Aroundabout

Lights on for each other

Light the lamp when you are up for company. The people you chose see that you are around, and until when. It turns off on its own.

A wave says you are thinking of someone. It carries no message, and there is nothing to reply to.

No feed, no history, no read receipts. A porch light and a wave, and that is the whole app.

Coming to iPhone.

When you might light the lamp

A few of the times it helps.

A quiet evening in.: You’re not doing anything in particular, and you’d be glad of company. Light the lamp, and the people you chose can see you’re around. No need to pick someone and ask.
Wondering whether to text.: You’d like to hear from someone, but you can’t tell whether now’s a good time for them. If their lamp is lit, it is.
Someone you’ve drifted from.: It’s been a while, and a message out of nowhere feels like a lot. Their lamp coming on is an easy reason to say hello.
Apart for a while.: Travel, a late shift, a few time zones between you. A lit lamp says you’re free if they want to talk, and it costs them nothing to miss it.

Invite a few people. Tap Invite and send the link to someone you’d be glad to hear from. Start with a handful you’d like to see more of. They’ll need the app too.
Give each person a name. It’s the name you’ll see for them. Only you see it.
Light your lamp when you’re up for company. Pick an hour, three hours or the rest of the day.
Choose who can see it. Everyone you’re connected with, or just some of them. If you have more than a few people, save groups so it’s one tap next time.
Turn it off whenever you like. If you’ve started talking with someone or your plans change, turn it off. Otherwise it turns off on its own.
Wave when someone’s on your mind. It tells them you’re thinking of them and asks for nothing back.
Add the widget. See who’s around from your Home Screen, without opening the app.