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Try every feature on your own copy of Arya

The builder wrote these steps and checked them on a local copy (docker compose up --build, http://localhost:8080) on 2026-11-02. "Needs your key" means the step calls a Meta model, so MODEL_API_KEY must be set in .env. Everything else works without a key.

Arya is a phone app. For the closest view, use your browser's phone mode (for example 390 × 844), or open the address from a phone on the same network.

0. How do I start it?​

  1. Copy the settings file and add your key: cp .env.local.example .env, then put your key from dev.meta.ai after MODEL_API_KEY=.
  2. Run docker compose up --build, then open http://localhost:8080.
  3. A Create your account sheet opens. You can either:
    • Fill in a username and a password, then tap Create account. Use it for section 9, your own receipts.
    • Tap Close, then Try it now to open the demo household (sections 1 to 8).

Sign-in on your own copy is a plain username and password (see Run it yourself). To make more accounts, use Start my own list at the bottom of the landing page.

1. What is the demo household?​

Tap Try it now, then Skip for now (or Show me every screen for the 2-minute tour).

The household shops in Demo Town, a simulated neighbourhood of 800 households and 8 stores: Trader Jill's, Safeday, Costcozy, Whole Meadows, Aldo's, Targot, Sprout Street and Corner Market. Anything from the neighbours is marked SIMULATED.

Today shows these cards, top to bottom:

  • Next trip: Trader Jill's, 4 items, with "Hummus 10 oz is out here today".
  • Near you today: "Hummus 10 oz is out at Trader Jill's. 3 neighbors reported it… Safeday has it at $4.29" and "Whole Milk 1 gal is cheapest at Aldo's, $3.50".
  • Running low: Whole Milk and Sourdough Loaf, each with how often you buy it.
  • Cheaper elsewhere: "Pasture Eggs: cheaper at Costcozy, $6.03 there, $6.96 at Trader Jill's".
  • Use soon: 6 things from your receipts that can expire.
  • Still good?: one item to check.
  • Spending: October total.
  • Price watch: Sourdough Loaf is 6.6% more than in July.

2. How do I see a store's news and stock?​

  1. Tap More, then Stores. My stores lists Costcozy and Trader Jill's (starred), plus Aldo's and Safeday. Each is marked Demo Town (simulated).
  2. Tap Find stores to search all stores by name, ZIP or address.
  3. Tap More, then Lists, then Trader Jill's. The list opens with a heads-up: "Hummus 10 oz is out. Safeday has it…". Hummus is marked Out here · 3 neighbors.
  4. Under Suggested for Trader Jill's, tap an item to see why Arya suggests it, then + Add.

3. How do I make things happen in the town (Director)?​

  1. Open http://localhost:8080/?director=1 and go into the demo.
  2. Tap More, then Settings. A Director · Stage a moment for the demo panel appears.
  3. Tap Eggs run out, Store closes, Saturday rush or Incident, then go back to Today and the lists to see the new reports. Reset clears them.

4. How do lists and adding items work?​

  • Type into the box at the top of a list. You can type amounts too, like "3 avocados" or "1.5 lb salmon".
  • Tap the circle to tick an item. Tap an item to edit its name, amount or note, or to move it to another list.
  • Every item lives on a list. Adding from Today with two lists asks which list.
  • Needs your key: the microphone (talk your list), or a photo of a paper list.
  • Turn off your network (browser devtools, Offline), then add, tick and remove items. They save on the phone. Turn the network back on and they sync with a "Synced" note.

5. How do I take a shopping trip (Quest)?​

  1. On the Trader Jill's list, tap Start shopping. The quest walks you item to item. Tap Got it on each.
  2. Needs your key and a camera: Find it for me (SAM 3.1 finds the shelf, and Spark checks it) and Map my store on the Quest tab.

6. How do I ask Arya something? (needs your key)​

Tap Ask, then try:

  • "We finished the Greek yogurt": the list updates.
  • "Where is milk cheaper?": it answers from the receipts.
  • "What's running low?"

7. How do I see my spending and prices?​

  • Spending: by month, by store and by item. Tap an item to see its price by store.
  • More, Receipts: the household's 39 receipts. Search by store or amount.

8. What should I use soon?​

On Today, tap Use soon and add dates. Arya reminds you before things go off. You can try the date-reading sample without a camera.

9. How do I read my own receipts end to end? (needs your key)​

  1. Sign in with the account from step 0, or make one with Start my own list.
  2. Go to More, then Receipts, then Add receipt, and snap or upload a receipt photo or PDF.
    • Spark reads it first (Wonder is the backup; see the model map), and Arya checks the lines against the printed total.
    • Items land in your data, and a store you choose for a list joins My stores.

The demo household reads a receipt live on the screen, but it does not keep it. Stay on the Receipts screen while Arya reads.

10. How do I share with my household (groups)?​

  1. Make a second account: open a private window and use Start my own list.
  2. In the first account, go to Settings and tap Start a group. Give it a name, then tap Invite someone for a code (it works for 48 hours).
  3. In the second account, join with the code.
  4. Add an item in one window. It appears in the other.

11. How do I use Arya from my own AI app?​

Go to Settings, then About Arya, then Use Arya in Muse, and tap Make my code. Paste it into Muse or any app that supports MCP connectors.

How do I reset?​

Run docker compose down -v, then docker compose up. You get a fresh copy with the demo household written again.