The Embark guide

Status

Where it stands today, and your checklist.

Where it stands · 15 October 2026

Built, shipped to TestFlight, waiting on your hands

0.1.0 (6)

Latest alpha on TestFlight (internal "TestFlight Alpha" group)

114

Game-rule tests passing in EmbarkKit

113 → ~26

Accessibility audit issues. What's left is mostly Apple's heuristic flags

iPhone The full journey loop, end to end, on your phone (CPU 4.1 s, peak memory 162 MB, temperature normal)
iPhone Live Activity and Dynamic Island
iPhone AR fallback reason found: the phone was lying flat, which falls back by design
Simulator Large text, Reduce Motion, the Watch app, the accessibility audit
Apple CloudKit schema in Production, 4 app IDs with capabilities, subscriptions, purchases and achievements ready to submit
Web Privacy, terms and invite-link file (AASA) live on madewithaether.com

Ticks are saved in this browser only.

One command, run on its own. It bumps the build number, archives, uploads, and sets the TestFlight notes:

doppler run --project apple-dev --config dev -- make embark-ship

Glossary

Basti · Sebastian, the cat. Your companion, never the player. Never sad.

Ticket · Where you write the first step and pick a way.

Way · Short (5 min) or long (25 min).

Departure · The stamp, the lantern, Basti leaving the desk.

Road · The walk. A painting, a cue, a clock.

Rest · Pause. Time is frozen, nothing is lost.

Arrival · "How did it go?" Three answers, all rewarded.

Cascade · The rewards revealed one card at a time.

Leg · One more journey right after, with momentum.

Brass · Soft currency earned in play, spent in the shop.

Find · A painted object Basti brings back. Four rarities.

Patch · One-sixth of a district painting.

Station · The painted pier, used when AR isn't used.

Ferry · A scheduled shared crossing, every 30 minutes.

Passport · Stamps for journeys, ferries, sets and milestones.

Ledger · The Lamplighter's Ledger, the story.