# BizBarrel — Alpha Tester Guide

**Audience:** Founding Member / alpha volunteers using a real account.  
**Product help (how modes work):** [help.html](../help.html)  
**Ops (deploy/migrations):** [ALPHA_OPS.md](ALPHA_OPS.md)

This page is honest about what works, what is incomplete, and what you should not rely on during alpha.

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## What alpha means

BizBarrel is pre-release software. Expect bugs, downtime, rough edges, and features that change or disappear. You are a tester/volunteer, not a customer of a finished product.

**Do not store irreplaceable data only in BizBarrel.** Keep your own backups. We may reset, migrate, or lose data while testing.

On first signed-in use from the home page you will see **alpha test terms**. Please read and accept them before continuing. A formal volunteer agreement may come later; until then those terms apply.

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## Getting started

1. Open the home page (`index.html`).
2. **Create an account** — email + password only (password at least 6 characters).
3. **Confirm your email** via the link we send (or the on-screen confirm link if email is not configured in this environment).
4. **Sign in** — same email + password.
5. Accept alpha terms if prompted, then open **Cockpit**.

**Optional:** Try Cockpit as a **guest** first (`cockpit.html` trial). Guest data stays in the browser until you sign in; some of it can be promoted into your account. Budget guest data may not fully promote yet. Guest Photo Album uploads are capped at **5 photos**, are **not saved on the server**, and are cleared when the guest session ends (sign-out, leaving guest mode, or closing the browser session).

**After sign-in:** Complete your **profile** (first name, last name, alias) from the account menu when you want to post or appear clearly in forums and messages. Names are for display/postings — not required to create the account.

Mode-by-mode how-to: [Help & Guide](../help.html).

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## What to exercise (core journeys)

| Area | What to try |
|------|-------------|
| **Dashboard** | Journal, stickies, tasks, day calendar |
| **Archive** | Create archive → category → notes; share with others |
| **Group** | Spaces → boards → threads; comments |
| **Research** | Topics → subtopics → notes |
| **Photo Album** | Albums, upload, map/GPS where available, share |
| **Shared** | Content shared with you / by you |
| **Public Forums** | Read anonymously; vote/reply when signed in |
| **Direct messages** | Envelope in Cockpit when signed in |
| **Budget** | Separate app (`bb_budget.html`) — ledger / home accounting |

**Dev mode** (canvas/video/chat) is for platform admins only — ignore unless invited.

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## Known placeholders & limitations (honest list)

Treat anything labeled “coming soon / coming later” in the UI as **not ready**. Do not file “broken” bugs for these unless the placeholder itself is missing or misleading.

| Item | Status |
|------|--------|
| Landing hero canvas | Uses `assets/off_scene1.PNG` |
| **Support / donations** (`support.html`) | Placeholder — checkout disabled until launch |
| **Member feedback** (`feedback.html`) | Placeholder — form submit awaits email integration |
| Supporter / Founding Member badge artwork | Promised for founders; tiered donation badges still TBD |
| Share → forum **subtopic** picker | Disabled (“Coming soon”) in share UI |
| Budget **Envelopes** and **Tax** lenses | Explicit “Coming later” |
| Public forum subtopic extra settings | “Future update” note on forums page |
| **AI summaries / Q&A** | Not built (glossary placeholder only) |
| Formal volunteer contract | Deferred; alpha terms apply for now |
| Full privacy policy | Before general release; alpha terms cover interim |
| **Password reset** | Not self-serve yet — ask the team if locked out |
| **Mobile** | Desktop-first; phone layouts may be awkward |
| Offline / PWA | Not available |

If something fails that is **not** on this list, please report it.

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## How to report feedback

Prefer short, reproducible notes:

1. What you were doing (mode + steps)
2. What you expected
3. What happened (screenshot if useful)
4. Browser + rough screen size (desktop vs phone)

**Channel:** Home alpha bar → [Feedback](../feedback.html). In-app submit is a placeholder until email integration; until then use the contact method you were given for this alpha.

Suggestions and bug reports may be used to improve the product without compensation (see alpha terms).

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## Founding Member notes

Perks described on the home-page Founding Member modal (lifetime core access, founding badge, early access, voice in direction) are **program intent**. Badge delivery and exact perk timing may lag behind account creation during alpha — ask the team if something you were promised is missing.

Optional financial support via Cockpit footer → Support is **not live** yet; the page says so on purpose.

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## Quick links

| Link | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| [index.html](../index.html) | Home, sign up / sign in |
| [cockpit.html](../cockpit.html) | Main workspace |
| [forums.php](../forums.php) | Public forums |
| [blog.html](../blog.html) | Blog (scaffold) |
| [bb_budget.html](../bb_budget.html) | Budget / G.L. |
| [help.html](../help.html) | Full product guide |
| [feedback.html](../feedback.html) | Member feedback (awaiting email) |
| [support.html](../support.html) | Donation placeholder |