malcolmocean
README.md

THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY WORK

Influence Mapper

A tool that generates interactive flowcharts of intellectual and personal influences, going back multiple generations using Claude AI.

Features

  • Interactive Input: Enter your name and 5-10 main influences
  • AI-Powered Discovery: Uses Claude API to recursively discover each person's influences
  • Live Mermaid Flowcharts: Generates real-time visual maps showing relationships
  • Layer-by-Layer Expansion: Start with top influences, then dig deeper layer by layer
  • Detailed Relationships: View comprehensive descriptions of how people influenced each other
  • Debug Logging: Full transparency of all LLM interactions and parsing
  • Statistics: Track total people, relationships, and layers in your influence map

How It Works

  1. Initial Setup: Enter your name and list your main influences (authors, teachers, mentors, etc.)
  2. Generate Map: Creates initial flowchart with you at the center and your influences
  3. Expand Layers: Click "Expand Layer" to discover your influences' influences using Claude AI
  4. Explore Relationships: View detailed descriptions of how each person influenced another
  5. Continue Deeper: Keep expanding to trace influence chains back through history

Example Use Cases

  • Map your intellectual genealogy as a researcher or writer
  • Trace philosophical lineages and schools of thought
  • Understand how ideas evolved through personal relationships
  • Discover unexpected connections between thinkers across centuries
  • Create visual presentations of influence networks

Technical Details

  • Backend: Hono API server with Claude 3.5 Sonnet integration
  • Frontend: React with Mermaid.js for diagram rendering
  • AI Prompting: Structured JSON responses for reliable parsing
  • Error Handling: Graceful fallbacks and comprehensive logging
  • Responsive Design: Works on desktop and mobile devices

Usage Tips

  • Start with 5-7 influences for best results
  • Include diverse types of influences (mentors, authors, historical figures)
  • Use "Show Relationships" to read detailed influence descriptions
  • Check debug logs if you encounter parsing issues
  • Reset and try different starting points to explore various lineages

Environment Setup

Requires ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable for Claude API access.