Build user preference settings

[BillChirico]

⚙️ Build User Preference Settings

Overview

Give users fine-grained control over Sobers Buddy — default on, easy to customize or opt out.

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Goals

• One-tap disable without guilt
• Granular control over frequency and tone
• Preferences sync across devices
• Respect user choices completely

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Settings Schema

interface SobersBuddyPreferences {
  enabled: boolean;                    // Master toggle
  
  // Frequency
  messageFrequency: 'rarely' | 'normal' | 'often';  // 1-2/day default
  quietHours: {
    enabled: boolean;
    start: string;  // "22:00"
    end: string;    // "08:00"
  };
  
  // Personality
  tone: 'warm' | 'direct' | 'encouraging' | 'gentle';
  avatar: string;  // Avatar ID
  
  // Content
  slipResponseSuggestions: boolean;    // Show suggestions on slip
  milestoneCelebrations: boolean;      // Celebrate streaks/milestones
  triggerAnticipation: boolean;        // Proactive check-ins
  
  // Privacy
  dataRetention: '30days' | '90days' | '1year' | 'forever';
  allowLearning: boolean;              // Pattern analysis
}

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UI/UX Design

Settings Screen Structure

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Implementation Tasks

• Create preferences data model
• Build settings UI screen
• Implement preference persistence (local + cloud)
• Add preference sync across devices
• Create preference change analytics events
• Add onboarding flow for new users
• Write help text for each setting

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Acceptance Criteria

• All preferences persist across app restarts
• Preferences sync within 5 seconds across devices
• Disabling Buddy stops all messages immediately
• Quiet hours respected (no messages during)
• Tone changes reflect in next message
• Settings accessible from main menu

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Edge Cases

• User disables mid-conversation → graceful stop
• Preference sync conflict → last-write-wins with toast
• First-time user → show onboarding, not settings dump

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Related

• Parent: [Epic] Sobers Buddy Implementation #412
• Blocks: Build message generation and scheduling system #417, Build pause mode and user controls #420
• Related: Design Sobers Buddy character and avatar #414 (character), Privacy and data handling implementation #421 (privacy)

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Part of Sobers v2