Features
Every feature engineered for interview excellence
No bloat. No gimmicks. Every feature in Specter exists because it solves a real problem candidates face in competitive interviews.
Parallel Processing
Zero dead-time from question to answer
Three complementary systems work in parallel so you never wait for a response, regardless of how fast questions come in.
Multi-Monitor Parallel Scan
Specter captures all connected displays simultaneously using OS-level screen capture APIs. Each monitor is scanned independently — questions appearing on any screen are detected instantly, regardless of which window is in focus. The scan cycle is non-blocking, meaning new questions are queued and processed in order with zero dead-time between answers.
Supports up to 6 simultaneously connected monitors.
Race Mode — Dual LLM
Race Mode opens two parallel API connections at the moment a question is detected — simultaneously sending the same prompt to two LLM providers. Specter streams whichever returns its first token first, then gracefully terminates the slower connection. This eliminates single-provider latency spikes and consistently reduces 95th-percentile time-to-first-token by ~40%.
Recommended pairing: Gemini 2.0 Flash + GPT-4o.
Non-Blocking Question Queue
Every detected question enters a FIFO queue that processes independently of the current streaming answer. If you're mid-answer and a follow-up question is detected, it's queued instantly. When the current answer completes, the next begins streaming immediately. You never lose a question to timing gaps.
Queue capacity: unlimited. Processing order: FIFO.
Audio Detection
Hear every question, spoken or silent
Full audio pipeline captures both system audio and microphone simultaneously, with intelligent filtering to eliminate noise.
Whisper Transcription
OpenAI's Whisper model provides best-in-class speech-to-text accuracy across accents, technical vocabulary, and noisy environments. System audio and microphone inputs are captured separately, mixed intelligently, and transcribed in real time. Specter understands DSA terminology, system design vocabulary, and company-specific proper nouns out of the box.
Supports 50+ languages via Whisper multilingual model.
Web Speech API Streaming
For zero-latency transcription in browser-based interview platforms, Specter integrates the browser's Web Speech API as a secondary transcription channel. This provides real-time partial transcripts while Whisper processes complete utterances — giving you the fastest possible question detection regardless of the interview platform.
Falls back gracefully when Web Speech API is unavailable.
Voice Activity Detection (VAD)
Specter's VAD engine continuously monitors audio levels and spectral content to distinguish human speech from background noise, music, typing sounds, and system alerts. Only segments with detected voice activity are sent for transcription, dramatically reducing false positives and API usage.
Configurable VAD sensitivity: 3 levels.
Hold Mode for In-Person Interviews
In-person and hybrid interviews require a different approach. Hold Mode queues detected questions without streaming answers immediately, allowing you to review them at a natural moment — on a secondary device or a screen positioned away from the interviewer. Perfect for whiteboard sessions and on-site rounds.
Queue review with keyboard shortcuts.
Workspaces
Your private command center
Multiple independent panels give you the layout of a senior engineer's battle station — fully invisible to everyone else.
Multi-Panel Workspaces
Open up to 5 completely independent Specter panels simultaneously. Each panel can be positioned on any monitor, configured with different content, and resized independently. Use one panel for the live question stream, another for system design templates, another for your behavioral story bank, and more. Panels persist across sessions.
Up to 5 panels. Drag-and-drop positioning.
Content Protection
Every Specter panel uses OS-level window exclusion to hide from screen capture. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, OBS, QuickTime, and all other screen-sharing or recording tools show a blank area where Specter's window sits. This is not a hack or workaround — it's a standard OS API designed for DRM content, repurposed for your privacy.
Works on macOS (setExcludedFromCaptureForDisplay), Windows (SetWindowDisplayAffinity), Linux (X11 overlay).
Code Runner
Write, run, and verify — without switching tabs
The only AI interview tool with an integrated code execution environment. No browser tabs, no context switching.
Built-In Code Runner (Piston API)
Specter's code runner is powered by the open-source Piston API, providing sandboxed execution of Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C++, Go, and Rust. Click "From Answer" to automatically extract code from the AI's response into the runner. Execute with a keyboard shortcut. See stdout, stderr, and exit code inline.
7 languages. Sub-second execution for typical interview problems.
From Answer Button
Every AI response containing code includes a "From Answer" button that extracts the code block and pre-populates the code runner with the correct language detected. You go from AI suggestion to verified, running code in one click — without ever leaving Specter or touching your clipboard.
Automatic language detection for Python, JS, Java, C++, Go, Rust, TS.
AI & LLM
The AI layer that makes everything work
Multi-provider support, specialized role prompts, answer refinement, and post-session AI scoring.
Multi-LLM Support
Specter integrates natively with Gemini 2.0 Flash, GPT-4o (OpenAI), and Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Anthropic). Each model has different strengths: Gemini leads on speed and cost; GPT-4o on code generation and tool use; Claude on long-form reasoning and nuanced behavioral answers. Configure your primary, secondary (Race Mode), and fallback providers independently.
Switch providers mid-session without restarting.
Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)
Paste your API key once and Specter stores it locally in your app's settings file. Your key is never transmitted to Tattva Mind's servers. All LLM API calls are made directly from your device to the provider. You pay the provider at their standard rates — no markup, no middleman.
Keys stored in encrypted local settings. Never leave your machine.
Answer Refinement
Three refinement actions are available for every answer: Rephrase (generates an alternative angle on the same question), Expand (adds depth, examples, and technical detail), and Shorter (condenses the answer for time-pressed delivery). Each refinement is independent and additive — you can rephrase and then expand the rephrased version.
History tracks original + all refinements per question.
Session Debrief with AI Scoring
At the end of each session, Specter's debrief mode reviews every detected question and answer pair, evaluates your interaction (timing, refinements used, code verification), and generates a 1-10 score with specific improvement notes per question category. Debrief reports are stored locally and exportable as PDF.
Scores: answer quality, response time, coverage completeness.
Stealth & UX
Invisible, unobtrusive, always ready
Specter is engineered to disappear into your workflow — fast keyboard shortcuts, adjustable opacity, and a minimal footprint.
Global Keyboard Shortcuts
Every critical action in Specter has a configurable global keyboard shortcut. Toggle visibility, skip to the next answer, trigger refinements, open the code runner, and pause/resume detection — all without clicking. Shortcuts fire globally, even when Specter's window isn't in focus.
All shortcuts configurable. Vim-style navigation option.
Adjustable Opacity
Slide Specter's window opacity from fully opaque to nearly transparent. At low opacity, the window blends with your background — readable to you, unobtrusive in peripheral view. The optimal setting depends on your monitor, ambient light, and interview setup.
Opacity range: 20%–100%. Keyboard shortcut toggle.
Ready to see it in action?
Download Specter free. No account required. All features included with your own API key.