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FAQ
Quick answers to common questions about SideQuest.
SideQuest is a hyperlocal marketplace app that connects neighbors who need help with tasks to neighbors who can help. Think of it as a real-world quest board for your neighborhood!
Yes! SideQuest is free and open-source (MIT License). However, individual tasks may have rewards that cost money.
SideQuest is a web application that works on:
- Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Android Chrome)
- Desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Tablets
A native mobile app is planned for future development.
Yes, you need an account to post or claim tasks. This helps build trust and track reputation in the community.
- Open SideQuest in your browser
- Click "New to SideQuest? Sign Up"
- Enter your name, email, and password
- Click "Create Account"
Password reset functionality is currently in development. For now, contact support or create a new account with a different email.
Location access is optional but highly recommended. It allows:
- The map to center on your location
- Display of your distance to tasks
- Better task discovery
You can still use SideQuest without location access, but you'll need to manually navigate the map.
Modern browsers block certain features (like ES modules) when files are opened directly due to CORS security policies. You must run a local web server. See the Installation Guide for details.
- Click the blue + button in the bottom-right corner
- Fill in the task title, description, category
- Optionally add a reward amount
- Click "Post Task"
Your task will appear on the map immediately.
- Browse the map and tap any task marker
- Read the task details
- Click "I'll do it!" if you want to help
- Complete the task in real life
- Mark it as complete in the app
No, you cannot claim tasks you posted yourself. That would be cheating! 😄
When you post a task with a reward:
- The amount is deducted from your wallet immediately
- It's held in escrow (safe and locked)
- When the task is completed and rated, it's released to the person who helped you
- If you delete the task, the money is refunded to your wallet
Currently, there's no built-in payment system. Money can be added:
- By completing tasks for others
- Manually by a Firebase admin (for testing)
Integration with payment gateways (Stripe, Razorpay) is planned for future updates.
Tasks older than 24 hours are automatically deleted to keep the map fresh and relevant. Make sure to check the app regularly!
Not currently. If you need to change something, you'll need to delete the task and create a new one. Task editing is planned for a future update.
Yes, you can delete tasks you posted, but only if they haven't been claimed yet. Once claimed, the task is in progress and cannot be deleted.
This is a known limitation. Future updates will include:
- Time limits for task completion
- Ability to cancel/reassign tasks
- Reporting system for unreliable users
For now, try to communicate outside the app if issues arise.
After a task is completed:
- The task poster rates the task completer (1-5 stars)
- The rating is added to the completer's profile
- Average rating is calculated and displayed
Ratings help build trust in the community.
Yes, ratings from 1-5 stars are all valid. Be honest but fair:
- 5★ = Excellent
- 4★ = Good
- 3★ = Acceptable
- 2★ = Poor
- 1★ = Very poor or task not completed
Not yet. Direct messaging is planned for a future update. For now, include contact info in your task description if needed (though be cautious about privacy).
- Frontend: Vanilla JavaScript (ES6+), HTML, CSS
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- Maps: MapLibre GL JS
- Backend: Firebase (Firestore + Auth)
In the current development version, security is minimal. For production use:
- Update Firestore security rules (see Privacy & Security)
- Enable email verification
- Set up proper authentication
- Use HTTPS
Never deploy with default settings to production!
Yes! SideQuest is open-source. You can:
- Host the frontend on any static hosting (Firebase Hosting, Netlify, Vercel)
- Use your own Firebase project
- Modify the code as needed (MIT License)
See Installation Guide for details.
Not currently. SideQuest requires an internet connection for:
- Real-time updates
- Map tiles
- Firebase communication
Offline support (PWA) is planned for future development.
Common causes:
- No internet connection
- Location permissions denied (map needs to load tiles)
- Browser blocking third-party cookies
- Ad blocker interfering with MapLibre CDN
Try disabling ad blockers or using a different browser.
- Go to GitHub Issues
- Click "New Issue"
- Describe the bug:
- What you expected
- What actually happened
- Steps to reproduce
- Browser and device info
- Submit the issue
Try these steps:
- Hard refresh: Ctrl+F5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac)
- Clear browser cache
- Check browser console for errors (F12)
- Verify you're using a modern browser
- Try incognito/private mode
Possible causes:
- Wrong email or password (try again carefully)
- Account doesn't exist (sign up instead)
- Firebase Auth is down (check Firebase Status)
- Network issues
Check:
- Are you signed in?
- Is the map fully loaded?
- Try zooming out (tasks might be outside view)
- Check browser console for errors
- Try refreshing the page
This usually means:
- Firestore security rules are blocking access
- You're not signed in
- Your session expired (sign out and sign back in)
- Refresh the page
- Clear browser cache
- Try a different browser
- Check if your device is low on memory
SideQuest collects:
- Email and name (for account)
- Location (if you grant permission)
- Task data you post
- Wallet balance and transaction history
Your data is stored in Firebase and not shared with third parties.
Your exact location is not shared. Task locations use the map center when you create a task, which is approximate. Other users see:
- Task location on map (not your home address)
- Distance from their location to the task
Account deletion is not currently implemented in the UI. To delete your account:
- Contact the administrator
- Or use Firebase Console to manually delete your user data
This will be added to the app in a future update.
Currently, there's no built-in reporting system. For now:
- Open a GitHub issue
- Email the maintainer
- Avoid claiming suspicious tasks
A proper reporting system is planned for future updates.
Absolutely! SideQuest is open-source and welcomes contributions:
- Code improvements
- Bug fixes
- Documentation updates
- Feature suggestions
See Contributing Guide for details.
- Check existing GitHub Issues first
- If it's not already suggested, open a new issue
- Use the "Feature Request" template
- Describe your idea clearly
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch
- Make your changes
- Test thoroughly
- Submit a pull request
See Contributing Guide for detailed instructions.
Check the Roadmap for planned features, including:
- Direct messaging between users
- Task editing
- Payment gateway integration
- Push notifications
- Native mobile apps
- In-app reporting system
- Task categories expansion
- Photo uploads for tasks
SideQuest is a community project developed in spare time. There are no guaranteed timelines. Want a feature faster? Consider contributing! 🚀
The core app will always be free and open-source. Future possibilities:
- Premium features (e.g., priority listings)
- Small transaction fees for monetization
- Optional donations
No decisions have been made yet. Community input is welcome!
- Check the Usage Guide for detailed instructions
- Read the Troubleshooting Guide for common issues
- Search existing issues on GitHub
- Open a new issue if your question isn't answered