Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pointa.

General

What is Pointa?

Pointa is a visual feedback tool for AI-powered development. It lets you:

  • Click on UI elements and leave feedback
  • Edit styles visually in your browser
  • Record bugs with full context
  • Have AI automatically implement your changes

Is Pointa free?

Yes, Pointa is free and open source under the MIT license.

Which browsers are supported?

Pointa works with Chromium-based browsers:

  • Google Chrome
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Brave
  • Arc
  • Opera
  • Vivaldi

Firefox and Safari are not currently supported.

Which AI tools work with Pointa?

Any AI coding tool that supports MCP (Model Context Protocol):

  • Cursor (recommended)
  • Claude Code
  • Windsurf
  • VS Code (with MCP-compatible extension)

Privacy & Data

Where is my data stored?

All Pointa data is stored locally on your machine in ~/.pointa/. This includes:

  • Annotations
  • Bug reports
  • Screenshots
  • All metadata

Does anything get sent to the cloud?

No. Pointa is 100% local:

  • No accounts required
  • No telemetry or analytics
  • No external API calls
  • No cloud storage

All communication happens between:

  • Your browser ↔ Local server (localhost:4242)
  • Your AI tool ↔ Local server (MCP)

Is it safe to use with sensitive projects?

Yes. Since everything stays local, you can safely use Pointa with:

  • Client projects
  • Proprietary code
  • Sensitive data

Your annotations and code never leave your machine.

Can I delete my data?

Yes. Delete the Pointa data directory:

rm -rf ~/.pointa

Or remove specific files:

rm ~/.pointa/annotations.json  # Clear annotations
rm ~/.pointa/issue_reports.json  # Clear bug reports

Features

Can I use Pointa on production sites?

Pointa is designed for local development only. It works on:

  • localhost
  • 127.0.0.1
  • *.local domains
  • *.test domains

Exception: Inspiration Mode works on any website, allowing you to capture UI references from production sites.

Does Pointa work with Shadow DOM / Web Components?

No. Elements inside Shadow DOM cannot be annotated due to browser DOM isolation. This is a known limitation.

Can I use Pointa with multiple projects?

Yes. Pointa tracks annotations by URL. Each project (different localhost port or path) has its own annotations. You can filter by URL in the sidebar.

Do annotations persist when I restart my server?

Yes. Annotations are stored in ~/.pointa/annotations.json, separate from your development server. They persist across:

  • Browser restarts
  • Server restarts
  • Machine restarts

Can multiple people use Pointa on the same project?

Each developer has their own local Pointa data. Annotations are not shared automatically. For team collaboration:

  • Each person creates their own annotations
  • AI implements changes in the shared codebase
  • Changes are synced via git

Technical

What port does Pointa use?

The default port is 4242. You can change it:

POINTA_PORT=4243 npx pointa-server start

Does Pointa work offline?

Mostly yes:

  • Extension works offline
  • Server works offline
  • AI integration requires your AI tool to be functional

How much disk space does Pointa use?

Minimal. Text annotations are tiny (~1KB each). Screenshots can use more space (~100KB-1MB each). The ~/.pointa directory typically uses:

  • Light use: < 10 MB
  • Heavy use: 50-100 MB

Can I back up my annotations?

Yes. Copy the ~/.pointa directory:

cp -r ~/.pointa ~/pointa-backup

Troubleshooting

Why isn't the server detected?

Most common causes:

  1. Server isn't running → Run npx pointa-server start
  2. Wrong port → Check port configuration
  3. Firewall blocking → Allow localhost connections

See Troubleshooting for detailed solutions.

Why are my annotations not appearing?

Check:

  1. You're on the same URL where you created them
  2. Server is running and connected
  3. Page has been refreshed

Why does AI say "no annotations found"?

Possible causes:

  1. Annotations might be "in-review" (not "pending")
  2. URL filter might be too restrictive
  3. Annotations might be on a different page

Ask AI to check all pending annotations without URL filter.

The extension doesn't load on my page

Pointa only activates on local development URLs. If your URL looks local but isn't recognized:

  1. Make sure it resolves to 127.0.0.1
  2. Check your hosts file
  3. Try using localhost directly

Comparison

Pointa vs. Figma Comments

Aspect Pointa Figma Comments
Works on Live code Static designs
Implements changes AI does it Manual
Element context CSS selectors, code Visual only
Cost Free Figma subscription

Pointa vs. Browser DevTools

Aspect Pointa DevTools
Persist changes Yes (via AI) No
AI integration Yes No
Bug timeline Yes Limited
Learning curve Low Medium

Pointa vs. Manual Screenshots

Aspect Pointa Screenshots
Element context Automatic Manual description
Precise location CSS selectors "The button on the left"
AI-ready Yes Requires explanation

Getting Help

Where can I report bugs?

GitHub Issues

Where can I request features?

GitHub Issues with the "enhancement" label.

Is there a community?

Check the GitHub repository for discussions and updates.

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