SideAsk v0.7.0 — Browser First + SideAsk Anywhere

SideAsk v0.7.0 — Browser First, Anywhere When You Want It

SideAsk remains a browser-first AI side-question layer: select a phrase, click ✦ Explain, understand it beside the source, and stay on the main track.

喜欢网页端的划词体验后，现在可以选择安装 SideAsk Anywhere for Windows，把同样的交互带到 VS Code、PDF、终端和其他 Windows 应用。

What is included

• Browser extension first: safe Markdown streaming, nearby web context, follow-up questions, Recent, Favorites, bilingual UI, and 25 Provider presets.
• Optional Windows companion: global Alt+Shift+A, an opt-in selection-adjacent Explain button, lightweight WebView2 overlay, tray controls, and click-away dismissal.
• Configure once on Windows: browser and desktop share one loopback Gateway, default Provider, and encrypted on-device Provider Vault.
• No account or cloud sync: browser history and favorites stay in extension-private storage; Provider credentials remain in the local Vault.
• Simpler project: the redundant v0.6 VS Code side panel has been removed in favor of the standalone overlay.

Downloads

• sideask-browser-extension-v0.7.0.zip — Chrome/Edge unpacked extension; use with the Local Gateway.
• sideask-local-gateway-v0.7.0.zip — standalone Gateway for browser-only, macOS, or Linux setups; requires Node.js 20+.
• sideask-desktop-v0.7.0-windows-x64.zip — optional portable Windows companion with Gateway and Node.js included.
• SHA256SUMS-v0.7.0.txt — checksums for all three user downloads.

The Windows package is currently unsigned. Verify its checksum if SmartScreen identifies it as an unrecognized app.

Full changes: CHANGELOG.md · English setup · 中文说明

SideAsk v0.6.0 — SideAsk Anywhere

SideAsk v0.6.0 — SideAsk Anywhere

Select anywhere. Ask in place. Stay on track.

v0.6 brings SideAsk's focused side-question workflow from the browser into VS Code—and makes both clients feel like one local product.

Highlights

• VS Code Companion: select code and press Alt+Shift+A for an independent streaming Markdown conversation beside the file.
• Codex Chat and terminal input: copy the intended text and run SideAsk: Ask about Clipboard. SideAsk does not inspect another extension's UI.
• One Provider setup: the browser and VS Code share the same 25-profile catalog, saved Providers, and default model through the Local Gateway.
• Encrypted local Vault: API keys are encrypted on device with AES-256-GCM and are never returned to either client.
• No account or cloud sync: recent browser questions and favorites remain browser-local; Provider configuration stays on this computer.
• Safe upgrade: legacy browser and VS Code Provider records migrate once, non-destructively.

Install

• Browser developer install: download or clone the source, run the Gateway, then load the extension/ folder unpacked.
• VS Code: download sideask-vscode-0.6.0.vsix, then choose Extensions → … → Install from VSIX….
• Gateway-only archive: sideask-gateway.zip.
• Store submission packages are attached for Chrome Web Store and Microsoft Edge Add-ons.

Start the v0.6 Gateway before opening Provider settings. Configure a Provider in either the browser or VS Code; the other client will use it immediately.

See Updating SideAsk, the VS Code guide, and the full changelog.

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SideAsk v0.6.0 — 随处可用的支线提问

v0.6 把 SideAsk 从浏览器带进 VS Code，并让两个入口共用同一套本机配置。

• 在编辑器选中代码，按 Alt+Shift+A，在文件旁打开独立的流式 Markdown 支线对话。
• 从 Codex Chat、终端或其他隔离界面复制文字后，运行 SideAsk: 询问剪贴板内容。
• 浏览器与 VS Code 共用 25 个 Provider Catalog、已保存 Provider 和默认模型；配置一次，两端使用。
• API Key 使用 AES-256-GCM 加密保存在 Gateway 本机 Vault，不会返回浏览器或 VS Code。
• 不需要 SideAsk 账户，也没有云端同步。
• 旧浏览器和 VS Code Provider 配置会一次性、非破坏迁移。

升级时请先启动 v0.6 Gateway，再打开 Provider 设置。完整步骤见中文更新指南和中文 VS Code 指南。

Automated acceptance: 41 tests passed across browser, Gateway, Provider Vault, and VS Code Companion.

SideAsk v0.5.0 — Provider Catalog

SideAsk v0.5.0 — Provider Catalog

SideAsk now supports a broad Provider ecosystem without adding accounts, cloud sync, or a complex setup workflow.

Highlights

• 25 declarative Provider profiles across first-party APIs, routers, inference platforms, local models, and custom endpoints.
• Native Anthropic Messages streaming and shared OpenAI-compatible transport.
• OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI, MiniMax, DeepSeek, Qwen, Z.AI / BigModel, OpenRouter, Vercel AI Gateway, Perplexity, Hugging Face, Fireworks AI, Groq, Mistral, Together AI, Cerebras, NVIDIA NIM, SiliconFlow, Ollama, LM Studio, and custom endpoints.
• Test an unsaved Provider and fetch its live model list before saving.
• Keyless local Ollama and LM Studio profiles.
• Existing MiniMax and custom Provider settings remain compatible.

Install or update

• New users: download the Chrome or Edge ZIP, extract it, and load the extracted folder from the browser's extensions page. Start the local Gateway separately.
• Existing Git users: pull main, restart the Gateway, then reload SideAsk from chrome://extensions/ or edge://extensions/.
• Existing ZIP users: preserve server/.env, replace files in the existing installation path, restart the Gateway, and reload the extension.

Read Updating SideAsk or 更新 SideAsk before replacing an unpacked installation.

The Chrome and Edge archives are unsigned store-submission ZIPs; extract them before using Load unpacked. The store submission kit also contains listing copy, reviewer notes, screenshots, and privacy materials.

Verification

• SideAsk MVP verification passed.
• 30 automated tests passed.
• Credential scan passed.
• Gateway and Preview health checks passed with all 25 Providers registered.

No real Provider credentials are included and no paid model calls were made during verification.

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SideAsk 现在通过简洁的声明式目录支持 25 个 Provider，并继续保持免账号、local-first 与 BYOK。现有用户请保留 server/.env，在原安装路径覆盖文件、重启 Gateway，并在扩展管理页重新加载 SideAsk。详细步骤见上方中英文更新指南。

SideAsk v0.3.1 — Store-ready onboarding

SideAsk v0.3.1 is the store-ready release candidate for Chrome Web Store and Microsoft Edge Add-ons.

Highlights:

• Bilingual first-run guide for Gateway, Provider, privacy consent, optional website access, and a real first selection.
• Store-safe optional HTTP/HTTPS host permissions instead of broad access at install time.
• Localized manifest metadata, five screenshots per language, promotional tiles, privacy declarations, and reviewer notes.
• Custom Provider endpoints now require HTTPS except for loopback development.

Assets:

• Chrome Web Store upload ZIP
• Microsoft Edge Add-ons upload ZIP
• Stable sideask-gateway.zip companion download
• Complete store submission kit

Verification: 27 automated tests passed; manifest paths, DOM references, image dimensions, ZIP roots, and credential scan passed.

SideAsk v0.3.0 MVP — English / 中文

What's new

• Persistent English / Simplified Chinese switching across the dashboard and floating panel.
• Locale-aware quick prompts and Gateway system prompts, so answers follow the selected interface language.
• A 23-second real-interface walkthrough GIF and a complete English screenshot set.
• 26 passing automated tests covering localization, prompts, Markdown, providers, storage, and privacy boundaries.

Install

1. Download sideask-extension-v0.3.0.zip below.
2. Unzip it.
3. Open chrome://extensions/ or edge://extensions/.
4. Enable Developer mode and choose Load unpacked.
5. Select the unzipped folder, start the local Gateway, and configure your provider.

SideAsk v0.2.5 MVP

SideAsk keeps AI side questions beside the page so readers can understand a concept, return to the source, and preserve the learning trail.

Highlights:

• Context-aware selection and nearby-content prompts
• Streaming Markdown answers and multi-turn follow-ups
• Return-to-source anchors
• Local Learning Branch, knowledge, and weakness state
• MiniMax CN / Global and Custom OpenAI-compatible providers
• Local-first BYOK architecture

Install:

1. Download and unzip sideask-extension-v0.2.5.zip.
2. Start the Local Gateway from the source repository with npm start.
3. Load the unzipped extension folder from chrome://extensions or edge://extensions.
4. Add and test a Provider in the SideAsk dashboard.

SHA-256 (extension zip): A3D88F419028DF249447CC95BE9D1CA519DF7D492BF4FC2FA46E91400CC258F5