Formax

Formax connects local AI agents to Chrome through a Chrome extension and a local runtime.

Formax currently supports the Chrome extension backend. It does not provide an in-app browser backend or OS-level Computer Use fallback.

Browser API docs start at docs/api.md. The generated SDK reference is docs/browser-client-api.md.

Development

TypeScript sources compile to adjacent JavaScript files for the Chrome extension, MCP runtime, shared modules, and agent helpers. Those generated runtime files are not tracked by git. Run npm run build after editing source files and before reloading a local unpacked extension or invoking runtime entrypoints directly.

Install

1. Install the Formax runtime

Run the installer:

curl -fsSL https://curl-scripts.vercel.app/formax/install.sh | bash

The installer downloads the Formax runtime, installs it under ~/.formax, and creates the local commands:

~/.formax/bin/formax-browser-mcp
~/.formax/bin/formax-doctor
~/.formax/bin/formax-uninstall

2. Install the Chrome extension

Install Formax from the Chrome Web Store:

Install Formax for Chrome

After installing, open chrome://extensions, make sure Formax is enabled, then reload the extension. Click the Formax toolbar icon; the status should show Connected.

If it does not connect, run:

~/.formax/bin/formax-doctor

See docs/chrome-troubleshooting.md for extension, native host, Chrome profile, local unpacked extension ID, file URL access, debugger detach, and blocked-site recovery steps.

3. Configure the MCP server

Add the Formax MCP server to your MCP client.

The formax-browser-mcp file is an installed wrapper script. Point your MCP client at that wrapper directly; do not wrap it again with node ....

macOS example:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "formax-browser": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "/Users/<your-user>/.formax/bin/formax-browser-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Linux example:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "formax-browser": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "/home/<your-user>/.formax/bin/formax-browser-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Restart your MCP client after adding the server.

If browser-client calls fail after the MCP server starts, see docs/api-troubleshooting.md for health checks, stale handles, upload validation, and diagnostic guidance.

4. Enable the skill

The installed runtime includes the Formax browser skill at:

~/.formax/plugins/cache/formax/chrome/latest/skills/control-chrome/SKILL.md

If your agent supports custom skills, add this file. If it does not, use the file contents as the browser-control instructions for that agent.

Uninstall

Run:

~/.formax/bin/formax-uninstall

Then remove the Formax extension from Chrome.