stdout.chat ↓ get the app
// HELP

need a hand?
we got you.

Quick commands, common questions, and direct lines for everything else. Most issues resolve in one tap inside the app.

ctrl K

type these in any chat.

/report

Report a user

Flags the conversation for moderation review. Acted on within 24 hours.

/block

Block a user

You'll never be paired with this Device ID again. Stored locally on your device.

/shout

Broadcast

Send one message to every online user. Costs 12 credits.

/score

Show your rank

Displays your current tier, points, and your Device ID.

// 01 / START

Getting started

The first 60 seconds in stdout.chat.

Do I need an account?+

No. There is no signup, no password, no email verification. The app generates a random Device ID the first time you launch it, and that's it. You're online.

What information do I have to give?+

Pick a username (any string up to 20 characters), an optional short bio, and an avatar from our emoji set. That's all that's visible to the people you match with. You never give us your real name, phone, email, or Apple ID.

What happens if I delete and reinstall the app?+

A fresh Device ID is generated. Your prior rank, credits, reports, and block list are gone — there is no way to link the new install back to the old one. This is the only way to fully "reset" your stdout.chat identity.

Is this an iOS-only app?+

For now, yes. Android is on the roadmap. There is no plan for a desktop client — the app is built for fast, low-friction phone conversations.

// 02 / MATCH

Matching & chats

How pairing, profiles, and grades actually work.

How does interest matching work?+

You select up to 5 interests from four categories: Culture & Entertainment, Tech & Digital, Lifestyle, Sport & Outdoors. We pair you with a user who has at least one interest in common, weighted by similarity in rank tier.

You can edit your interests at any time from Settings → Profile. New interests apply on your next match.

Can I skip a match without losing points?+

Yes. The profile preview screen always shows two options: [connect] and [skip]. Skipping has no rank penalty. We only deduct points if you abandon a session abruptly mid-conversation.

What is a session grade?+

Every chat closes with a letter grade: S (exceptional), A (good), B (okay), C (low engagement). The grade is calculated from session length, message balance, and whether either party left abruptly.

Grades feed your rank score and your hidden behavior signal — which keeps low-grade users out of high-grade pairings.

Why are there no photos?+

By design. stdout.chat is text-first. There is no photo upload, no voice, no video. The avatar you see on a profile preview is from a fixed emoji set we provide — never a user-submitted image. This is what keeps the platform clean and lets people focus on what someone is actually saying.

Are messages saved?+

No. Conversations exist only in memory while a session is active. When either party leaves, the message history is gone from our servers. The only exception is a small recent-message buffer that may be temporarily kept if a user submits a /report — see the retention policy.

// 03 / RANK

Ranks & themes

Climbing the ladder and customizing your terminal.

How do I climb tiers?+

Each session ends with a grade and a point reward: S = +20, A = +12, B = +5, C = 0. Points accumulate from NEW (0 pts) all the way to LEGEND (5000 pts) across 16 tiers.

You don't lose tier on a bad session — you just don't gain. Persistent low-grade behavior, however, can demote you.

How many themes are there?+

Six: classic_green (default), amber, white_phosphor, blue_terminal, red_alert, matrix_dark. Three are free; three are unlocked via the credits store (300–800 credits each).

Where do I switch themes?+

Settings → Themes. Tap any unlocked theme to apply it instantly across the whole app. Your selection is stored locally — no server round-trip.

// 04 / SAFETY

Safety & abuse

How to report, block, and stay safe.

How do I report someone?+

Type /report in the chat. The session is flagged for moderation and a small buffer of the last 10 messages is temporarily kept for review. Reports are looked at within 24 hours — confirmed violations result in immediate device-level bans.

How does blocking work?+

Type /block during or after a session. The blocked Device ID is stored locally on your phone — you will never be paired with that user again. Blocking is private; the other side is not notified.

What happens to reported content?+

It's reviewed by a human moderator and then deleted when no longer needed. We do not retain reported message content longer than necessary for moderation. See the Privacy Policy for the full retention schedule.

What's banned?+

The short list: illegal content, harassment, hate speech, threats, doxxing, sharing CSAM, spam, automation, and any attempt to disrupt the service. The full list lives in the Terms of Service. We operate a zero-tolerance policy.

// 05 / CREDITS

Credits & purchases

How the in-app currency works.

What are credits?+

Credits are stdout.chat's in-app currency. They let you send /shout broadcasts and unlock premium themes. You can earn them through high-grade sessions or purchase packs in the store.

How do I buy credits?+

Settings → Store. All purchases go through Apple's in-app payment system. We never see your card details — only an anonymized Apple transaction ID.

How do I get a refund?+

All refunds are handled by Apple. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com, find the purchase, and request a refund. We cannot process refunds directly.

Restore purchases after reinstall?+

Open Settings → Store → "Restore Purchases". Apple will restore any prior credit purchases tied to your Apple ID. Note: themes purchased on the old Device ID need to be reapplied; credit balance carries over.

// 06 / PRIVACY

Privacy & data

What we collect, what we don't.

What's a Device ID?+

A random UUID generated when you first install the app. Stored in the iOS Keychain. It's how we track your rank and credit balance — but it is not linked to your name, phone, email, or Apple ID. Delete the app and the link is severed permanently.

How do I find my Device ID?+

Settings → Profile → "Identity" card. Or type /score in any chat — your Device ID is shown at the bottom.

Can I delete my data?+

Yes. Two options:

  • Self-serve: delete the app. Your Device ID becomes orphaned, no longer linked to a device.
  • Email request: contact [email protected] with your Device ID. We process deletion requests within 30 days.
Is there an analytics SDK?+

Inside the app: no third-party analytics, no advertising SDKs, no IDFA. The website uses Vercel Web Analytics for anonymous page-view counts only — no cookies, no personal data.

// 07 / TROUBLESHOOTING

Troubleshooting

Things that occasionally break.

I keep getting "connection failed".+

First: toggle airplane mode for 5 seconds and try again — clears most carrier-side routing issues. If it persists, you may have hit the per-IP simultaneous-connection limit (3 max). Other devices on the same network using stdout.chat may need to disconnect.

My rank reset to NEW.+

Most common cause: the app was reinstalled (Device ID changed). If you didn't reinstall and your rank still reset, email [email protected] with your Device ID and we'll investigate.

I got banned but I didn't do anything.+

Email [email protected] with your Device ID, the approximate time you were last online, and any context. Our moderators review every appeal — false-positive bans are reversed promptly.

The app crashes on launch.+

Force-quit (swipe up from home screen, swipe the app away), then reopen. If it persists, update to the latest version from the App Store. Still broken? Send us a crash report at [email protected] with your iOS version and device model.

can't find what you need?

One inbox for everything. We respond to every legitimate request — most under 24 hours.