FrictionBox

About

FrictionBox adds a moment of friction before distracting websites load. You configure a list of sites and assign each one a box: a short timer, a mental math problem, a typing exercise, a breathing exercise, or one of many others. When you navigate to a listed site, the box appears as a full-page interstitial. Complete it to continue to the site, or close the tab.

Examples:
- Memorize digits of Pi before opening Reddit
- Practice mental arithmetic before checking Twitter
- Review vocabulary flashcards before YouTube
- Complete a typing drill before visiting Instagram
- Do a breathing exercise before reading the news
- Reflect on a Stoic passage before browsing Hacker News

Setup:
1. Visit frictionbox.app and sign in to create your site list.
2. Choose a box type for each site.
3. Install this extension. Your site list syncs automatically from the web app.
4. Browse as usual. Listed sites will display the assigned box before loading.

The extension is a thin client. It intercepts navigation to your listed sites and loads the box interface from frictionbox.app in a full-page frame. All box logic, settings, and rendering are handled by the web app. The extension itself contains no box-specific code and does not need updates when new box types are added.

Your site list is stored locally in the browser. The extension does not collect browsing history, personal data, or any information about the sites you visit. The only network communication is loading box content from frictionbox.app when a listed site is visited.