Wetoro

A quiet digital ritual to release what you're feeling. Anonymous, calm, and shared.

About

Wetoro is inspired by the Japanese tradition of Toro Nagashi, where lanterns are released onto rivers carrying messages of memory, hope, or letting go. This modern digital version provides a mindful space to express emotions through symbolic stones in a shared clearing.

Features

• Anonymous Expression: Write what you're feeling in a safe, judgment-free space
• Symbolic Representation: Choose from 24 different emotional tones, each with unique shapes and colors
• Collective Release: See all stones from other users in a shared clearing (requires backend setup)
• Mindful Ritual: Includes a breathing exercise to help release and let go
• Privacy First: Your written feelings are never stored - only the symbol and optional label
• Timeline View: Browse past clearings to see the collective emotional journey

Quick Start

Local Development (No Backend)

1. Clone this repository
2. Open index.html in a modern browser
3. That's it! The app works entirely in the browser with local storage

With Backend (Collective Feature)

To enable the collective release feature where all users see each other's stones:

📚 For Non-Coders: Check out the SETUP folder for beginner-friendly, step-by-step guides!

• Start Here: Overview & Prerequisites
• Getting Your API Keys
• Setting Up the Database
• Deploying Your API Server
• Connecting Everything
• Deploying Your Website
• Testing Everything
• Troubleshooting

For Developers: See DEPLOYMENT.md for technical deployment instructions.

Architecture

Frontend

• Pure HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (no build tools required)
• Responsive design for mobile and desktop
• SVG-based visualization of the clearing
• Voice input support for writing

Backend (Optional)

• Node.js + Express API server
• Supabase (PostgreSQL) database
• RESTful API endpoints
• Fully CORS-enabled for cross-origin requests

Data Storage

Without Backend:

• Stones stored in browser localStorage
• Only your own stones visible
• Data persists on your device only

With Backend:

• All stones stored in Supabase database
• Everyone sees all stones (collective clearing)
• Privacy maintained: only tone + label stored, not text

Privacy & Data

✅ What is stored:

• Emotional tone (e.g., "Happy", "Sadness")
• Symbol shape and color
• Optional short label (max 80 characters)
• Date of release

❌ What is NOT stored:

• The "what are you feeling?" text content
• User identification or tracking data
• IP addresses or analytics
• Any personal information

API Documentation

See api/README.md for API documentation.

Deployment

See DEPLOYMENT.md for comprehensive deployment instructions.

Technology Stack

• Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, Vanilla JavaScript
• Backend: Node.js, Express
• Database: Supabase (PostgreSQL)
• Hosting: Netlify/Vercel (frontend), Vercel/Railway (API)

Browser Support

• Chrome/Edge 90+
• Firefox 88+
• Safari 14+
• Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Chrome Mobile)

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues or pull requests.

License

See LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

Inspired by the Japanese tradition of Toro Nagashi (灯籠流し), a ceremony where paper lanterns are floated down rivers to guide the spirits of ancestors and symbolically release what we carry.

Support

For setup help or questions, please:

1. Check DEPLOYMENT.md for deployment issues
2. Check api/README.md for API-specific issues
3. Open an issue on GitHub for bugs or feature requests