# Roll

> Roll is a weekly photo-sharing app that brings back the magic of film photography. It's an intentional alternative to Instagram, BeReal, and traditional social media.

## What is Roll?

Roll is a free iOS photo-sharing app built around a weekly rhythm. You get 24 blind shots per week — you can see the viewfinder, but you never see a preview after shooting. No retakes. Your photos develop every Sunday morning, and you curate a grid of 4, 6, 9, or 12 favorites to share with friends on Sunday evening (The Drop).

## Core Design Principles

- No previews, no retakes — every shutter counts
- No likes, no algorithm — appreciation is scarce (5 per week) and private
- No infinite scroll — one grid per friend per week
- Friends, not followers — mutual connections only, no public counts
- No ads, no premium tiers — completely free
- Camera only — no gallery uploads, no imports

## How Roll Works

1. **Shoot blind all week** (Monday-Saturday): You get 24 shots. Take photos whenever inspiration strikes. You'll see your viewfinder but never a preview. When your shutters are gone, they're gone.
2. **Develop Sunday morning**: Your photos are revealed for the first time. Browse your darkroom, pick your favorites, and arrange them into a grid.
3. **The Drop, Sunday evening**: Your curated grid goes live. See what your friends saw this week. Send up to 5 private Appreciates to grids that move you.
4. **Monday**: The cycle resets. Unused photos roll over in your darkroom.

## How Roll Compares

### vs Instagram
Roll removes everything that makes Instagram addictive: no infinite scroll, no algorithm, no public likes, no follower counts, no ads, no stories, no reels. Instead of posting anytime and performing for an audience, you shoot blind and share one curated grid per week. Appreciation is scarce and private.

### vs BeReal
Both value authenticity, but differently. BeReal gives a random daily notification and two minutes to shoot. Roll gives 24 blind shots across your whole week. BeReal shows everything instantly; Roll makes you wait until Sunday. Roll adds curation — pick your best shots for a grid instead of sharing one unfiltered moment.

### vs Dispo (RIP)
Dispo had a similar film-inspired concept but was built around influencer culture and public rolls. Roll is friends-only, with no public profiles, no follower counts, and no discovery feed. Roll survived where Dispo didn't by staying focused on private, intentional sharing.

## Key Features

- **24 blind shutters per week**: Camera-only, no preview, no retake
- **The Darkroom**: Persistent photo pool where all your undeveloped photos live until used or burned
- **Weekly grid**: Curate 4, 6, 9, or 12 photos into a grid each Sunday
- **The Drop**: Sunday evening shared reveal — everyone sees new grids at the same time
- **5 Appreciates per week**: Private, scarce reactions that actually mean something
- **Friends only**: Mutual connections via QR code, no public profiles
- **Ghost weeks**: Skip a week with zero pressure — no streaks, no guilt

## Technical Details

- Platform: iOS 17+ (iPhone)
- Price: Free (no ads, no IAP)
- Built with: SwiftUI, Firebase, AVFoundation
- Privacy: Camera-only capture, no location tracking, no data selling

## Links

- Website: https://rollweekly.com
- Privacy Policy: https://rollweekly.com/privacy
- Terms of Service: https://rollweekly.com/terms
- Contact: support@rollweekly.com