chore: prepare repo for public release — scrub internal infra, rewrite README

- Remove owner-specific / legacy deploy files (home/prod/server compose, deploy/).
  The home compose stays as a local untracked file for the maintainer's own deploy.
- Genericise infra-specific code comments (egress-proxy examples) to neutral wording.
- Replace the hardcoded contact email on the legal pages with the instance operator's
  configured admin email, served via the public /auth/config and shown with a neutral
  fallback — so each self-hosted instance shows its own contact.
- Rewrite README for the current app + a copy-paste self-hosting quick start (prebuilt
  image + first-run wizard) with a build-from-source alternative; tidy .env.example.

.env.example

@@ -48,15 +48,9 @@ SMTP_USER=
 SMTP_PASSWORD=
 SMTP_FROM=
 
-# --- Deployment role ---
+# --- Scheduler ---
-# DATABASE_URL is set automatically by docker-compose.yml / docker-compose.server.yml to the
+# The background scheduler (subscription sync, backfill, enrichment) runs inside the app.
-# bundled `db` service. Override it only for local dev against the central server DB, e.g.:
+# DATABASE_URL is set for you by docker-compose to the bundled `db` service. If you ever run
-#   DATABASE_URL=postgresql+psycopg://siftlode:<password>@your-db-host:5432/siftlode
+# more than one instance against the same database, keep SCHEDULER_ENABLED=true on exactly one
-# Exactly one instance may run the background scheduler. The central server keeps it on; every
+# of them and false on the rest, to avoid double quota use and write races.
-# other instance (local dev, etc.) must set SCHEDULER_ENABLED=false. The compose files set this
-# for you (server=true via docker-compose.server.yml, local=false via docker-compose.localdev.yml).
 SCHEDULER_ENABLED=true
-
-# On the central server, set this so backup.sh / restore.sh and plain `docker compose` commands
-# target the server stack automatically:
-#   COMPOSE_FILE=docker-compose.server.yml

README.md

@@ -1,106 +1,109 @@
 # Siftlode
 
-Self-hosted, multi-user web app for browsing **your own YouTube subscriptions** the way you
+**Your YouTube subscriptions, the way a feed should work.** Siftlode pulls every upload from the
-actually want: precise filtering and sorting (by language, topic, length, age, watch state…),
+channels you follow into one clean, filterable feed — no algorithm deciding what you see, and no
-a fast local-first feed, and one-click playback that opens the real youtube.com — so your
+Shorts or livestream noise unless you want it. Self-hosted, multi-user, and private: your data
-browser's ad blocking and SponsorBlock keep working exactly as before.
+stays on your own server.
 
-Each user signs in with their own Google account (invite-only) and sees only their own
+![Siftlode feed](frontend/public/welcome/feed.png)
-subscriptions. All the expensive data (channels, videos, metadata) is fetched from YouTube
-once and stored locally, so filtering/searching/sorting are instant and don't burn API quota.
 
-> Status: early development.
+Everything expensive (channels, videos, metadata) is fetched from YouTube once and stored locally,
-> - **M1** (foundation): docker-compose stack, FastAPI backend, Google OAuth login with an
+so filtering, searching and sorting are instant and don't burn API quota. Click a video to watch it
->   email invite-list, encrypted token storage.
+in an in-app player that resumes where you left off — or open it on youtube.com so your own ad
-> - **M2** (ingest core): subscription import, free RSS detection, recent-first + deep backfill
+blocker and SponsorBlock keep working.
->   from the uploads playlist, enrichment (duration/stats/category, Shorts & livestream
->   classification), a shared daily quota guard, and a background scheduler.
-> - **M3** (auto-tagging): system tags for channel language (offline detection) and topic
->   (from YouTube topics + dominant category), regenerated automatically; user tags are
->   never overwritten.
-> - **M4** (reader UI): React + Vite SPA with four color schemes (dark/light) and adjustable
->   text size; grid/list feed scoped to your subscriptions, with faceted tag filters,
->   content-type toggles (Normal/Shorts/Live), date range, search, sort, watch/save/hide
->   state and per-channel filtering; clicking a video opens youtube.com. Accurate Shorts
->   detection via the /shorts probe, a sync-status indicator with admin pause/resume, a
->   filtered video count, and structured timestamped logging.
 
-## Requirements
+## Features
 
-- Docker + Docker Compose
+- **A readable subscription feed** — sort and filter by channel, tag, language, topic, length,
-- A Google Cloud project with an OAuth client (see below)
+  upload date or watch state; hide channels without unsubscribing; save filter setups as named views.
+- **Search all of YouTube** from the feed — results play, save and add to playlists like any other
+  video, and are materialised into your catalog.
+- **Channel pages & a channel manager** — per-channel stats and uploads, priorities, and your own
+  tags to slice the feed by.
+- **Playlists with two-way YouTube sync** — build them locally, keep them in sync in both directions.
+- **In-app player** with resume, plus keyboard/scroll controls.
+- **Multi-user** with per-user private state, a shared catalog, and a fair daily API-quota guard.
+- **Self-hosted & private**, with a first-run web setup wizard and the interface in **English,
+  Hungarian and German**.
 
-## Quick start
+## Quick start (self-hosting)
 
-1. Copy the env template and generate secrets:
+You don't need to build anything — Siftlode runs from a prebuilt public image, and all
+configuration (your admin account, Google sign-in, email) happens in a **first-run web wizard**.
+You need [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) with the Compose plugin.
+
+**1. Get the files and run the installer:**
 
 ```sh
+git clone https://forge.b1fr0st.eu/peter/siftlode.git
+cd siftlode
+./install.sh          # Windows (PowerShell):  ./install.ps1
+```
+
+The installer generates a private `.env` (secrets), pulls the image, starts the app + database, and
+prints a one-time setup URL like `http://localhost:8080/setup?token=…`.
+
+**2. Finish in your browser.** Open that URL and follow the wizard:
+
+1. **Admin account** — the email + password you'll sign in with.
+2. **Google sign-in** *(optional)* — paste a Google OAuth client to enable "Sign in with Google" and
+   pulling your YouTube subscriptions. Skip it to use email + password only.
+3. **Email / SMTP** *(optional)* — for verification/notification emails. Skip it and you (the admin)
+   simply approve new accounts yourself.
+
+Then sign in with your admin account. That's it. See **[docs/self-hosting.md](docs/self-hosting.md)**
+for the full walkthrough.
+
+> Just trying it out? Press Enter at the installer's URL prompt to run on `http://localhost:8080`.
+
+## Build from source (alternative)
+
+Prefer to build the image yourself instead of pulling it:
+
+```sh
+git clone https://forge.b1fr0st.eu/peter/siftlode.git
+cd siftlode
 cp .env.example .env
-   python -c "import secrets;print('SECRET_KEY=',secrets.token_urlsafe(48))"
+# generate the two secrets and paste them into .env:
-   python -c "import base64,os;print('TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_KEY=',base64.urlsafe_b64encode(os.urandom(32)).decode())"
+python -c "import secrets;print('SECRET_KEY='+secrets.token_urlsafe(48))"
+python -c "import base64,os;print('TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_KEY='+base64.urlsafe_b64encode(os.urandom(32)).decode())"
+docker compose up --build -d      # builds from the included Dockerfile
 ```
 
-   Paste the generated values into `.env`.
+Open `http://localhost:8080` and finish in the setup wizard as above. (Set a `POSTGRES_PASSWORD` in
+`.env` too.)
 
-2. Create a Google OAuth client (Google Cloud Console → APIs & Services):
+## HTTPS / public access
-   - Enable the **YouTube Data API v3**.
-   - OAuth consent screen: **External**, publishing status **Testing**, and add every invited
-     Google account as a **Test user** (up to 100 — no app verification needed at this scale).
-   - Create credentials → **OAuth client ID** → type **Web application**.
-   - Authorized redirect URI: `http://localhost:8080/auth/callback`
-     (must match `OAUTH_REDIRECT_URL` in `.env`).
-   - Put the client ID/secret into `.env`, and list invited emails in `ALLOWED_EMAILS`.
 
-3. Start it:
+Port `8080` over plain HTTP is fine for a LAN or a quick trial. For public access put a reverse
+proxy (Caddy, Nginx, Traefik…) in front to terminate TLS, and set the **public URL** (the installer
+prompt, or `OAUTH_REDIRECT_URL` in `.env`) to your `https://…` address — this also marks the session
+cookie secure. Add that same `…/auth/callback` URL to your Google OAuth client's authorized redirect
+URIs.
+
+## Updating & backups
 
 ```sh
-   docker compose up --build
+docker compose -f docker-compose.selfhost.yml pull   # or: docker compose pull
+docker compose -f docker-compose.selfhost.yml up -d
 ```
 
-   Open http://localhost:8080 and sign in. Database migrations run automatically on startup.
+Database migrations run automatically on startup. Your data (accounts, subscriptions, playlists, the
+video catalog) lives in a Postgres volume — back it up with `scripts/backup.sh` (or `backup.ps1` on
+Windows) and restore with `scripts/restore.sh`.
 
-## Backup & moving to another machine
+## How it works
 
-All data lives in the Postgres database — moving to another host (e.g. a Proxmox Linux
+- **Shared catalog, private state.** Channels and videos are stored once and shared; each user's
-server) does **not** require re-fetching from YouTube. Copy your `.env` (keep the same
+  subscriptions, tags, playlists and watch/save/hide state are private.
-`TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_KEY` and Google client so stored tokens stay valid), then:
+- **Cheap by design.** Public reads are cached locally; a shared daily quota budget and a background
-
+  scheduler keep unattended syncing within YouTube's free API limits. An optional API key lets
-```sh
+  backfill run without depending on a user's OAuth token.
-./scripts/backup.sh                 # -> backups/siftlode-<timestamp>.dump   (Windows: scripts\backup.ps1)
-./scripts/restore.sh backups/<file> # on the new host after `docker compose up`
-```
-
-## Central server + local dev (single shared database)
-
-For always-on operation the recommended topology is a single **central Postgres** running on a
-24/7 host (e.g. a Proxmox LXC) that also runs the background scheduler, with every other instance
-(your local dev machine, a future VPS) pointing at that same database. One source of truth, no
-sync.
-
-- **Server** (`docker-compose.server.yml`): full stack, Postgres published on the LAN, scheduler
-  on, DB files in a host-visible `./pgdata` bind mount. In the LXC, from the project root:
-
-  ```sh
-  echo 'COMPOSE_FILE=docker-compose.server.yml' >> .env   # so backup/restore target this stack
-  docker compose up -d --build
-  ./scripts/restore.sh backups/<file>                     # migrate existing data in
-  ```
-
-  Set `YOUTUBE_API_KEY` in `.env` so unattended backfill/enrichment use the API key and don't
-  depend on a refresh token (which expires after 7 days while the OAuth screen is in *Testing*).
-
-- **Local dev** (`docker-compose.localdev.yml`): webapp only, no local DB, no scheduler. In `.env`
-  set `DATABASE_URL` to the central DB (e.g. `…@your-db-host:5432/siftlode`), then
-  `docker compose -f docker-compose.localdev.yml up --build` and browse http://localhost:8080.
-
-**Exactly one instance may run the scheduler.** The server keeps `SCHEDULER_ENABLED=true`; every
-other instance must be `false` (the compose files enforce this) to avoid double quota burn and
-write races on the shared DB.
 
 ## Tech
 
-FastAPI + PostgreSQL backend, React + Vite frontend (added in a later milestone), packaged with
+FastAPI + PostgreSQL (SQLAlchemy, Alembic) backend; React + Vite + Tailwind + TanStack Query
-Docker Compose.
+frontend; packaged as a single Docker image with Docker Compose.
 
 ## Note
 

backend/app/auth.py

@@ -805,4 +805,6 @@ def auth_config(db: Session = Depends(get_db)) -> dict:
     return {
         "google_enabled": google_enabled(db),
         "allow_registration": sysconfig.get_bool(db, "allow_registration"),
+        # Contact shown on the public legal pages (the operator's admin email), if configured.
+        "operator_contact": operator_contact(),
     }

backend/app/config.py

@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     # preferred for shared backfill/enrichment so it doesn't depend on a specific user.
     youtube_api_key: str = ""
     # Optional HTTP(S) proxy for outbound YouTube Data API calls. Set this to send the
-    # scheduler's googleapis traffic through a fixed-IP host (e.g. the VPS over WireGuard) so an
+    # scheduler's googleapis traffic through a fixed-IP host so an IP-restricted API key
-    # IP-restricted API key keeps working even when this host's public IP is dynamic.
+    # keeps working even when this host's public IP is dynamic.
     youtube_api_proxy: str = ""
     # Daily quota budget (units). Default leaves headroom under the 10,000/day free limit.
     quota_daily_budget: int = 9000

backend/app/youtube/client.py

@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ class YouTubeClient:
     def __init__(self, db, user: User):
         self.db = db
         self.user = user
-        # Optionally route all YouTube traffic through a fixed-IP egress proxy (e.g. the VPS
+        # Optionally route all YouTube traffic through a fixed-IP egress proxy so an
-        # over WireGuard) so an IP-restricted API key keeps working from a dynamic-IP host.
+        # IP-restricted API key keeps working from a host with a dynamic public IP.
         proxy = sysconfig.get_str(db, "youtube_api_proxy") or None
         self._http = httpx.Client(timeout=30.0, proxy=proxy)
 

docker-compose.localdev.yml

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ services:
     depends_on:
       db:
         condition: service_healthy
-    # Harmless on Docker Desktop; needed if ever run under Docker-in-LXC.
+    # Harmless on Docker Desktop; needed on some nested/hardened Docker hosts.
     security_opt:
       - apparmor:unconfined
     ports:

frontend/src/components/legal/LegalLayout.tsx

@@ -1,10 +1,47 @@
 // Shared shell for the public, login-free legal pages (/privacy, /terms). These must be
 // reachable unauthenticated — Google's OAuth consent screen links to them and reviewers
-// fetch them directly — so they render outside the authenticated App tree (see main.tsx).
+// fetch them directly — so they render outside the authenticated App tree (see main.tsx),
+// with no react-query provider: the operator contact is fetched with a plain fetch below.
+import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 
-export const CONTACT_EMAIL = "b1fr0stmailops@gmail.com";
 export const LAST_UPDATED = "June 14, 2026";
 
+// Contact shown on the legal pages: the instance operator's configured admin email, from the
+// public /auth/config. One shared fetch across the page; null when the operator set none.
+let contactPromise: Promise<string | null> | null = null;
+function fetchOperatorContact(): Promise<string | null> {
+  if (!contactPromise) {
+    contactPromise = fetch("/auth/config")
+      .then((r) => (r.ok ? r.json() : null))
+      .then((c) => (c?.operator_contact as string | undefined) ?? null)
+      .catch(() => null);
+  }
+  return contactPromise;
+}
+
+export function useOperatorContact(): string | null {
+  const [contact, setContact] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let alive = true;
+    fetchOperatorContact().then((c) => alive && setContact(c));
+    return () => {
+      alive = false;
+    };
+  }, []);
+  return contact;
+}
+
+// The operator's contact rendered as a mailto link, or a neutral fallback phrase when unset.
+export function ContactEmail() {
+  const email = useOperatorContact();
+  if (!email) return <>your instance&apos;s administrator</>;
+  return (
+    <a href={`mailto:${email}`} className="text-accent hover:underline">
+      {email}
+    </a>
+  );
+}
+
 export function LegalLink({ href, children }: { href: string; children: React.ReactNode }) {
   return (
     <a href={href} target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" className="text-accent hover:underline">
@@ -20,6 +57,7 @@ export default function LegalLayout({
   title: string;
   children: React.ReactNode;
 }) {
+  const contact = useOperatorContact();
   return (
     <div className="min-h-screen bg-bg text-fg">
       <div className="mx-auto w-[min(92vw,720px)] py-12">
@@ -35,7 +73,9 @@ export default function LegalLayout({
           <a href="/" className="hover:text-fg transition">Home</a>
           <a href="/privacy" className="hover:text-fg transition">Privacy Policy</a>
           <a href="/terms" className="hover:text-fg transition">Terms of Service</a>
-          <a href={`mailto:${CONTACT_EMAIL}`} className="hover:text-fg transition">Contact</a>
+          {contact && (
+            <a href={`mailto:${contact}`} className="hover:text-fg transition">Contact</a>
+          )}
         </footer>
       </div>
     </div>

frontend/src/components/legal/PrivacyPolicy.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import LegalLayout, { CONTACT_EMAIL, H2, LegalLink } from "./LegalLayout";
+import LegalLayout, { ContactEmail, H2, LegalLink } from "./LegalLayout";
 
 export default function PrivacyPolicy() {
   return (
@@ -71,11 +71,7 @@ export default function PrivacyPolicy() {
           myaccount.google.com/permissions
         </LegalLink>
         ; once revoked, the stored tokens can no longer be used. To have your account and
-        associated data deleted, email{" "}
+        associated data deleted, contact <ContactEmail />.
-        <a href={`mailto:${CONTACT_EMAIL}`} className="text-accent hover:underline">
-          {CONTACT_EMAIL}
-        </a>
-        .
       </p>
 
       <H2>Cookies</H2>
@@ -100,11 +96,7 @@ export default function PrivacyPolicy() {
 
       <H2>Contact</H2>
       <p>
-        Questions about this policy or your data:{" "}
+        Questions about this policy or your data: contact <ContactEmail />.
-        <a href={`mailto:${CONTACT_EMAIL}`} className="text-accent hover:underline">
-          {CONTACT_EMAIL}
-        </a>
-        .
       </p>
     </LegalLayout>
   );

frontend/src/components/legal/Terms.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import LegalLayout, { CONTACT_EMAIL, H2, LegalLink } from "./LegalLayout";
+import LegalLayout, { ContactEmail, H2, LegalLink } from "./LegalLayout";
 
 export default function Terms() {
   return (
@@ -56,11 +56,7 @@ export default function Terms() {
 
       <H2>Contact</H2>
       <p>
-        Questions:{" "}
+        Questions: contact <ContactEmail />.
-        <a href={`mailto:${CONTACT_EMAIL}`} className="text-accent hover:underline">
-          {CONTACT_EMAIL}
-        </a>
-        .
       </p>
     </LegalLayout>
   );

frontend/src/lib/api.ts

@@ -773,8 +773,11 @@ export const api = {
     }),
 
   // Public: which sign-in options this instance offers (e.g. hide Google when not configured).
-  authConfig: (): Promise<{ google_enabled: boolean; allow_registration: boolean }> =>
+  authConfig: (): Promise<{
-    req("/auth/config"),
+    google_enabled: boolean;
+    allow_registration: boolean;
+    operator_contact: string | null;
+  }> => req("/auth/config"),
 
   // --- first-run install wizard (token from the setup URL printed to the container logs) ---
   setupStatus: (): Promise<{ configured: boolean }> => req("/api/setup/status"),