MY STORY
The Life of
Your story, written one question at a time
YOUR NAME
PIN (4 digits — optional)
Your story is private — only you can access it with your PIN
⚡ Your story syncs automatically across devices
Family Accounts
Add Family Member
👤
Or leave blank for an icon
Review GEDCOM Import
Edit account
👤
Or pick an emoji below
EMOJI AVATAR
NAME
MyStory
WELCOME

My Story

An autobiography written one question at a time.

START HERE
Your Profile

This shapes your questions. You can change it any time — your answers are always kept.

YOUR NAME
THIS STORY IS WRITTEN BY / FOR
Myself
A loved one (memoir)
A pet
Parent → recording for a child
A child writing their own story
A teenager
An adult
An elder / grandparent
YOUR AGE GROUP (for adults)
18–35
36–55
56–75
76+
GENDER (shapes language)
He / Him
She / Her
They / Them
Prefer not to say
PETS
🐕 Dog
🐈 Cat
🐦 Bird
🐟 Fish
🐹 Small mammal
No pets
Select all that apply — pet questions will appear in relevant chapters
AUTO THEME — choose a look, or let the app choose by age
✨ Auto (by age & gender)
Parchment
Sage Garden
Blush
Midnight
Ocean
🦄 Unicorn
🌈 Rainbow
🌿 Forest
WRITING BACKGROUND
Night (default)
Soft
Desk
Parchment (classic)
DAILY PROMPT POP-UP
Every open until answered
Once per day
Off
SOUND & PROGRESS
Soft cues
Milestones only
Off
Quiet page, ink, and milestone sounds. Browsers only play them after you interact.
Enter your Anthropic API key to enable Weave into prose. Your key is stored only on this device and never sent anywhere except Anthropic.
No key yet — AI features disabled
Don't have a key? Visit console.anthropic.com, sign up free, then go to API Keys → Create Key. Each chapter compilation costs ~$0.01–0.03. No key? Use Write manually instead.
🗺 Memory Map
Your chapters as a constellation. Each circle is a chapter — the bigger and brighter it glows, the more you have written. Tap any to open it.
Tap any chapter to open it
📸 Media Albums
ADD TO CHAPTER:
Drag & drop photos or videos here — or tap to pick from your library
SORT: FILTER:
Family Tree
MY STORY
The Life of —
0%
done
TWO WAYS TO WRITE YOUR STORY
✍ Write manually
Free — no account needed. Click Write manually on any chapter. Your answers appear as a writing scaffold; you shape them into prose yourself. Full creative control.
✒️ Weave with AI
Uses the Anthropic API. Each chapter costs ~$0.01–0.03 (pay-per-use, no subscription). Add your key in . The button above compiles all chapters at once.
No subscription needed. Get a free Anthropic account at console.anthropic.com, add $5 credit (lasts hundreds of chapters), then copy your API key into Profile. Your key is stored only on your device — never shared.
From HTML to iPhone App

Using Capacitor, this file becomes a real iOS app in one afternoon. Here is the exact process — step by step, with every command.

STEP 1 · COST: FREE
Install the tools
You need Node.js (download from nodejs.org) and Xcode (free from the Mac App Store). Then install Capacitor:
npm install -g @capacitor/cli npm install @capacitor/core @capacitor/ios
STEP 2 · COST: FREE
Set up the project
Create a folder, put your HTML file inside it, then initialise Capacitor:
mkdir mylife-app && cd mylife-app # Put mylife-v7.html here, rename it to index.html npx cap init "MyStory" "com.yourname.chronicle" --web-dir . npx cap add ios
STEP 3 · COST: FREE
Open in Xcode and test on your phone
Connect your iPhone with a USB cable. Open the project in Xcode and hit Run. You'll see the app on your phone — no App Store needed for testing.
npx cap open ios # In Xcode: select your device → ▶ Run
STEP 4 · COST: $99/year
Apple Developer Account
To submit to the App Store you need an Apple Developer account. Go to developer.apple.com → Enrol → Individual. This gives you the ability to distribute apps and unlocks TestFlight for beta testing with up to 10,000 users before you launch.
STEP 5 · COST: 1–2 days developer time
App Store submission
The submission process requires: an app icon (1024×1024px), 5–6 screenshots of your app, a description and keywords, and privacy policy URL. A developer can do the full submission in 1–2 days. Apple reviews apps in 1–3 business days.
BUDGET SUMMARY
Total cost to launch
Apple Developer: $99/yr
Developer (Capacitor wrap + submission): $500–1,500
App icon design: $50–200
Screenshots: $0 (DIY)
Backend (Render + Supabase): $0–15/mo
Total to launch: ~$650–1,800 one-time
Android (Google Play): $25 one-time registration fee. Capacitor builds Android and iOS from the same code — so one developer can ship both simultaneously for minimal extra cost.
📅 LIFE TIMELINE
✨ ONCE…
Memory starters
✒️
Writing your story…
Weaving your words into literary prose
📷 QR CODE MEDIA LINKS

Attach audio recordings, video clips, or photos stored online to any question by adding a QR code. When family reads your story, they scan it to hear your voice or see the moment.

How to add a QR code to your story: 1. Upload your audio/video to Google Drive, iCloud, or YouTube and copy the share link
2. Go to qr.io or qr-code-generator.com — paste your link → download the QR image
3. In any question answer, tap 📷 and attach the QR code image
4. Add a note: "Scan to hear me tell this story"
Help & Guide
WHAT IS MYSTORY?

MyStory is a guided autobiography app. It gives you one question at a time across 14 chapters — from your childhood to your beliefs to letters for the future. You write at your own pace. There's no right or wrong answer, and no pressure to answer everything.

FIRST STEPS
1
Set up your profile — tap the sidebar → Profile. Choose your age, who you're writing for, and your language. Questions will personalise to you.
2
Pick a chapter — tap any chapter card on the home screen. Start with whichever one calls to you — you don't have to go in order.
3
Read the question — write your answer in the notepad below. Your writing saves automatically every few minutes.
4
Move between questions — use the ← → arrows at the bottom of the notepad to go to the next or previous question in the chapter.
5
Read your story — tap 📖 My Book in the sidebar to see everything you've written, beautifully formatted.
ACCOUNTS

Each person in your household can have their own account with their own story, PIN, and theme. Tap the account icon at the top of the sidebar to switch between accounts or add a new person.

For children: if a child is writing, create them a separate account and set their profile to Child mode — they'll get age-appropriate questions and a playful theme.
ADDING YOUR OWN QUESTIONS

At the bottom of any chapter, tap + Add question. You can write your own or ask the AI to suggest one. Custom questions are added permanently to that chapter for you.

DELETING A QUESTION OR CLEARING AN ANSWER

Open any chapter and navigate to the question. If you have already written an answer, look at the top-right of your answer block — there is a small 🗑 Clear answer button. For questions you added yourself (custom questions), the same button reads 🗑 Delete question and removes the question entirely. After deleting, an ↩ Undo link appears briefly in the notification bar at the top of the screen — tap it within a few seconds to recover.

WHAT SAVES AUTOMATICALLY

Your writing auto-saves inside the browser as you type — you never need to tap a Save button for your answers. The app also creates automatic browser snapshots in the background, and automatically downloads a backup file to your Downloads folder every 10 minutes while you are writing, and when you close the app.

✅ Your answers, photos, tree, and settings are always being saved in the background. A backup file also downloads automatically every 10 minutes and when you close the browser tab — no action needed.
WHAT IS NOT AUTOMATIC — AND MATTERS
⚠️ Browser storage can be wiped. Clearing browser data, switching to a different browser, using a different device, or using private/incognito mode will make your story disappear from that browser. Keep your latest auto-downloaded file somewhere safe (iCloud, Google Drive, email to yourself). The Downloads folder itself is not a permanent backup location on all devices.
HOW TO EXPORT YOUR STORY TO A FILE (manual)

This is the one thing you need to do yourself. It takes about 5 seconds and gives you a permanent, portable copy of everything.

1
Tap Profile in the sidebar
2
Tap 💾 Backups
3
Tap 💾 Save Story as File — a .json file downloads to your device
4
Move it somewhere safe: Documents, iCloud, Google Drive, or email it to yourself
💡 Do this at the end of every writing session. The file is small and contains everything — answers, photos, family tree, custom questions, all of it.
HOW TO RESTORE FROM A FILE
1
Open the app in any browser on any device
2
On the login screen, tap ↩ Restore story from file
3
Choose your saved .json file — your story loads immediately
BROWSER SNAPSHOTS

These automatic snapshots (Profile → 💾 Backups → scroll down) are a safety net for accidental deletions mid-session. They are not a replacement for file exports — they disappear if you clear browser data.

WHAT'S IN THE FILE?

Everything: all written answers, photos and media (stored as embedded data), voice notes, family tree, custom questions, profile settings, and themes. One single file contains your complete story. It works in any future version of MyStory on any device.

💡 Note on photos: photos are embedded directly in the file as data, so the file size grows with each image added. Large video files in particular can make the file very large — if your file feels slow to export, consider removing large videos from Albums.
SHARING WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS

The best way to share MyStory is to send the HTML file directly — by email, AirDrop, WhatsApp, or uploading to Google Drive and sharing the link. Each person opens it in their own browser and creates their own account.

WHAT TO TELL PEOPLE BEFORE THEY START
1
Use Chrome or Safari — not private/incognito mode (private mode doesn't save anything)
2
A backup file downloads automatically every 10 minutes and when closing the browser — check your Downloads folder. Move these files to a safe place (iCloud, Google Drive, email).
3
Don't clear browser data without exporting first
4
One browser per person — accounts on one device don't appear on another device automatically
CAN TWO PEOPLE SHARE THE SAME DEVICE?

Yes — each person creates their own account with their own PIN. Accounts are completely separate. Tap the account icon at the top of the sidebar to switch between people.

⚠️ Stories are not synced between people. Each person's story lives only in their own browser. There is no cloud sync yet — file exports are the portable copy.
MY WRITING DISAPPEARED

This usually means browser data was cleared. Check Profile → 💾 Backups — there may be a recent snapshot you can restore. If you previously saved a .json file, restore it from the login screen (↩ Restore story from file).

💡 Going forward: save a file after every session. It takes 3 seconds and is your permanent safety net.
MY PIN ISN'T WORKING

Make sure you're typing exactly 4 digits. PINs are case-insensitive but space-sensitive. If you've truly forgotten it: on the login screen tap Forgot PIN? — there are recovery options if you set up an email address when creating the account.

THE APP IS SLOW OR UNRESPONSIVE

Try refreshing the page. If photos or media are making the app slow, go to Albums and delete large video files — they're stored in the browser and can fill up available memory quickly.

MY FAMILY TREE WON'T IMPORT (GEDCOM)

MyStory supports GEDCOM 5.5 and 5.5.1 files from Ancestry, FamilySearch, MacFamilyTree, and most genealogy software. If your file doesn't import, try exporting it again from your genealogy app as GEDCOM 5.5 format specifically.

THE APP LOOKS DIFFERENT ON MY PHONE

MyStory is designed for both desktop and mobile. On a phone, the sidebar becomes a slide-out menu — tap the ☰ button at the top to open it. The layout adapts automatically.

I SEE DUPLICATE ACCOUNTS ON THE LOGIN SCREEN

This can happen if the same person was created more than once during testing. On the login screen, each account card has a small ✕ button on the right — tap it to hide duplicates. Their data stays safe; they're just removed from the list.

QUESTIONS AREN'T PERSONALISED TO MY AGE

Go to Profile and make sure you've set your mode (Myself, Child, Teen, etc.) and your age group. Then tap Save Profile. The questions will update immediately.

📖
MyStory
Your life in words
VERSION
v173
RELEASE DATE
April 2026
FILE FORMAT
v2 JSON
CHAPTERS
14 + Epilogue
WHAT'S NEW IN v173

v170–v173: Daily ritual — one prompt every day, tiered by depth. Flow mode — a continuous stream of questions answered in one session. Inline editing auto-saves as you type. Warm custom SVG navigation icons. Ink flourish on save. Writing background toggle (dark room or parchment classic) in Profile.

v169: New navigation icons, improved streak display, chapter grid redesign.

v162: Book compilation. API key. Date picker.

v158–v160: Once… & Notes. Multi-account. Kids mode.

v136: Media canvas, voice memos, AI images.

v109: Timeline, Search, Family tree.

WHAT MYSTORY IS

A guided autobiography app — one question at a time, across 14 chapters. Built for families. Questions adapt to age: children get playful, simple prompts; adults get deeper reflective ones; teens get their own voice.

STORAGE & PRIVACY

Everything stays on your device. No account creation required. No data is sent to any server (except when you use the optional AI writing assistant, which sends only the text of your current question). Your story is yours.

BUILT WITH

Pure HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — no frameworks, no dependencies. One single file. Works offline. The AI assistant uses the Anthropic Claude API.

✦
Why The Life Of Exists

Every life is worth remembering. Every single one.

This app is a spiritual testament and a memoir — a place to let the people you love know and remember you. To transfer your knowledge, your experience, your way of seeing the world. To recreate your mindprint — the way life passed through you.

We are all pieces of a puzzle. Our loved ones' legacies are a place to find guidance, advice, and hope. A place to remember lives — short or long — meaningful for what they were, what they experienced, what they felt. With words — always imperfect — we try to recreate the thoughts, the memories, the inner world of the people we love. But not just the people we love. All people. Because each one of us has a lesson to teach, a funny story to tell, and emotions that shook us until we believed what we never thought was possible.

This is a way to understand humanity — its limitations and its sameness. A way to grow together, to stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before us. Without them, we would not be here.

Your story matters.
Your life was worth living — and it is worth remembering.
Write it down.
💾 Save & Restore
Your story auto-saves in this browser. To protect against browser clearing or switching devices, save your story as a file on your computer.
☁ ICLOUD / GOOGLE DRIVE BACKUP
Auto-save every change directly to a file in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or any folder on your computer.
⚡ SYNC ACROSS DEVICES
Keep your story up-to-date on iPhone, iPad, and desktop — automatically. Requires a free Cloudflare account. How to set up ↓
SAVE TO YOUR COMPUTER
Downloads a .json file, or emails it to your account address. Keep it anywhere — Documents, iCloud, your inbox. Load it back into any version of MyStory on any device.
BROWSER SNAPSHOTS (last 10)
Appearance
APP THEME
WRITING BACKGROUND
The scene behind the notepad while you write.
WRITING FONT
PAPER COLOR
RULED LINES
INK COLOR
Overrides paper default. Resets when you change paper.
Welcome
GIFT THIS STORY
QUOTE CARD
📝 NOTES