FAQ¶
The app¶
How do I get TidyShop?¶
It's in closed testing on Google Play for now. Join the beta, and once you've been added, install it from the Play Store.
Does it cost anything?¶
No. There are no ads, no subscriptions and nothing to unlock. Support me in the menu has optional tip links, which don't change anything in the app.
Do I need an account?¶
No. The first screen asks for your name, and that's it. There's no email, no password, and nothing is sent to the developer. See Privacy.
Do I need a server?¶
Only for family sharing. Everything else, including sending someone a copy of a list, works without one.
Does it work offline?¶
Personal lists, completely: they're stored on the phone, so a basement without reception is no problem. Family lists stay readable offline too, but they're shared through your family server, so changes need a connection to reach everyone else. A new family list created offline is uploaded as soon as the phone is back online. For edits to an existing family list, wait for a connection before relying on everyone seeing them.
Is there an iPhone version?¶
No, TidyShop is Android only.
Which shops have logos?¶
Shops in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France for now, from supermarkets to DIY stores. Missing yours? Ask for it.
Which languages does it support?¶
English for now. More languages will follow once the interface settles.
I lost my phone. Are my lists gone?¶
Only if there's no backup. Turn on Google Drive backup or keep backups on your family server. For family lists, the family server has them, and a new phone gets them back once it reconnects.
The family server¶
Do I need to run the server myself?¶
Only one person in the household does. Everyone else joins with an invite. See Family sharing server.
Is there a hosted family server I can use instead?¶
No. Keeping your household's lists on your own hardware is the point: there is no TidyShop cloud, and the developer never sees your data.
What does the server cost?¶
Nothing. The connector is free and open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
What hardware does it need?¶
Almost none. It's a single static binary that idles at a few megabytes of memory. Anything that
runs Docker on amd64 or arm64 — a NAS, a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5, a small VPS — is plenty.
Why can't I just use the IP address?¶
Android refuses unencrypted connections for TidyShop, and a phone off your home Wi-Fi can't reach a LAN address anyway. A hostname with a real certificate solves both. See Reverse proxy and HTTPS.
Do family members need an account anywhere?¶
No. Each phone generates its own key pair and joins with an invite. There are no passwords to create or forget. Single sign-on is available if you want it, never required.
What is stored on the server?¶
Your household, its members' names, each device's public key and name, the shared lists and
their permissions, open invites, hashed recovery codes, and members' backups — all in one file,
state.json. Private device keys never leave the phones.
Can one connector host several households?¶
It's designed for one household per server. Run a second container, with its own data folder and hostname, for a second family.
Is the connector reachable from the internet safe?¶
It's built to be: every request except the health check and enrolment needs a signed device
assertion or a verified OIDC token, invites are single-use and short-lived, and the pairing key is
compared in constant time. Keep port 8787 closed to the internet, keep the pairing key private,
and keep the image up to date.
Can I see or edit the data without the app?¶
state.json is readable JSON, but edit it only with the container stopped — the connector keeps its
state in memory and would overwrite your changes on its next save.
Where do I report a bug or ask for a feature?¶
On GitHub Issues, for the app as well as the server, or by email to jimz011apps@gmail.com.