Question 1

Is Quirk still available to download on the App Store or Google Play?

Accepted Answer

The README provides download links, but since the project is abandoned, the apps might not be updated or could be removed over time. It's safer to fork and build your own version from the recommended commit.

Question 2

What happened to Quirk and why did it shut down?

Accepted Answer

The developers pivoted to Room Service after struggling with a sustainable business model; they found that subscriptions incentivized keeping users unhappy, leading to ethical concerns, as detailed in the README's explanation of the business failure.

Question 3

How to fork and run Quirk locally for development?

Accepted Answer

Clone the repository, check out the commit before payments were added, set up the .env file, install dependencies with yarn, and start the Expo dev environment. The README includes specific steps under 'Running Locally'.

Question 4

Quirk vs other CBT apps like Woebot or Thought Diary?

Accepted Answer

Quirk is open-source and privacy-focused but abandoned, while apps like Woebot offer AI-driven support with commercial backing. For transparency and customization, Quirk's codebase is valuable, but for ongoing features, commercial alternatives may be better.

Question 5

Can I still contribute to Quirk or translate it?

Accepted Answer

Since Quirk is no longer maintained, contributions aren't accepted to the main repo. However, you can fork it, change the name as requested, and maintain your own version, potentially adding translations or features based on the existing structure.

Question 6

What are good alternatives to Quirk for open-source mental health apps?

Accepted Answer

Alternatives include projects on GitHub tagged with mental-health, though few match Quirk's specific CBT focus. Look for apps like Moodpath or explore repositories in the open-source health tech community for similar tools.

Question 7

How does Quirk handle data backup and prevent loss?

Accepted Answer

The README emphasizes data integrity with a taxonomy of failure cases, but since the app is abandoned, any data handling in forks depends on the maintainer. Originally, it prioritized local storage to avoid cloud dependencies.

Quirk

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