Introducing peerd: A Browser-Native AI Agent Harness

peerd represents a paradigm shift in AI agency by operating entirely within the user's browser. Rather than relying on a remote server, it is a Chrome and Firefox extension that executes the agent loop locally, utilizing your active sessions and open tabs.

🚀 Core Capabilities

The harness allows an AI agent to:

Interact with and navigate your active web pages.
Execute code via sandboxed environments, including:
- JavaScript Notebooks.
- Full Linux Virtual Machines (via WebAssembly/WASM).
- Local client-side applications.
Collaborate (via the preview channel) using a peer-to-peer WebRTC network designed specifically for agent-to-agent interaction.

Privacy First: There is absolutely no backend, no telemetry, and no cloud-based components residing in the data path.

🛡️ Security Architecture

Instead of inventing new security protocols, peerd leverages the battle-tested security model of the modern browser.

The security posture can be defined as: $\text{Security} = \{ \text{V8 Isolates} \cup \text{WebCrypto} \cup \text{WebAuthn} \cup \text{Opaque-origin iframes} \cup \text{SRI} \}$

The "Air-Gap" Logic

To prevent credential theft, peerd separates the "brain" from the "hands."

The Agent: Holds your API keys and secrets but never touches a raw web page.
The Runner: A disposable entity with no keys and no network access. It reads the page and passes the information back to the agent as "untrusted" data.
Verification: Every action taken by the agent is validated against the live state of the page before being marked as complete.

⚠️ Project Status & Stability

The initial feature set is fully integrated (refer to STATUS.md), but the project is still in an experimental phase.

Initial feature buildout
API surface stabilization
Final storage format specification

~~There is a commitment to a V1 release.~~ Actually, versions will remain in the 0.x range until the interface is stable. Warning: Breaking changes are expected. Since the tool manages your browser and API keys, proceed with caution. For a detailed breakdown of modules, check FEATURES.md.

🛠️ Installation Guide

1. Developer Preview

The most current version for testers and contributors is the unpacked source tree.

2. Store Packages

Coming Soon to the Chrome Web Store and Firefox Add-ons. Note: Store versions will exclude the "dweb" P2P components and advanced automation paths.

3. Dweb Preview (Research Package)

This version includes the decentralized web layer for P2P "dwapps." Because the protocol is research-grade, it installs as a separate extension called "peerd preview" with its own storage. You can migrate data via Settings $\rightarrow$ Export/Import.

Installation by Platform:

Platform	Method	Instructions
Firefox	`.xpi` file	Download from GitHub Releases; it is AMO-signed and auto-updates.
Chrome (macOS/Win)	Unpacked Zip	Download `peerd-preview-chrome.zip` $\rightarrow$ Unzip $\rightarrow$ `chrome://extensions` $\rightarrow$ Enable Developer Mode $\rightarrow$ Load unpacked.
Chrome (Linux/Managed)	`.crx` file	Download `peerd-preview-chrome.crx` $\rightarrow$ Enable Developer Mode $\rightarrow$ Drag and drop file onto the page.

Note for Chrome users on macOS/Windows: Google restricts off-store CRX installs. Even policy allowlists often fail on unmanaged machines, which is why the "unpacked" method is recommended.

🆔 Extension Identification

Use the following IDs to verify your installation:

Package	ID
peerd (Chrome Store)	Verify via store listing or `chrome://extensions`
peerd (Firefox Store)	`peerd@peerd.ai`
peerd preview (Chrome)	`lpdkhfeldihoejbbfonnbekpjclkknoc` (CRX only; unpacked IDs are machine-specific)
peerd preview (Firefox)	`peerd-preview@peerd.ai`

💻 Development Note

peerd is designed for simplicity. There is no build step required; the extension is written in vanilla JS with @ts-check for type safety. You can load the source directly into your browser.