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+[![](https://deepwiki.com/badge.svg)](https://deepwiki.com/ccleberg/crumb)
+
+Crumb is a local-only browser history tracker. It consists of two parts:
+a WebExtension-based browser plugin and a local HTTP server. Crumb logs
+each visited web page to a plaintext file in Org-mode format.
+
+# Components
+
+- Browser extension (WebExtension API, JavaScript)
+- Local HTTP listener (Python + Flask)
+- Plaintext log file (~/.crumb/history.log)
+
+# Functionality
+
+Each time a page is loaded in the browser, the extension sends the page
+metadata to the local server. The server appends this data to a
+structured log file.
+
+Data captured per page:
+
+- Page title
+- URL
+- Timestamp (UTC)
+- Hostname
+- Path
+- Optional: query string, tab ID, window ID, favicon URL
+
+The log is formatted as an Org-mode file, with one top-level heading per
+visit and standard `:PROPERTIES:` metadata.
+
+# Requirements
+
+- Python 3.x
+- Flask
+- A Chromium-based or Firefox browser with extension developer mode
+ enabled
+
+# Usage
+
+1. Start the local listener:
+
+ ``` shell
+ python3 -m venv venv
+ source ./venv/bin/activate
+ pip install -r requirements.txt
+ python server.py
+ ```
+
+2. Load the extension into your browser:
+
+ - Enable Developer Mode
+ - Load the `crumb_extension/` directory
+
+3. Browse the web. Entries will appear in `~/.crumb/history.org`
+
+4. Search the log using:
+
+ ``` shell
+ python search.py <term>
+ ```
+
+# Example Log Entry
+
+``` org
+* Example Domain
+:PROPERTIES:
+:URL: http://example.com
+:TIMESTAMP: 2025-06-04T20:31:01.123456
+:HOST: example.com
+:PATH: /
+:TAB: 143
+:WINDOW: 1
+:FAVICON: https://example.com/favicon.ico
+:END:
+```
+
+# Preview Images
+
+Screenshots of Crumb in use.
+
+<figure>
+<img src="./screenshots/devtools.png" />
+<figcaption>Developer Console Output</figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<figure>
+<img src="./screenshots/history.png" />
+<figcaption>Org-Mode History Log</figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<figure>
+<img src="./screenshots/search.png" />
+<figcaption>Search Utility in Terminal</figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+# Limitations
+
+- Browser extensions cannot write files directly; communication requires
+ the local server.
+- History is stored in plaintext and is not encrypted. You can bolt-on a
+ third-party encryption tool, if required.
+- Data is stored locally and is never transmitted externally.
+
+# License
+
+GPL 3.0 License. See LICENSE file.