and click Redeem
  3. The extension signs a Nostr attestation event and submits it to the relay
  4. Your voice submissions will include the attestation proof