Help & Documentation

Get the Left of the Dial app running on your device and sign in so you can sync your Discogs collection and wantlist.

Browsing the public site: The Marketing site page describes the homepage, optional email list, and unsubscribe — before you sign in.

1. Get the app

• Web: Open the app in your browser at your site's `/app/` page (e.g. `https://www.leftofthedial.app/app/`). Works in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge. The layout is responsive: use it on a phone or tablet for the same features as desktop, with a bottom tab bar on narrow screens. You can add it to your home screen for a PWA experience.

• Mobile parity: Native iOS/Android (Expo) matches web behavior; see Platforms. Maintainers: cross-check `docs/FEATURE-PARITY.md` in the repository when shipping UI changes.

• Desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux): Install the native app — same features as the web app, including mini-games and keyboard shortcuts. See Platforms for download and build steps.

• iOS: Install from the App Store, TestFlight, or build with EAS Build.

• Android: Install the `.apk` from your build or the Play Store.

See Platforms for detailed links and build steps.

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2. Backend (for sync and connected services)

The app needs a deployed backend (e.g. on Vercel) to:

• Sign you in with Discogs and sync collection/wantlist

• Connect MusicBrainz, Last.fm, and Spotify

• Show "Coming to town" (Bandsintown) and "New from artists you follow" (Spotify)

• Provide valuations, taste profile, recommendations, price alerts, and hunt rules

If you're using someone else's deployment (e.g. leftofthedial.app), you don't need to configure anything.

If you're running your own backend, set these environment variables on Vercel (or your host):

Variable	Purpose
`DISCOGS_CONSUMER_KEY`	Discogs OAuth (Discogs Developers)
`DISCOGS_CONSUMER_SECRET`	Discogs OAuth
`JWT_SECRET`	Signing JWTs (use a long random string)
`MUSICBRAINZ_CLIENT_ID`	MusicBrainz OAuth (MusicBrainz applications)
`MUSICBRAINZ_CLIENT_SECRET`	MusicBrainz OAuth
`BANDSINTOWN_APP_ID`	Bandsintown events (Bandsintown for Artists)
`LASTFM_API_KEY` / `LASTFM_API_SECRET`	Last.fm (Last.fm API)
`SPOTIFY_CLIENT_ID` / `SPOTIFY_CLIENT_SECRET`	Spotify (Spotify Dashboard); set redirect URI to `https://your-domain/api/auth/spotify/callback`

• Web: Leave `` empty if the app and API are on the same domain; otherwise set it to your API base URL.

• Expo: Set `EXPO_PUBLIC_API_URL` to your API URL (e.g. `https://your-app.vercel.app`) in `.env` or EAS secrets.

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3. Sign in with Discogs

1. Open the app — you'll land on the Dashboard with demo data. 2. Go to Profile (bottom nav on mobile, top header on web). 3. Tap Sign in with Discogs. 4. Log in to Discogs and approve the app. 5. You're redirected back; your username appears and your Collection and Wantlist start syncing.

See Sign in with Discogs for troubleshooting.

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4. Optional: Connect other services

From Profile → Connected services:

• MusicBrainz — Merge MusicBrainz collections with your Discogs collection (source selector in Collection).

• Last.fm — Recently played and loved tracks on Dashboard; taste profile integration.

• Spotify — "New from artists you follow" on Dashboard; taste profile integration.

See Profile & connected services for step-by-step connection instructions.

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5. Explore the app

• Dashboard — Value trends, deep cuts, upcoming shows, taste DNA, price alerts, travel mode

• Collection — 6 view modes (Grid, List, Shelf, A-Z, Crate, Crates), filters, sort, detail modal

• Wantlist — Manage records you're hunting, heat ratings, auto-hunt rules

• Scan — Scan barcodes to identify records, batch mode for digitizing crates

• Profile — Achievements, rig, crates, preferences, export

• Games — Six mini-games plus Cartridge Curves (web only)