Social Debugger — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In short: free, no sign-up. Use it straight in your browser. Add it to your home screen and it launches full-screen and works offline.

1. What is the difference between "browser", "PWA", and "store app"?

It is the same simulator inside. Only how you launch it differs. Today you can pick between use it in the browser and add it to your home screen (PWA). The store app is coming soon.

	Use in the browser	Add to home screen (PWA)	Store app
Install	Not needed	"Add to Home Screen" / "Install" from your browser	—
How to launch	Open the URL	From the home-screen icon, like an app	—
Offline	Yes (after you open it once)	Yes (after you open it once)	—
Full screen	Inside a browser tab	Yes, launches full-screen	—
Cost	Free	Free	—
Availability	Available now	Available now	Coming soon

How to add it to your home screen (PWA):

iPhone / iPad (Safari): Share button (box with ↑) → "Add to Home Screen"
Android (Chrome): Menu (⋮) → "Install app"
PC (Chrome / Edge): the install icon at the right end of the address bar, or Menu → "Install"

2. Where is my data stored?

Settings, your town's name, and your records are stored in your browser's localStorage, on your device only. Nothing is sent to our servers.

From the ≡ menu's "Export", you can take out parameters and metrics as JSON / CSV.
Clearing your browser's site data removes these records.
For details, see the Privacy Policy.

3. Does it work offline?

Yes. Once you open it online, a Service Worker caches the page and scripts, so it works offline afterward. Adding it to your home screen (PWA) makes launching more reliable.

The charting library (Chart.js) loads from an external CDN. Even where it cannot load, the main features — sliders, tabs, sharing — still work (only the charts are omitted).

4. Is it free? Do I need to register?

It is free. There is no cost at all.
No sign-up or account is needed. You do not enter an email address or anything.
There are no ads.
It is open source (larai-w/social-system-debugger).

5. Can I use it in class or research?

Yes. Non-commercial, educational use is welcome. The following materials are available.

One-page classroom guide (prints to A4 PDF)
Methodology: METHODOLOGY.en.md
Export field reference: DATA-DICTIONARY.en.md

This app is a free, non-profit, open-source project. It is not about any real place or person or any specific political situation — its purpose is to let you experience "structures any society can fall into".