Add Filesystem API Support to Let Users Select Specific Files for Code Analysis in ChatGPT

ChatGPT Feature requests
1

Summary

I propose integrating Filesystem Access API into ChatGPT’s web interface, allowing users to select specific files or folders for analysis, rather than copy-pasting or exposing their entire codebase in IDE with IA companion. This would provide a more privacy-conscious alternative to AI-powered IDEs like Copilot or Cursor, while enhancing ChatGPT’s usability for developers.

Why This Feature Matters

Currently, developers need to either:

  1. Copy-paste snippets manually, which is inefficient for large files.
  2. Upload files as archives, which isn’t always convenient for quick debugging.
  3. Use AI-powered IDEs (Cursor, Copilot, etc.), which pose privacy concerns by scanning entire projects.

With Filesystem API integration, ChatGPT users could securely select specific files to share, ensuring better privacy and control over what is analyzed.

How It Would Work

  1. User clicks “Import Files” or “Import Folder” → Filesystem API prompts them to select specific files or folders.
  2. User sees a list of selected files within the ChatGPT UI and can remove files at any time using a “Revoke Access” button.
  3. ChatGPT reads and processes only the selected files, providing debugging or refactoring suggestions.
  4. Access to files is temporary: Once the session is closed, all permissions are automatically revoked.

Key Benefits

:white_check_mark: Privacy-first approach → Users control exactly which parts of their codebase are shared.
:white_check_mark: More efficient debugging → No need to copy-paste long files or archive entire projects.
:white_check_mark: Alternative to IDE-integrated AI tools → ChatGPT remains a standalone but powerful assistant.
:white_check_mark: Cross-platform → Works in the browser, no need for extra plugins or IDE extensions.

Potential Challenges & Solutions

  • Browser support → Filesystem API is already supported in Chrome, Edge, and some versions of Safari. A fallback could be implemented for other browsers.
  • Security concerns → Since Filesystem API is permission-based, ChatGPT would only have access to user-selected files (not the entire system).

Conclusion

This feature would make ChatGPT a more secure and practical AI assistant for developers, allowing precise file selection for debugging, code reviews, and AI-driven refactoring.

:small_blue_diamond: Would love to hear feedback from the community! Does this feature sound useful to you?