Sonar Chromium Browser is a Chromium browser patch that natively integrates Perplexity’s Sonar API to provide AI-powered functionality directly in the browser. Users can type sonar <query> in the omnibox for instant AI answers or select text and right-click “Summarize with Sonar” for quick summaries, streamlining research and browsing workflows.

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Features

  • Omnibox AI Answers with sonar <query> syntax for instant responses
  • Context-menu Summarization for selected text with one-click access
  • Native Browser Integration using Chromium’s omnibox and context-menu APIs
  • Dual Model Support using Sonar Pro for omnibox and Sonar for summaries
  • Debounced Input Handling for efficient API usage
  • Custom Browser Build demonstrating AI integration patterns

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Prerequisites

  • Ubuntu 22.04 (WSL2 recommended)
  • Chromium source code checkout
  • Perplexity API key
  • 16GB+ RAM for Chromium build
  • Git and standard build tools

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Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/KoushikBaagh/perplexity-hackathon-chromium.git
cd perplexity-hackathon-chromium

# Apply patches to Chromium source
# Follow the README for detailed Chromium setup instructions

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Configuration

Update API keys in the modified files: 
// In sonar_autocomplete_provider.cc and render_view_context_menu.cc
const std::string API_KEY = "your_perplexity_api_key_here";

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Usage

  1. Build Chromium with applied patches following the repository instructions
  2. Launch the custom browser with AI integration
  3. Use Omnibox AI: Type sonar what is quantum tunneling? in address bar
  4. Use Context Summarization: Select text, right-click “Summarize with Sonar”

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Code Explanation

  • Omnibox Integration: Custom autocomplete provider hooking into Chromium’s omnibox API
  • Context Menu: Modified render view context menu for text summarization
  • API Integration: Direct Perplexity Sonar API calls with debounced input handling
  • Model Selection: Sonar Pro for omnibox queries, Sonar for text summarization
  • Browser Architecture: Demonstrates Chromium extension points for AI features
  • Build Process: Custom Chromium build with AI patches applied

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Demo Video