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Build an app multiple people use

How to share one app with the people who'll use it, whether they share data or each need their own.

Two people, one shared dataset

For an app you and one other person both use and both see the same data in, invite them with a role: collaborator if they’ll help build it, end-user if they should only use it. Either role sees and writes the same dataset you do: sharing an app doesn’t split its storage, it adds people who can reach the one copy that already exists. See Privacy and sharing for the full role list, including read-only viewers, and how to change or revoke access later.

Many people, each with their own data

Sharing a role only works when everyone should see the same data. For a group who each need their own, separate copy, the shape is different: turn the app into a template and let each person remix it. Opening a remixable app’s link gives that visitor their own independent copy. A flashcard deck ten people each want to fill in their own way, or a habit tracker a few friends each want to run for themselves, both fit here: one person builds and shares the template, everyone else gets a working copy of their own.

Remixing carries code forward, not data: each copy starts empty and stays independent from the template and every other copy after it. See Remixing for how to turn it on and what a remix does and doesn’t carry over.

For a page anyone should open with no sign-in, like an RSVP form or a public sign-up sheet, make the app public: fine for an open RSVP list, risky for anything one visitor shouldn’t be able to overwrite. See Privacy and sharing for what public access does and doesn’t expose.

Which shape fits

Start from who’s using the app and whether their data should mix. Two or a few trusted people who work from the same information share one dataset. Once each person needs their own data, give them a remix instead. And when anyone with the URL should be able to use it, make the app public.

Copy this prompt for your agent

Help me set up sharing for my Charming app. Read
https://charm.ing/docs/guides/build-an-app-multiple-people-use.md first,
then ask me who's using the app and whether their data should be shared
or separate before setting it up.

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