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Getting Started

This guide will help you install and set up IntelliPen for the first time.

Prerequisites

Before installing IntelliPen, ensure your system meets these requirements:

System Requirements

System Requirements

  • Chrome Version: 138+ (stable channel)
  • Operating System: Windows 10+, macOS 13+, Linux, or ChromeOS
  • Storage: At least 22 GB free space for Gemini Nano model
  • GPU: 4+ GB VRAM for AI processing
  • Network: Unmetered connection for initial model download

Checking Chrome Version

  1. Open Chrome
  2. Navigate to chrome://version/
  3. Check that your version is 138 or higher
  4. If not, update Chrome to the latest stable version

Installation

Development Installation

Since IntelliPen is currently in development, install it as an unpacked extension:

git clone https://github.com/vietanhdev/IntelliPen.git
cd IntelliPen

npm install

npm run build
  1. Open Chrome and navigate to chrome://extensions/
  2. Enable "Developer mode" (toggle in top right)
  3. Click "Load unpacked"
  4. Select the dist folder from the IntelliPen directory
  • You should see the IntelliPen icon in your Chrome toolbar
  • Click the icon to open the popup menu
  • Check that API status indicators show availability

Initial Setup

1. Grant Permissions

When you first use IntelliPen, you'll need to grant certain permissions:

  • Storage: For saving documents and preferences
  • Active Tab: For context menu integration
  • Microphone (optional): For meeting recording features

2. Download Gemini Nano Model

Large Download

Chrome will automatically download the Gemini Nano model (approximately 22 GB) when you first use AI features. This may take 10-30 minutes depending on your connection.

Chrome will automatically download the Gemini Nano model when you first use AI features:

  1. Click the IntelliPen icon to open the sidepanel
  2. Try using any AI feature (grammar check, translation, etc.)
  3. Chrome will prompt to download the model
  4. Wait for the download to complete
  5. Once complete, all AI features will be available

3. Check API Availability

To verify all APIs are working:

  1. Click the IntelliPen icon in the toolbar
  2. The popup shows real-time status for each API:
    • Green badge: API is available
    • Yellow badge: API is downloading/initializing
    • Red badge: API is unavailable

First Steps

Opening IntelliPen

There are three ways to access IntelliPen:

  1. Extension Icon: Click the IntelliPen icon in the toolbar to open the sidepanel
  2. Right-click Menu: Select text on any webpage, right-click, and choose:
    • "Edit with IntelliPen" - Opens editor with selected text
    • "Translate with IntelliPen" - Shows quick translate overlay
  3. Keyboard Shortcut (optional): Configure in chrome://extensions/shortcuts

Exploring the Interface

IntelliPen has three main screens:

  • Editor Screen

    • Rich text editor with AI writing assistance
    • Grammar checking, writing improvement, tone adjustment
    • Document management and export

  • Translator Screen

    • Multi-language translation with auto-detection
    • Text-to-speech for source and target languages
    • Character counter and language swap

  • Meeting Screen

    • Audio recording with device selection
    • Live transcription with timestamps
    • AI-powered meeting analysis

Switch between screens using the navigation buttons at the top.

Troubleshooting

APIs Not Available

If APIs show as unavailable:

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Ensure Chrome version is 138+
  2. Check that you have sufficient storage (22+ GB free)
  3. Verify GPU meets requirements (4+ GB VRAM)
  4. Wait for Gemini Nano model download to complete
  5. Restart Chrome and try again

Extension Not Loading

If the extension doesn't load:

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Check that you selected the dist folder (not the root folder)
  2. Ensure the build completed successfully (npm run build)
  3. Check Chrome DevTools console for errors
  4. Try removing and re-adding the extension

Running Tests (Optional)

If you're interested in development or contributing, IntelliPen includes comprehensive automated tests:

# Install Chrome for Testing
npm run test:install-chrome

# Run all tests with visible browser
npm test

# Run tests in headless mode (faster)
npm run test:headless

See the Testing Guide for detailed information about the test suite.

Next Steps

Now that you have IntelliPen installed and set up: