[FEAT] Add Hint Progression Mode for Guided Problem Solving

backend/ai.py

@@ -381,3 +381,47 @@ def rate_code_efficiency(title: str, code: str, language: str = "python") -> dic
     raise last_error or Exception(
         "All Gemini models are currently quota-limited. Please wait a minute and try again."
     )
+
+def generate_hint(
+    title: str,
+    description: str,
+    difficulty: str,
+    hint_level: int
+) -> str:
+
+    hint_prompts = {
+        1: "Give only a direction hint. Do not reveal algorithm or code.",
+        2: "Suggest useful data structures. Do not reveal solution.",
+        3: "Explain the intuition. No code.",
+        4: "Provide pseudocode only.",
+        5: "Provide the complete optimized solution."
+    }
+
+    prompt = f"""
+    You are a LeetCode mentor.
+
+    Problem Title:
+    {title}
+
+    Problem Description:
+    {description}
+
+    Difficulty:
+    {difficulty}
+
+    Task:
+    {hint_prompts.get(hint_level, hint_prompts[1])}
+
+    Keep response concise.
+    """
+
+    api_key = os.getenv("GEMINI_API_KEY")
+
+    client = genai.Client(api_key=api_key)
+
+    response = client.models.generate_content(
+        model="models/gemini-2.5-flash",
+        contents=prompt
+    )
+
+    return response.text

backend/main.py

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 # --- UPDATED AI PATH ---
 from ai_core.blog_generator import generate_blog
+from ai import generate_hint
 from devto import publish_to_platforms
 from models.reminder import PublishRecord
 from services.reminder_scheduler import start_scheduler
@@ -369,6 +370,12 @@ def health_check():
 # -----------------------------
 # Blog Generator Endpoint
 # -----------------------------
+class HintRequest(BaseModel):
+    title: str
+    description: str
+    difficulty: str = "Unknown"
+    hint_level: int
+
 @app.post("/generate-blog")
 async def create_blog(
     problem: Problem,
@@ -481,6 +488,29 @@ async def create_blog(
             "social": social_results,
         },
     }
+@app.post("/generate-hint")
+async def generate_hint_api(request: HintRequest):
+
+    try:
+
+        hint = generate_hint(
+            request.title,
+            request.description,
+            request.difficulty,
+            request.hint_level
+        )
+
+        return {
+            "status": "success",
+            "hint": hint
+        }
+
+    except Exception as e:
+
+        return {
+            "status": "error",
+            "message": str(e)
+        }
 
 
 # -----------------------------

backend/tests/test_devto.py

@@ -183,4 +183,6 @@ async def test_empty_errors_list_does_not_raise(self, mock_hashnode_request):
             "Two Sum", "# content", tags=["leetcode"], published=True
         )
         assert result.status == "success"
+
+
 

extension/background.js

@@ -50,6 +50,31 @@ chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener((request, sender, sendResponse) => {
                 });
                 }
 
+                chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener((request) => {
+
+                if (request.type === "GENERATE_HINT") {
+
+                    fetch(`${API_BASE_URL}/generate-hint`, {
+                        method: "POST",
+                        headers: {
+                            "Content-Type": "application/json"
+                        },
+                        body: JSON.stringify(request.payload)
+                    })
+                    .then(res => res.json())
+                    .then(data => {
+
+                        chrome.runtime.sendMessage({
+                            type: "HINT_READY",
+                            hint: data.hint
+                        });
+
+                    });
+
+                 }
+
+               });
+
                 if (data.status === 'success' || data.status === 'partial_success') {
                     const platforms = data.data?.platforms || [];
                     const postedPlatforms = platforms

extension/popup.html

@@ -572,6 +572,42 @@ <h3>Preview & Edit Blog</h3>
         </div>
     </div>
 
+    <div id="hintSection" style="margin-top:15px;">
+
+    <h3>Hint Progression Mode</h3>
+
+    <div class="button-group">
+        <button id="hint1Btn">💡 Hint 1</button>
+        <button id="hint2Btn">🧩 Hint 2</button>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="button-group" style="margin-top:8px;">
+        <button id="hint3Btn">🧠 Hint 3</button>
+        <button id="hint4Btn">⚡ Hint 4</button>
+    </div>
+
+    <button
+        id="solutionBtn"
+        style="margin-top:8px;background:#27ae60;"
+    >
+        🖥️ Show Solution
+    </button>
+
+    <textarea
+        id="hintOutput"
+        style="
+            width:100%;
+            min-height:120px;
+            margin-top:10px;
+            padding:10px;
+            border-radius:8px;
+            resize:vertical;
+        "
+        placeholder="Hints will appear here..."
+    ></textarea>
+
+    </div>
+
     <div id="status">Ready to blog! 🚀</div>
     <details id="historySection" style="margin-top:20px; text-align:left; background: var(--bg-glass); border: 1px solid var(--border-glass); border-radius: 16px; padding: 12px; backdrop-filter: blur(12px);">
         <summary style="cursor:pointer; font-size:12px; font-weight:600; text-transform:uppercase; color:var(--text-muted); padding:4px 0; user-select:none; font-family: 'Outfit', sans-serif;">📋 Recent Posts</summary>

extension/popup.js

@@ -533,4 +533,74 @@ const copyBtn = document.getElementById('copyBtn');
 if (copyBtn) {
     copyBtn.addEventListener('click', copyBlogToClipboard);
 }
+
+async function requestHint(level) {
+
+    const tabs = await chrome.tabs.query({
+        active: true,
+        currentWindow: true
+    });
+
+    const tab = tabs[0];
+
+    chrome.scripting.executeScript(
+        {
+            target: { tabId: tab.id },
+            func: () => {
+
+                const titleElement =
+                    document.querySelector('div[data-cy="question-title"]') ||
+                    document.querySelector('.text-title-large');
+
+                const descriptionElement =
+                    document.querySelector('.elfjS') ||
+                    document.querySelector('[data-track-load="description_content"]');
+
+                return {
+                    title: titleElement ? titleElement.innerText : "",
+                    description: descriptionElement ? descriptionElement.innerText : "",
+                    difficulty: "Unknown"
+                };
+            }
+        },
+        (results) => {
+
+            const problem = results[0].result;
+
+            chrome.runtime.sendMessage({
+                type: "GENERATE_HINT",
+                payload: {
+                    ...problem,
+                    hint_level: level
+                }
+            });
+
+        }
+    );
+}
+
+document.getElementById("hint1Btn")?.addEventListener("click", () => requestHint(1));
+
+document.getElementById("hint2Btn")?.addEventListener("click", () => requestHint(2));
+
+document.getElementById("hint3Btn")?.addEventListener("click", () => requestHint(3));
+
+document.getElementById("hint4Btn")?.addEventListener("click", () => requestHint(4));
+
+document.getElementById("solutionBtn")?.addEventListener("click", () => requestHint(5));
+
+chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener((request) => {
+
+    if (request.type === "HINT_READY") {
+
+        const hintBox = document.getElementById("hintOutput");
+
+        if (hintBox) {
+            hintBox.value = request.hint;
+        }
+
+    }
+
+});
+
 // =================================================