Koinonia: Complete User Guide

About Koinonia

Koinonia - rich friendships, with purpose.

Koinonia is an iOS app designed to help you stay close to the people who matter most, without turning your relationships into another to-do list. Life is full, and Koinonia gently reminds you to check in, celebrate milestones, and remember the little things that make your friendships rich.

Koinonia is for people who want to be intentional friends in the middle of busy, modern lives. Instead of chasing likes or streaks, it helps you maintain meaningful connections with thoughtful reminders and organized information.

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Getting Started

First Launch

When you first open Koinonia, you'll see a brief onboarding tutorial that explains the core features:

1. Great friendships, on purpose - Introduction to Koinonia's philosophy
2. Organize your people - Learn about Circles
3. Set your rhythm - Understanding catch-up frequencies
4. Never miss a moment - The Timeline view
5. Remember the little things - Quotes, gift ideas, and memories
6. Swipe to navigate - How to move between main views

You can skip the tutorial at any time, or go through all pages to get familiar with the app.

Navigation

Koinonia uses an intuitive swipe-based navigation system:

• Friends View - Your main starting point, showing all your friends
• Swipe Right - Navigate to the Timeline view
• Swipe Left - Navigate to the Insights view
• Bottom Tab Bar - Access Prayer Points (if enabled) and About sections

The swipe navigation is smooth and fullscreen, making it easy to move between your main views without tapping buttons.

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Core Features

1. Friends Management

Adding Friends

1. Tap the + button in the top right of the Friends view
2. Enter their first name and last name (last name is optional)
3. Optionally add:

• Nickname - Displayed on the Friends list instead of full name
• Phone number - For quick calling and messaging
• Email address - For quick emailing
• Birthday - Automatically appears on your Timeline
• Profile photo - Take a photo or choose from your library (photos are automatically cropped to fit the circular display)

1. Tap Save

Importing from Contacts

You can import friends directly from your iPhone's Contacts app:

1. When adding a new friend, tap Import from Contacts
2. Select a contact from the list
3. Koinonia will automatically fill in name, phone, email, and birthday if available
4. You can sync contact information later using the refresh button in the friend's detail view

Note: Koinonia only reads from your Contacts app—it never modifies your contacts. The sync is one-way for your privacy.

Viewing Friend Details

Tap any friend on the Friends list to see their full profile. Below the friend's name, you'll find four action buttons:

• Call - Quickly call the friend (if phone number is available)
• Message - Send a text or email (if contact info is available)
• Log Catch-up - Log a catch-up that just happened
• Plan Catch-up - Plan a future catch-up

The profile includes:

• Profile photo and basic information
• Status badge showing catch-up status (Due/Scheduled/On Track)
• Circles they belong to
• Catch-up rhythm with status indicators and progress
• Contact information (tap to call, message, or email)
• Reminders & Important Dates (birthday, milestones, custom reminders)
• Talking points (things to discuss at next catch-up)
• Quotes and memories
• Gift ideas
• Prayer points (if enabled)

Editing Friends

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Tap Edit in the top right
3. Modify any information
4. Tap Save

Deleting Friends

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Tap the trash icon in the top right
3. Confirm deletion

Warning: Deleting a friend will also delete all associated data (catch-up logs, quotes, gift ideas, etc.).

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2. Circles

Circles help you organize your friends into groups like "Best Friends," "Family," "Work," or "Church."

Creating Circles

1. Open any friend's detail view
2. Tap the Circles section
3. Tap + Add Circle
4. Enter a name, choose a color, and optionally add a description
5. Tap Save

Adding Friends to Circles

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Tap the Circles section
3. Tap + Add Circle or select existing circles
4. Friends can belong to multiple circles

Managing Circles

• Pin Circles - Pinned circles appear at the top of your Friends list
• Edit Circle - Change name, color, or description
• Delete Circle - Remove a circle (doesn't delete the friends in it)

Sorting by Circles

In the Friends view, you can sort friends by:

• Circles - Groups friends by their circles
• First Name - Alphabetical by first name
• Time Since Last Catch-up - Most overdue first

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3. Catch-Up Rhythm & Workflow

Set how often you'd like to catch up with each friend, and Koinonia will guide you through a simple workflow: Schedule → Log → Success with next steps.

Setting Catch-Up Frequency

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Tap the Catch-up section
3. Tap Edit Rhythm
4. Choose a frequency:

• Weekly - Every 7 days (green)
• Fortnightly - Every 14 days (teal)
• Monthly - Every 30 days (indigo)
• Quarterly - Every 90 days (purple)
• Biannually - Every 182 days (orange)
• Annually - Every 365 days (pink)
• Ad-hoc - No automatic reminders (blue)

Each frequency has a color-coded badge for easy recognition.

Catch-Up Status Indicators

The Catch-up Rhythm tile shows clear status indicators:

• "Due" (orange) - Time to plan your next catch-up
• "Scheduled" (blue) - Catch-up planned for [date]
• "On Track" (green) - Next catch-up is in the future
• "Last Catch-up" - Shows when you last logged a catch-up
• "Talking Points" - Shows count of active talking points

Scheduling Catch-Ups

When it's time to catch up, schedule it in advance:

1. From Timeline - Tap a "Time to Plan" reminder, then tap Plan Catch-up
2. From Friend Detail - Tap Plan Catch-up button below the friend's name
3. From Catch-up Section - The date is pre-filled with your next catch-up date (or today if overdue)
4. Smart Defaults - Active talking points are automatically included in the notes

When you schedule:

• The "Time to Plan" reminder is automatically dismissed
• A "Planned Catch-up" reminder appears on your Timeline
• The scheduled date and notes are pre-filled when you log the catch-up

Important: Scheduling a catch-up does NOT count toward your catch-up history. Only logged catch-ups update your "time since last catch-up" calculation.

Logging Catch-Ups

When you actually catch up with a friend, log it:

1. From Timeline - Tap a "Planned Catch-up" reminder, then tap Log Catch-up
2. From Friend Detail - Tap Log Catch-up button below the friend's name
3. Quick Log - Long-press a friend on the Friends list and tap Log Catch-up

When logging a planned catch-up:

• The date and notes are automatically pre-filled
• After logging, the planned catch-up reminder is automatically deleted

When logging, you can:

• Set the date and time of the catch-up
• Choose In Person or Virtual mode
• Add notes about what you discussed
• Add topics discussed
• Add prayer points (if enabled)
• Create follow-up items

Post-Logging Success Screen

After logging a catch-up, you'll see a success screen with:

• Confirmation that the catch-up was logged
• Option to Plan Next Catch-up immediately
• Option to Add Talking Point for the next catch-up
• Done button to dismiss

Viewing Catch-Up History

Open a friend's detail view and scroll to the Catch-up section to see:

• Status indicators (Due/Scheduled/On Track)
• Last catch-up date
• Next catch-up date (based on your frequency)
• Progress indicator showing how close you are to the next catch-up
• Planned catch-up date (if scheduled)
• Active talking points count
• Total catch-ups logged
• Full history of all logged catch-ups

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4. Timeline

The Timeline view shows all upcoming events in one place, organized by time.

What Appears on Timeline

• Time to Plan - Reminders based on your catch-up frequency (appears when it's time to plan your next catch-up)
• Planned Catch-ups - Specific catch-ups you've scheduled (ready to log when the date arrives)
• Birthdays - Automatically calculated from friend birthdays
• Milestones - Important dates you've added for friends
• Reminders - Custom reminders for birthdays, milestones, catch-ups, or other events
• Calendar Events - (Optional) Events from your iPhone Calendar

Timeline Organization

Events are grouped into:

• Overdue - Past due items
• Today - Happening today
• Tomorrow - Happening tomorrow
• This Week - Within the next 7 days
• Later - Beyond this week

Each event is color-coded by friend, making it easy to see who needs attention.

Interacting with Timeline

• Tap any item - Opens an action menu with relevant options:
• Time to Plan items: Plan Catch-up, View Friend, Dismiss
• Planned Catch-ups: Log Catch-up, View Friend, Reschedule, Delete
• Other reminders: View Friend, Reschedule, Delete, Dismiss
• View talking points - Active talking points appear on catch-up reminders with a count

Calendar Integration

You can optionally show calendar events in your Timeline:

1. Go to Settings (gear icon in About view)
2. Enable Show Calendar Events in Timeline
3. Grant calendar access when prompted

Calendar events appear alongside your Koinonia reminders but cannot be dismissed from the Timeline.

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5. Talking Points

Talking Points are quick notes about things you want to remember to discuss or bring up at your next catch-up with a friend. They automatically appear when scheduling catch-ups, making it easy to remember what you wanted to discuss.

Adding Talking Points

From Friends List:

1. Long-press a friend
2. Tap Add Talking Point
3. Enter your note
4. Tap Save

From Friend Detail View:

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Scroll to the Talking Points section
3. Tap Add Talking Point
4. Enter your note
5. Tap Save

Viewing Talking Points

• Friend Detail View - See all active and completed talking points in the Catch-up Rhythm tile and Talking Points section
• Timeline - Active talking points appear on catch-up reminders with a count
• Catch-up Reminders - Shows count and list of talking points
• When Scheduling - Active talking points are automatically included in the notes field

Completing Talking Points

After you've discussed a talking point:

1. Open the friend's detail view
2. Find the talking point in the Talking Points section
3. Tap the circle to mark it as completed

Completed talking points are moved to a separate section but remain visible for reference.

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6. Reminders & Important Dates

Track birthdays, milestones, and custom reminders all in one place.

Birthdays

Birthdays are automatically shown when you add a friend's birthday in their profile. They appear in the Reminders & Important Dates section and on your Timeline annually.

Milestones

Track important dates and achievements for your friends (e.g., "Graduation," "New Job," "Anniversary").

Adding Milestones:

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Scroll to the Reminders & Important Dates section
3. Tap + Add Milestone
4. Enter a title
5. Choose the date
6. Optionally add notes
7. Tap Save

Milestones appear on your Timeline and repeat annually.

Custom Reminders

Create custom reminders for any important dates or events.

Types of Reminders:

• Birthday - Birthday reminders (in addition to the friend's primary birthday)
• Milestone - Important dates or achievements (as reminders)
• Catch-up - Planned catch-ups with specific dates
• Custom - Any other reminder you want

Creating Reminders:

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Scroll to the Reminders & Important Dates section
3. Tap + Add Reminder
4. Enter a title
5. Choose a date and time
6. Select the reminder type
7. Optionally add notes
8. Tap Save

All reminders and important dates appear on your Timeline and can be dismissed when completed.

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8. Quotes & Memories

Capture meaningful conversations, inside jokes, or memorable moments.

Adding Quotes

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Scroll to the Quotes section
3. Tap + Add Quote
4. Enter the quote
5. Optionally add context (when/where it was said)
6. Tap Save

Quotes help you remember the personality and character of your friends, making future conversations more personal.

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9. Gift Ideas

Never forget a gift idea again. Store gift suggestions with links and notes.

Adding Gift Ideas

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Scroll to the Gift Ideas section
3. Tap + Add Gift Idea
4. Enter a title
5. Optionally add a link (URL) and notes
6. Tap Save

Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or "just because" moments.

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10. Prayer Points

(This feature can be enabled or disabled in Settings)

Prayer Points help you remember what to pray for your friends and track when you've prayed.

Adding Prayer Points

From Prayer Points View:

1. Tap the Prayer Points tab
2. Tap the + button
3. Select a friend
4. Enter the prayer point
5. Tap Save

From Friend Detail View:

1. Open a friend's detail view
2. Scroll to the Prayer Points section
3. Tap + Add Prayer Point
4. Enter the prayer point
5. Tap Save

During Catch-up Logging:

1. When logging a catch-up, you can add prayer points directly
2. They'll be linked to that catch-up log

Marking as Prayed

1. Open the Prayer Points view
2. Tap the hands icon next to any prayer point
3. The point is marked with the current date and time

Viewing Prayer Points

The Prayer Points view shows:

• Friend's name and avatar
• Prayer point text
• Time since last prayed (or "Not yet prayed")

You can sort by:

• Time Since Last Prayed - Never prayed first, then longest time since
• First Name - Alphabetical by friend's first name

You can also search prayer points by friend name or prayer point text.

Tip: Tap on any friend's card in the Prayer Points view to quickly open their full profile and see all their details.

Prayer Badges

Friends with active prayer points show a small badge on their avatar in the Friends list, making it easy to see who has prayer points at a glance.

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11. Insights

The Insights view provides analytics about your friendships and catch-up patterns.

Overview Statistics

• Total Catch-ups - All logged catch-ups across all friends
• This Month - Catch-ups logged this month
• This Year - Catch-ups logged this year
• Longest Streak - Consecutive weeks with at least one catch-up

Friends to Reconnect With

Shows friends who haven't been caught up with in the last 3 months, sorted by how long it's been. Perfect for identifying relationships that need attention.

Most Connected

Lists your top 5 friends by number of logged catch-ups. See who you're investing the most time with.

Catch-up Trends

A bar chart showing your catch-up activity over the last 6 months. Visualize your connection patterns and identify busy or quiet periods.

Circle Distribution

See how your friends are distributed across your circles. Helps you identify if you're investing evenly or if some circles need more attention.

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12. Quick Actions

Long-press any friend on the Friends list to access quick actions:

• Call - Call the friend (if phone number is saved)
• Message - Send a text message (if phone number is saved)
• Email - Send an email (if email address is saved)
• Log Catch-up - Quickly log a catch-up
• Add Talking Point - Add a quick note for next catch-up
• View Profile - Open the full friend detail view

Quick actions save time and make it easy to stay connected without navigating through multiple screens.

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Settings & Preferences

Access Settings from the About view (gear icon in top right).

Available Settings

• iCloud Sync - Enable or disable syncing across your devices
• Prayer Points - Show or hide the Prayer Points feature
• Show Calendar Events in Timeline - Include iPhone Calendar events
• Friend Detail Tile Order - Customize which sections appear and in what order
• Privacy Policy - View the complete privacy policy

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Privacy & Security

Data Storage

• Local Storage - All data is stored locally on your device with iOS encryption
• iCloud Sync (Optional) - If enabled, data syncs via CloudKit with end-to-end encryption
• No Third-Party Servers - Your data never leaves your Apple account
• Offline First - Koinonia works completely offline; syncs automatically when connected

Permissions

Koinonia requests the following permissions:

• Contacts - To import friend information (read-only)
• Calendar - To show calendar events in Timeline (optional)
• Camera - To take profile photos
• Photo Library - To choose profile photos
• Notifications - To send reminders about catch-ups, birthdays, and milestones

All permissions are optional and can be revoked in iOS Settings at any time.

Privacy Policy

Koinonia includes a comprehensive privacy policy that covers:

• Data collection and usage
• Storage and security
• Data sharing (none)
• User responsibilities
• Disclaimers

Important: Users are advised not to store sensitive personal information in Koinonia and use the app at their own risk.

View the full privacy policy in Settings or the About view.

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Tips & Best Practices

Getting Started

1. Start Small - Add your closest friends first
2. Set Realistic Frequencies - Don't set weekly catch-ups for everyone; be honest about what's sustainable
3. Use Circles - Organize friends into meaningful groups
4. Log Regularly - The more you log catch-ups, the more useful Insights becomes

Maintaining Friendships

1. Check Timeline Daily - See what's coming up and what's overdue
2. Use Talking Points - When you think of something to discuss, add it immediately
3. Review Insights Weekly - See who needs attention
4. Celebrate Milestones - Add important dates so you never miss them

Making It Personal

1. Add Photos - Profile photos make the app more personal
2. Use Nicknames - If your friend goes by a nickname, use it
3. Capture Quotes - Remember the funny or meaningful things they say
4. Save Gift Ideas - When they mention something they want, save it

Staying Organized

1. Use Circles Wisely - Create circles that reflect your life (Family, Work, Church, etc.)
2. Pin Important Circles - Keep your closest friends at the top
3. Customize Tile Order - Arrange friend detail sections in the order you use them most
4. Regular Cleanup - Review and complete old talking points and reminders

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Troubleshooting

Data Not Syncing

1. Check that iCloud Sync is enabled in Settings
2. Ensure you're signed into iCloud on your device
3. Check your internet connection
4. Wait a few minutes—sync can take time

Notifications Not Working

1. Check iOS Settings → Notifications → Koinonia
2. Ensure notifications are enabled
3. Check that you've granted notification permissions

Contact Sync Issues

1. Koinonia only reads from Contacts—it never writes
2. If contact info seems outdated, update it in the native Contacts app
3. Use the refresh button in friend detail view to re-import from Contacts

App Crashes or Freezes

1. Force quit and restart the app
2. Restart your iPhone
3. Ensure you're running the latest version of iOS
4. If problems persist, contact support

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use Koinonia without iCloud?

A: Yes! Koinonia works completely offline. iCloud sync is optional.

Q: Does Koinonia share my data with anyone?

A: No. All data stays in your Apple account and is never shared with third parties.

Q: Can I export my data?

A: Currently, data export is not available, but all data is stored locally and can be accessed through the app.

Q: What happens if I delete the app?

A: If iCloud sync is enabled, your data will remain in iCloud. If not, deleting the app will delete all local data.

Q: Can I use Koinonia on iPad?

A: Koinonia is designed for iPhone but may work on iPad. Full iPad support may be added in future updates.

Q: How do I disable Prayer Points?

A: Go to Settings (gear icon in About view) and toggle off Prayer Points.

Q: Can I customize what appears in friend detail views?

A: Yes! In Settings, you can reorder and hide sections in the Friend Detail Tile Order setting.

Q: What's the difference between a reminder and a milestone?

A: Reminders are one-time events (like "Call about job opportunity"). Milestones are recurring annual events (like anniversaries or birthdays).

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Support & Feedback

For support, feedback, or feature requests, please contact the developer through the App Store or the app's About page.

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Version Information

This guide was created for Koinonia version 0.1.0. Features and functionality may change in future updates.

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Remember: Koinonia is designed to help you be an intentional friend, not to add stress to your life. Use it in a way that feels natural and helpful, and don't feel pressured to log every interaction. The goal is meaningful connection, not perfection. Koinonia - rich friendships, with purpose.

Koinonia: Rich Friendships, With Purpose

What is Koinonia?

Koinonia is an iOS app designed to help you stay close to the people who matter most, without turning your relationships into another to-do list. Life is full, and Koinonia gently reminds you to check in, celebrate milestones, and remember the little things that make your friendships rich.

Koinonia - rich friendships, with purpose.

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Who is Koinonia For?

Koinonia is for people who want to be intentional friends in the middle of busy, modern lives. Instead of chasing likes or streaks, it helps you maintain meaningful connections with thoughtful reminders and organized information.

Perfect for:

• People with large social networks who want to stay connected
• Those who value deep, meaningful friendships
• Anyone who wants to remember birthdays, milestones, and important moments
• People who want to track and improve their friendship habits
• Those who appreciate privacy-focused, offline-first apps

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Key Features

🎯 Organize Your People

Group friends into Circles like Best Friends, Family, Work, or Church. See who you're investing in and where you might want to reach out.

⏰ Set Your Rhythm

Choose how often you'd like to catch up with each friend—weekly, monthly, or just when it feels right. Koinonia tracks your catch-up history and shows clear status indicators: "Due" when it's time to plan, "Scheduled" when a catch-up is planned, and "On Track" when you're ahead of schedule. Only logged catch-ups count toward your rhythm—planning doesn't affect your history until you log it.

📅 Never Miss a Moment

Your Timeline shows upcoming birthdays, milestones, reminders, and catch-ups all in one place. Tap any item to see actions like Schedule, Log, View Friend, or Reschedule. Color-coded by friend, organized by time—see what's overdue, happening today, this week, and beyond. The workflow is simple: Schedule → Log → Success with next steps.

💬 Talking Points

Quickly add notes about things you want to remember to discuss at your next catch-up. Talking points automatically appear when scheduling catch-ups, show up on your Timeline, and are visible in friend profiles. Never forget what you wanted to bring up.

📝 Remember the Little Things

Capture quotes, gift ideas, and memories so you can show up thoughtfully next time you connect. Store inside jokes, meaningful conversations, and thoughtful gift suggestions.

📊 Insights & Analytics

See your friendship patterns with beautiful charts and statistics:

• Total catch-ups and trends over time
• Friends who need reconnecting
• Most connected friends
• Circle distribution
• Longest catch-up streak

⚡ Quick Actions

Long-press any friend to quickly call, message, add talking points, or log a catch-up. In friend profiles, use the action buttons to call, message, log, or plan catch-ups with one tap. Color-coded badges show catch-up status at a glance.

🔔 Smart Notifications

Get gentle reminders the day before a catch-up is due, notifications when you're overdue, and birthday alerts—all designed to help you stay present without feeling overwhelmed.

🙏 Prayer Points (Optional)

Add prayer points for your friends and track when you pray for them. View all prayer points in one place, sort by time since last prayed or alphabetically, and see who has active prayer points at a glance. Tap any friend's card to quickly open their full profile.

☁️ iCloud Sync (Optional)

Securely sync your data across all your devices using iCloud. All data is encrypted end-to-end and stays in your Apple account. Enable or disable sync anytime.

🔒 Privacy First

• All data stored locally with iOS encryption
• Optional iCloud sync with end-to-end encryption
• No third-party servers—data never leaves your Apple account
• Works completely offline
• Read-only contact import (never modifies your contacts)

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How It Works

1. Add Your Friends

Import from Contacts or add manually. Include birthdays, photos, and contact information.

2. Organize with Circles

Create circles like "Best Friends," "Family," or "Work" to group your people.

3. Set Catch-Up Frequencies

Choose how often you want to catch up with each friend—weekly, monthly, or ad-hoc.

4. Plan & Log Your Catch-Ups

When it's time to catch up, plan it in advance. When you actually connect, log it with details about what you discussed. Koinonia tracks your history—only logged catch-ups count toward your rhythm. After logging, you'll see a success screen with options to plan the next catch-up or add talking points.

5. Use the Timeline

See everything coming up in one place—birthdays, milestones, catch-ups, and reminders. Tap any item to see relevant actions. "Time to Plan" reminders appear when it's time to plan your next catch-up, and "Planned Catch-up" reminders show planned catch-ups ready to log.

6. Add Talking Points

When you think of something to discuss, add it as a talking point. Talking points automatically appear when scheduling catch-ups, show up on your Timeline, and are visible in the friend's profile.

7. Review Insights

Check your Insights view weekly to see who needs attention and how your friendships are trending.

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Navigation

Koinonia uses intuitive swipe-based navigation:

• Friends View - Your main starting point
• Swipe Right - Navigate to Timeline
• Swipe Left - Navigate to Insights
• Bottom Tabs - Access Prayer Points and About sections

Smooth, fullscreen swipes make navigation fast and natural.

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Privacy & Security

Your Data, Your Control

• Local Storage - All data encrypted on your device
• Optional iCloud Sync - End-to-end encrypted via CloudKit
• No Third Parties - Data never sent to external servers
• Read-Only Contacts - Koinonia only reads from Contacts, never writes
• Offline First - Works completely without internet

Permissions

Koinonia requests minimal permissions:

• Contacts - To import friend information (read-only)
• Calendar - To show events in Timeline (optional)
• Camera/Photos - To add profile pictures
• Notifications - To send gentle reminders

All permissions are optional and can be revoked anytime in iOS Settings.

Important: Users are advised not to store sensitive personal information and use the app at their own risk. See the full Privacy Policy in the app.

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Getting Started

1. Download Koinonia from the App Store
2. Complete the brief onboarding tutorial
3. Add your closest friends
4. Create circles to organize them
5. Set catch-up frequencies
6. Start logging catch-ups
7. Check your Timeline daily
8. Review Insights weekly

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System Requirements

• iOS 17.0 or later
• iPhone (iPad support may vary)
• iCloud account (optional, for sync)

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Philosophy

Koinonia is designed to help you be an intentional friend, not to add stress to your life. Use it in a way that feels natural and helpful, and don't feel pressured to log every interaction. The goal is meaningful connection, not perfection.

Koinonia - rich friendships, with purpose.

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Support

For support, feedback, or feature requests, please contact us through the App Store or the app's About page.

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Version

Current version: 0.1.0

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Koinonia - Because the best friendships are the ones we nurture on purpose.