Version: 1.0.0 Status: Design Phase - Ready for Review Date: 2026-01-15
This directory contains comprehensive design documentation for the allow2automate-webbrowsers plugin, which enables browser activity tracking and internet time management for parental control.
1. FEASIBILITY.md (41 KB)
Detailed feasibility analysis of different approaches
Evaluates three implementation strategies:
- Process-Level Detection (Simple, privacy-friendly)
- Browser Extension + Native Messaging (Detailed, complex)
- Hybrid Approach (Recommended)
Key Findings:
- ✅ Hybrid approach provides best balance of functionality, privacy, and complexity
- ✅ Basic mode works immediately with zero setup
- ✅ Enhanced mode is opt-in for families who want detailed tracking
- ✅ 95%+ browser detection accuracy achievable
- ✅ Medium development effort (2 weeks initial, ~8 days/year maintenance)
Recommendation: Proceed with hybrid approach
2. OVERVIEW.md (22 KB)
Plugin purpose and recommended approach
Non-technical overview covering:
- Core Features: Basic vs Enhanced mode capabilities
- Real-World Use Cases: 6 detailed scenarios
- Privacy Considerations: Two-tier privacy model
- Installation & Setup: Step-by-step instructions
- Reporting & Dashboard: Usage reports for parents
- Roadmap: Future enhancements
Key Highlights:
- Simple "internet time" tracking (basic mode)
- Optional per-site and category tracking (enhanced mode)
- Privacy-first design with parental consent
- Cross-platform and cross-browser support
3. ARCHITECTURE.md (41 KB)
Technical design and implementation details
Comprehensive technical specification including:
- System Architecture: Component diagrams and interactions
- Plugin Lifecycle: Initialization, monitoring, state management
- Basic Mode: Process-level detection implementation
- Enhanced Mode: Browser extension and native messaging
- Data Flow: Complete data flow diagrams
- API Design: Detailed code examples
- State Management: Configuration and database schemas
- Testing Strategy: Unit and integration tests
Implementation-Ready:
- Complete code examples for all components
- Database schemas
- Error handling patterns
- Performance considerations
- Security measures
4. BROWSER_EXTENSION.md (26 KB)
Extension design and development guide
Complete browser extension specification:
- Manifest Files: Chrome (V3) and Firefox (V2) manifests
- Background Script: Full implementation (~500 lines)
- Native Messaging: Protocol design and host setup
- Website Classification: Algorithm and patterns
- Blocking Implementation: Real-time site blocking
- Testing: Manual and automated test procedures
- Publishing: Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons
Developer-Ready:
- Copy-paste manifest.json files
- Complete background.js implementation
- Native messaging protocol
- Blocked page UI/UX
- Publishing checklist
5. PRIVACY.md (16 KB)
Privacy considerations and data collection policies
Legal and privacy compliance documentation:
- Data Collection by Mode: Exactly what data is collected
- COPPA Compliance: Children's privacy protection
- GDPR Compliance: EU data protection rights
- Security Measures: Encryption, access control
- Data Retention: Automatic deletion policies
- User Rights: Access, delete, export data
- Consent Forms: Parental consent templates
Compliance-Ready:
- COPPA-compliant consent flow
- GDPR data subject rights
- Transparent privacy policy
- Security best practices
Rationale:
- Immediate Value: Works out-of-box with process-level detection
- User Choice: Privacy-conscious families stay in basic mode
- Gradual Adoption: Upgrade to enhanced mode when ready
- Best ROI: Balanced cost vs features
- Lower Risk: Basic mode always works as fallback
Phase 1: Basic Mode (Week 1)
- Process-level browser detection
- Total internet time tracking
- Browser blocking on quota exhaustion
- Basic activity reports
Phase 2: Enhanced Mode Foundation (Week 2)
- Browser extension architecture
- Native messaging host
- Chrome/Chromium extension
- Auto-detection and fallback
Phase 3: Enhanced Features (Week 3)
- Per-site time tracking
- Website category classification
- Idle detection
- Real-time blocking
- Detailed reports
Phase 4: Cross-Browser Support (Week 4)
- Firefox extension
- Edge compatibility
- Unified reporting
Phase 5: Polish & Launch (Week 5)
- Extension setup wizard
- Parent dashboard
- Privacy policy and consent
- Beta testing
| Component | Time | Lines of Code |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Mode | 3 days | ~400 lines |
| Enhanced Mode | 7 days | ~1100 lines |
| Tests & Docs | 3 days | ~500 lines |
| Total | 2 weeks | ~2000 lines |
- Basic Mode: ~2 days/year (OS API changes)
- Enhanced Mode: ~6 days/year (browser API updates)
- Total: ~8 days/year
| Platform | Basic | Enhanced |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10/11 | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| macOS 11+ | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Linux | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Browser | Basic | Enhanced |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Firefox | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Edge | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Safari | ✅ Excellent | |
| Brave | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
- Review FEASIBILITY.md for approach comparison
- Review OVERVIEW.md for feature set and use cases
- Review PRIVACY.md for compliance considerations
- Decide: Approve hybrid approach?
- Budget: Allocate 2 weeks development + 8 days/year maintenance
- Read ARCHITECTURE.md for implementation details
- Read BROWSER_EXTENSION.md for extension development
- Setup development environment
- Implement Phase 1 (basic mode) first
- Test across platforms before proceeding to Phase 2
- Review PRIVACY.md with legal counsel
- Customize consent forms for your brand
- Prepare marketing materials (basic vs enhanced comparison)
- Plan user education on privacy choices
- Setup GDPR/COPPA compliance processes
Q: Is this approach technically feasible? A: Yes. Process-level detection is proven technology. Browser extensions are well-established. Hybrid approach combines mature technologies.
Q: What are the main risks? A:
- Browser API changes (medium risk, mitigated by fallback to basic mode)
- Extension store approval delays (low risk, content policy compliant)
- User resistance to extension installation (mitigated by optional enhancement)
Q: Can this be done faster? A: Basic mode only: 1 week. But hybrid approach provides much better value.
Q: What about mobile browsers? A: Not in scope for v1.0. iOS/Android browser tracking requires different approach (mobile app + VPN or MDM). Planned for v1.1.
Q: How does this compare to competitors? A: Only solution with privacy-friendly basic mode + optional detailed tracking. Competitors force all-or-nothing approach.
Q: Is COPPA/GDPR compliance achievable? A: Yes. Basic mode requires no additional consent (service enrollment covers it). Enhanced mode has explicit opt-in consent flow. Both modes comply with regulations.
MD5 (FEASIBILITY.md) = [generated at build]
MD5 (OVERVIEW.md) = [generated at build]
MD5 (ARCHITECTURE.md) = [generated at build]
MD5 (BROWSER_EXTENSION.md) = [generated at build]
MD5 (PRIVACY.md) = [generated at build]
- v1.0.0 (2026-01-15): Initial design documentation
- Feasibility analysis complete
- Technical architecture defined
- Browser extension specification complete
- Privacy policy drafted
For technical questions:
- Email: dev@allow2automate.com
- Subject: WebBrowsers Plugin Design Review
For privacy/legal questions:
- Email: privacy@allow2automate.com
- Subject: WebBrowsers Plugin Privacy Review
For product questions:
- Email: product@allow2automate.com
- Subject: WebBrowsers Plugin Features
This design documentation is proprietary to Allow2Automate. Do not distribute without authorization.
Copyright © 2026 Allow2Automate. All rights reserved.
Status: Ready for stakeholder review and approval
Recommended Decision: Approve hybrid approach and proceed with Phase 1 implementation