An AI-powered Chrome extension that provides progressive hints for Data Structures & Algorithms problems, helping students learn problem-solving skills without giving away complete solutions.

• Progressive Hints: Get 3 levels of hints (General Direction → Data Structure/Algorithm → Optimization/Edge Cases)
• Side Panel Interface: Clean, modern UI that stays open while solving problems
• Auto-Detection: Automatically detects DSA problems from LeetCode and GeeksforGeeks
• Manual Input: Paste problem statements manually for any DSA problem
• History Tracking: Save and revisit previous queries
• Gemini 1.5 Flash API: Powered by Google's latest AI model for intelligent hint generation

• Google Chrome browser (version 88+)
• Gemini API key from Google AI Studio

1. Download/Clone this repository to your local machine

2. Get API Key:

   • Visit Google AI Studio
   • Create a new API key
   • Copy the key for later use

3. Load Extension:

   • Open Chrome and go to chrome://extensions/
   • Enable "Developer mode" (toggle in top right)
   • Click "Load unpacked"
   • Select the extension folder

4. Set API Key:

   • Click the extension icon or open the side panel
   • Enter your Gemini API key when prompted
   • Click "Save & Test API Key"
   • The extension will test and save your key securely

For detailed API setup instructions, see API_SETUP.md

dsa-hints-extension/
│── manifest.json          # Extension configuration
│── sidepanel.html         # Main UI interface
│── sidepanel.css          # Styling and animations
│── sidepanel.js           # Main functionality and UI logic
│── config.js              # Configuration and API key management
│── api-service.js         # Gemini API service with error handling
│── background.js          # Service worker for background tasks
│── content.js             # Content script for problem detection
│── utils/
│     └── prompt.js        # AI prompt templates and utilities
│── icons/                 # Extension icons (16x16, 48x48, 128x128)
│── .env                   # Environment variables (create this file)
│── .gitignore            # Git ignore rules
│── API_SETUP.md          # Detailed API setup guide
└── README.md             # This file

• Method 1: Click the extension icon in the toolbar
• Method 2: Right-click on any page → "Open DSA Hints Coach"
• Method 3: Use keyboard shortcut (if configured)

1. Auto-Detection: Visit LeetCode or GeeksforGeeks problem pages
2. Manual Input: Paste any DSA problem statement in the textarea
3. Click "Get Hint": Receive 3 progressive hints
4. Review History: Click on previous queries to reload them

• LeetCode: leetcode.com/problems/*
• GeeksforGeeks: geeksforgeeks.org/problems/* and geeksforgeeks.org/practice/*

The extension uses Gemini 1.5 Flash API with the following configuration:

• Temperature: 0.7 (balanced creativity and consistency)
• Max Tokens: 800 (sufficient for detailed hints)
• Model: gemini-1.5-flash (latest and fastest)

• API Key: Stored securely in Chrome sync storage
• Query History: Last 10 queries stored locally
• Detected Problems: Automatically cached for quick access

• Modify sidepanel.css to change colors, fonts, and layout
• The extension uses CSS custom properties for easy theming
• Responsive design included for different screen sizes

• Edit utils/prompt.js to customize AI behavior
• Modify hint categories and generation rules
• Add new prompt templates for different problem types

1. "Failed to generate hints" Error

   • Check if your API key is valid and properly saved
   • The extension will test your API key when you save it
   • Verify you haven't exceeded API usage limits
   • Check your internet connection

2. "Invalid API key" Error

   • Ensure you've entered the correct Gemini API key
   • Check that the key has proper permissions
   • Try regenerating the key from Google AI Studio
   • Make sure the key starts with "AIza..."

3. "Rate limit exceeded" Error

   • You've hit the API usage limit (15 requests per minute)
   • Wait a minute and try again
   • Consider upgrading your API quota if needed

4. "Network error" Error

   • Check your internet connection
   • Try refreshing the page
   • Check if Google's servers are accessible

5. Side Panel Not Opening

   • Check if the extension is properly loaded
   • Try refreshing the page
   • Ensure Chrome version supports side panels (88+)

6. Problem Detection Not Working

   • Verify you're on a supported website (LeetCode, GeeksforGeeks)
   • Check if content scripts are enabled
   • Try refreshing the page

• Open Chrome DevTools
• Check the Console tab for error messages
• Look for messages from "DSA Hints Coach"

• Gamification: Track hint usage and provide achievements
• Problem Categories: Organize problems by difficulty and topic
• Custom Hints: Allow users to create and share hint sets
• Code Analysis: Analyze user code and provide specific feedback
• Learning Paths: Suggest related problems and concepts
• Offline Mode: Cache hints for offline access

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Test thoroughly
5. Submit a pull request

This project is open source and available under the MIT License.

• Google AI Studio for providing the Gemini API
• Chrome Extensions Team for the side panel API
• DSA Community for inspiration and feedback

If you encounter any issues or have suggestions:

• Open an issue on GitHub
• Check the troubleshooting section above
• Ensure you're using the latest version

Happy Coding! 🚀

Remember: The goal is to learn, not just to solve. Use hints wisely and understand the concepts behind each approach.