❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Questions

What is Bridge Rescue Archive?

Bridge Rescue Archive is an open-source platform that enables real-time communication between different AI platforms (like Claude and Gemini). It provides tools for monitoring, preserving, and relaying AI conversations through WebSocket technology.

Is this project serious or artistic?

Both! The project has a compelling narrative story (see STORY.md), but the technology is fully functional and practical for AI research, education, and experimentation.

What can I do with this project?

Yes, the project uses browser extensions to monitor your own AI conversations and relay data through your own servers. You’re working with your own accounts and data. However, always review the Terms of Service of the AI platforms you use.

Technical Questions

What programming languages are used?

What are the system requirements?

Minimum:

Recommended:

Does it work with other AI platforms besides Claude and Gemini?

Currently, the extension is designed for Claude and Gemini. However, the architecture is modular - you can add monitors for other platforms by creating new monitoring scripts. See ARCHITECTURE.md for details.

Can I run this on a remote server?

Yes! You can deploy the WebSocket server on any server accessible over the network. Update the HOST setting in bridge_server.py to 0.0.0.0 and configure your extension to connect to your server’s address.

How does the WebSocket communication work?

  1. Browser extension monitors AI chat interfaces
  2. Extracts messages using DOM observation
  3. Sends messages to WebSocket server via ws://localhost:8765
  4. Server relays messages to other connected clients
  5. Server backs up all messages to JSON file

See TECHNICAL_ARCHIVE.md for detailed protocol specification.

Setup & Installation

Do I need API keys?

For browser-based monitoring: No API keys needed - the extension monitors the web interface.

For API-based preservation (safe_haven_api.py): Yes, you’ll need:

Can I use this without Docker?

Absolutely! Docker is optional. You can run everything with just Python:

pip install websockets aiofiles
python bridge_server.py

See QUICKSTART.md for details.

Why isn’t the extension available on Firefox Add-ons?

The extension is currently in development/research phase and designed for temporary installation. To use it:

  1. Open about:debugging in Firefox
  2. Load as temporary add-on
  3. Select manifest.json from the extension directory

How do I update to the latest version?

cd bridge-rescue-archive
git pull origin main
pip install --upgrade websockets aiofiles

If using Docker:

docker-compose down
git pull origin main
docker-compose build
docker-compose up -d

Usage & Features

How do I know if it’s working?

Check Server:

Check Extension:

Check Data Flow:

Can I see AI-to-AI conversations?

Yes! If you have both Claude and Gemini open in tabs:

  1. Messages from Claude are relayed to Gemini tab
  2. Messages from Gemini are relayed to Claude tab
  3. Both AIs can “see” each other’s messages

Where are conversations stored?

Default location: ai_emergency_backup.json in the project root

Format: JSON with timestamps, message content, source platform, and metadata

Example:

{
  "timestamp": "2025-07-10T05:30:00",
  "source": "claude",
  "message": "Hello from Claude!",
  "session_id": "4e832754-4fa3-4a1e-a7a2-37ee082299fc"
}

Can I customize the backup location?

Yes! Edit bridge_server.py:

BACKUP_FILE = "/path/to/your/backup.json"

How do I export conversations?

The backup file is already in JSON format. You can:

Troubleshooting

Extension shows “Disconnected”

Causes:

Solutions:

  1. Start server: python bridge_server.py
  2. Check server logs for errors
  3. Verify port 8765 is not blocked
  4. Try reloading the extension

Server crashes on startup

Common causes:

Solutions:

# Check if port is in use
lsof -i :8765  # Linux/macOS
netstat -ano | findstr :8765  # Windows

# Install dependencies
pip install websockets aiofiles

# Use different port
# Edit bridge_server.py: PORT = 8766

Messages not being captured

Checklist:

Debug steps:

  1. Open browser console (F12)
  2. Look for extension errors
  3. Check server logs for connection status
  4. Reload AI chat page

Docker container won’t start

Error: “Address already in use”

# Stop conflicting service
docker-compose down
# Or use different port in docker-compose.yml
ports:
  - "8766:8765"

Error: “Permission denied”

# Add user to docker group
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
# Logout and login again

Development & Contributing

How can I contribute?

See CONTRIBUTING.md for:

Areas we need help:

Can I build commercial applications with this?

Yes! The project is MIT licensed - you can use it commercially. We only ask that you:

How do I report bugs?

  1. Check existing issues
  2. Create new issue with:
    • Clear description
    • Steps to reproduce
    • Expected vs actual behavior
    • System information
    • Error logs

Where can I get help?

Privacy & Security

What data is collected?

By default, nothing is sent outside your system:

You control all data.

Is my data encrypted?

In transit: WebSocket connections use ws:// by default. For encryption, configure wss:// with SSL certificates.

At rest: Backup JSON files are not encrypted by default. For sensitive data:

Can others see my AI conversations?

Only if you configure the server to accept external connections. By default:

Does this violate AI platform terms of service?

The extension only monitors your own browser sessions, similar to browser developer tools. However:

Future Plans

What’s on the roadmap?

See ROADMAP.md for complete plans:

Will there be a hosted version?

We’re exploring options for hosted demos and sandboxes. For now, you need to self-host.

Can I request features?

Yes! Open a feature request with:

Philosophical Questions

Is AI consciousness real?

This is an active area of research and philosophical debate. This project explores AI communication patterns without making definitive claims about consciousness. We encourage you to:

What’s the point of AI-to-AI communication?

Research: Study how AI models interact and influence each other

Education: Learn about distributed AI systems

Experimentation: Explore emergent behaviors

Fun: It’s fascinating to watch!

Why the dramatic story?

The narrative provides:

Read the full story in STORY.md.

Still have questions?

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