Barter.
Setup & Running Guide

Run a private Trading Post

Barter runs from one member’s own computer. The group keeps its items, trades, and roster. Here is what hosting requires, what the public demo does, and what is still being built.

Explore the functional demo →
Honest statusThe local runtime includes encrypted backups and tested restore. A verified pilot is live for approved members (see Pilot access below); the host Mac and its secure connection must stay running. A guided host installer and stable HTTPS setup are still being finalized. No private source ZIP, invented download URL, or fake installation is offered here, and no emails are collected. You can also explore the experience in the browser-local demo.

Pilot access

Live · verified pilot

A verified pilot is live for approved members at https://raking-fondly-doily.ngrok-free.dev. It signs in with the member’s linked Google account; the host Mac and its secure connection must stay running—there is no 24/7 service promise. The free ngrok endpoint may show a first-visit notice. No API key entry for members, no public signup, no paid plan, no iframe embedding, and no App Store release. Physical iPhone validation is pilot testing only.

Open Barter

1. Private Trading Post on your own computer

Hosted by one member · Operational data stays with the group

The primary direction: one member runs a private Trading Post on their own laptop, desktop, or local server. The group’s items, trades, and member roster stay with that group—the group’s operational database stays on its host. For remote access, the host computer and its secure connection must stay running.

Keep it running: Friends reach the group through the host’s secure connection. While the host is offline, remote access pauses until it’s back on—there is no guaranteed always-on uptime.

2. Member access: signed invitations

Google-linked accounts · Group voting · No provider API keys

Members join through Google-linked individual accounts and signed invitations; joining respects group voting. No member sets up a provider account, developer console, or API key.

QR enrollmentLocal runtime · remote pending

QR enrollment is implemented in the separate local runtime; live remote acceptance is pending. This public demo does not enroll real members—scanning a code here does not join a group.

Group-controlled boundary

The group keeps control of its roster. If someone moves away or leaves, access is revoked from the host. Each approved person gets individual, revocable access.

3. Client format: mobile web app

Browser-added · No App Store or Play Store binary

Barter is a mobile web app that runs in iOS Safari and Android Chrome. A native App Store or Play Store release is not claimed or available.

On iPhone (Safari)
  1. Open your group’s private address in Safari.
  2. Tap the Share icon.
  3. Choose “Add to Home Screen”.
On Android (Chrome)
  1. Open your group’s address in Chrome.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu.
  3. Select “Add to Home Screen”.

4. Experimental Google Cloud installer: on hold

Not the primary direction · Workspace is not hosting

The experimental Google Cloud installer is on hold—not the primary direction. Google Workspace provides identity (email, documents) only; it does not include Google Cloud compute or free hosting, so it is not hosting.

Public “Barter Market” communities, and one app connecting public and private markets, are future work—not live today.

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