Programmer Finder is built on one principle: minimal data, maximum transparency. This page explains what data we store, why, and what you can control. It applies to the Programmer Finder mobile app and to programmerfinder.com.
Who can use the app
Programmer Finder is rated 18+ and is intended for adults only. Because the app can show your approximate location on a map to other users nearby, we do not knowingly allow accounts for anyone under 18. If we learn that an account belongs to a minor, we delete it and its data.
Location — how it works, in full
Location is the most sensitive thing this app touches, so we are explicit about it. When you check in, your approximate location is shown on a map to other Programmer Finder users near you. That is the point of the app, and it is why every step below is opt-in.
- We ask first, and you can say no. Before your location is ever shown on the map, the app asks for your explicit permission — separately from the iOS system location prompt — and explains that other users will see you. You can decline. Declining is not a dead end: you can still browse, chat, manage connections, and join meetups without ever appearing on the map.
- Every appearance is a manual check-in. Your location is only published when you tap Check in, each time. There is no automatic check-in, no "always share" option, and no way to schedule or persist sharing — if you want to be on the map again tomorrow, you check in again.
- Check-ins expire. A check-in lasts for a limited session and then your location is removed from the map on its own. You can also tap Check out at any moment to disappear immediately.
- We never collect location in the background. The app does not request "Always" location access and does not read your position while it is closed or backgrounded.
- Coordinates are blurred before they leave your phone. Your position is snapped to a ~500 metre grid on the device. We never receive or store your exact coordinates, so you cannot be traced to a street address through this app.
- You can withdraw permission at any time. Revoke it in the app's privacy settings, or in iOS Settings, and any published location is cleared.
Data we store
- Account identity — the email address, GitHub account, Google account, or Apple ID you sign in with, used only to identify your account. We never use it for marketing.
- Public GitHub profile — username, avatar URL, bio, stars, top languages, fetched when you connect GitHub. All of it is already public on github.com.
- Profile choices — role, tech stack, what you're looking for, status, and bio you set during onboarding.
- Approximate location — only while you are checked in, snapped to a ~500m grid as described above.
- In-app activity — waves, chat messages, connections, and meetups you take part in. Used to power app features, not for ad profiling.
- Device push token — so we can notify you about messages and connection requests. Delete the app and it stops working.
What we DON'T do
- We don't sell your data to third parties.
- We don't track you across other apps or sites (no third-party analytics, no Facebook Pixel, no Google Analytics).
- We don't store full-precision coordinates.
- We don't collect your contacts, calendar, photo library, or call logs.
- We don't share your location with advertisers, data brokers, or anyone outside the app.
Safety controls
- Block — you can block any user, from their profile or from a chat. A blocked user cannot see you on the map, open your profile, or message you, and you stop seeing them. Manage your block list any time under Settings → Blocked users.
- Report — every profile and chat has a Report action. Reports are reviewed by a human moderator within 24 hours. Child safety concerns are prioritised ahead of everything else — see our Child Safety Standards.
- Check out / stealth — remove yourself from the map instantly, without losing your account.
- Trusted places — mark your home or office area so you are never shown on the map while you are there.
- Trusted hours — a daily window during which you are never shown on the map.
Your rights
- Access — view your profile and all chats in the app, or request an export via the email below.
- Delete — delete your account from Settings → Delete account, in the app, at any time. Your profile, location, and messages are removed within 30 days. You can also request deletion via [email protected].
- Withdraw consent — turn off location sharing without deleting your account, as described above.
Retention
Published locations are kept only for the life of a check-in and are then discarded — we do not keep a location history. Profile and message data is kept while your account exists and is deleted within 30 days of account deletion.
Questions?
Send an email to [email protected]. For security issues, use the subject "security:".