FAQ

Is my data safe?

In Local mode all your data lives in IndexedDB on your own device. No backend, no third-party service. Closing the browser tab doesn't delete it; clearing site data does. If you share the device, anyone with access to this browser profile can read it.

In Server mode the data lives in the SQLite database the FastAPI backend manages. API keys are encrypted at rest with Fernet using a secret you set via the ADAPTIVE_LEARNER_SECRET_KEY environment variable.

Neither mode sends telemetry, analytics, or your messages to any third party other than the AI provider you've chosen — and that one only sees the message content you'd expect (system prompt + your text + the AI's prior responses in the session).

Do I need an API key?

Yes for AI sessions. The app uses bring-your-own-key for all three supported providers: Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini. Free-tier limits on each provider are usually enough for a few sessions a day; if you go heavier, paid tiers unlock higher quotas.

You can browse the Curriculum, take the Assessment, and view your Dashboard without an API key. The Session page is the only feature that needs one, because it's the one that calls the AI.

Can I use it offline?

Partially. The PWA service worker caches the static assets (HTML, JS, CSS, icons) so the app launches without internet. Past sessions and Dashboard data load from local storage too, so reading old material works fine.

Live sessions still need internet because the AI provider sits outside your browser. The Session page detects "offline" and shows a clear inline message rather than failing silently when you start a new session without a connection.

What does the method switch mean?

When three sessions in a row show your understanding stagnant AND your stress high, the app surfaces a banner: "Want to try [other method] for the next session?". The recommendation prefers your second-strongest method from the assessment that you haven't used recently.

It's a suggestion, not an order. You can dismiss the banner and continue with your current method; the banner reappears if the stagnation pattern continues.

How is this different from ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a chat interface to a single model. Adaptive Learner is a structured learning system that uses an AI under the hood but adds five things:

1. A 6-method × 7-step matrix of bespoke system prompts. The AI behaves very differently as a deductive Input companion vs a contextual Integrate companion.
2. Per-turn step evaluation — a second AI call judges whether you're ready to advance and may suggest moving forward, repeating, or going back.
3. A profile of your learning preferences, picked up from a 12-question assessment, that shapes which method the sessions start in.
4. Long-term tracking — ProgressCommits, streak days, per-method distribution, time-per-step charts. ChatGPT forgets the moment you close the tab.
5. Provider freedom — pick Anthropic, OpenAI, or Gemini. Adaptive Learner is the orchestration; the model is your choice.

What if the AI goes wrong?

The system is designed to fail visibly:

• Wrong API key: the AI call returns a clear error message, surfaced inline in the chat.
• Provider down: same — the error rendering surfaces the HTTP status from the provider's API.
• JSON parse failure from the evaluator: a deterministic +1 advance kicks in (capped at step 7), with fallback_used: true recorded so a future audit can spot models that struggle with the format.
• Stale or weird AI response: end the session, give it a low rating, retake. The method-switch heuristic will surface a different method if the pattern persists.

Can I export my data?

In v0.7.0 export isn't a first-class button yet. In Local mode you can read the raw rows via the browser's IndexedDB inspector (Chrome DevTools > Application > IndexedDB > adaptive-learner). In Server mode you can query the SQLite database directly (it's a single file, no special tools needed).

Proper export / backup / restore is a known follow-up.