5 Under the hood
Hearthhold is a Kindling Pool host with three Pools on one domain: two public, one unlisted. Here is how vouching, visibility, messaging, the OAuth minimum and block lists work, every setting and file, and what the v0.1 schema cannot say yet.
In plain words
In Platonic Life Partners and Intentional Co-Parents, a steward meets each person before vouching for them: once on a call for the first, twice for the second. The Pool’s consent model is vouching-required §3.2, which may add steps before the handshake but never removes the right to decline or leave §5.4. A vouch is local to the Pool that gave it §4.4: Dana’s card reads “Vouched for by the curator” in Platonic Life Partners, and that vouch means nothing anywhere else.
Platonic Life Partners and Later-Life Housemates are public: they are in our discovery file, and anyone can read them. Intentional Co-Parents is unlisted: it is in no directory and no registry, and its address travels from a steward, after two meetings §3.2 §8.2. Unlisted is not private. The protocol has no access control on a manifest §3.1; anyone who holds the address can read it. Our promise is how we share the address, and that no page of ours lists its members.
Every member of the two vouching Pools keeps accept_from: vouched and no_cold_messages: true §7.2. So only people vouched for in the same Pool can write at all, and nobody writes first until a steward has proposed an introduction and both have said yes. In Later-Life Housemates there is no Pool rule, and each person’s own page decides.
The two vouching Pools set minimum_sender_verification: oauth, a Pool-level default the manifest allows §3.3. The page checks it with canMessage and ctx.pool_min_sender. Leo is vouched in Platonic Life Partners, but his own identity is email verified, so he signs in with OAuth once before he writes. See the gap on this below.
Every Pool subscribes to the Kindling project’s public list and the Circular consortium’s list §7.3. A sender on either is refused before any other rule is checked, in every Pool, for every member. Both lists and their entries are below.
Nothing at the connection layer is charged for §1.3. Our paid help, written agreements and mediation, sits outside the protocol, is offered only after two people have been introduced and have decided to build something, and appears in no field: only as a sentence in governance_rules.
Settings
| Setting | Value | Spec | Why Hearthhold chose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consent model, Platonic Life Partners and Co-Parents | vouching-required | §3.2 §5.4 | A steward meets people before vouching. Each person still says yes or no, and can leave in a minute. |
| Pre-handshake step | a call; for Co-Parents, two meetings | §5.4 | Stricter models may add steps before the handshake, as long as the person can still decline or withdraw. |
| Consent model, Housemates | universal-opt-in | §3.2 §5.2 | Anyone may say yes to a link. People listing themselves to share a home do not need a steward first. |
| Visibility, Platonic Life Partners and Housemates | public | §3.2 §8.1 | So anyone looking can find them, and any client can read them by the members’ consent. |
| Visibility, Co-Parents | unlisted | §3.2 §8.2 | Its address travels from a steward, after two meetings, and nowhere else. |
| Well-known file | lists the two public Pools | §8.3 §10.1 | Crawlers and registries can find them. Co-Parents is left out on purpose. |
| Registries | none yet; Co-Parents never | §8.4 §8.5 | Listing is the curator’s choice. |
| Curator verification | oauth | §4.3 | Both stewards sign in with OAuth. Cryptographic identity is planned for v0.2 (§4.6). |
| Entry verification | curator-vouched (two Pools); email (Housemates) | §4.4 §4.5 | A vouch is given after a meeting and counts in that Pool only. |
| Pool minimum sender verification | oauth (two Pools); not set (Housemates) | §3.3 §7.1 | A higher floor where people plan households and children; none where each person’s own rules already say enough. |
| Each member’s accept_from, two Pools | vouched | §7.2 | Only people vouched for in the same Pool can write. |
| Each member’s no_cold_messages, two Pools | true | §7.2 | Nobody writes first until both have said yes to an introduction. |
| Block lists | Kindling public · Circular consortium | §7.3 | Shared lists catch what one small service would not see. |
| Handshake window | 14 days, in each request’s expires_at | §5.2 | The default. v0.1 has no manifest field for it, so each request carries it. |
| Auto-accept | none; no member has a rule | §5.5 | Every listing here was a decision someone made that day. |
| Withdrawal | one action, processed at once | §5.3 | The spec allows sixty seconds. Leaving should never wait on us. |
| Introductions | intro message, via_pool, email | §6.1 §6.2 §6.3 | Sent only after both said yes: one envelope to each person. |
| Proposals and answers | system message; reply | §6.3 | v0.1 has no proposal type. See below. |
| kindling_noindex | false for every member | §2.7 | Privacy inside a Pool comes from its visibility, never from noindex, which means “not in any Pool at all”. |
| Money | none at the connection layer | §1.3 | Nobody pays to be listed or introduced. Paid help comes after, off the protocol, only if asked for. |
The files
Each file below validates against the repository’s JSON Schemas.
Discovery
File: .well-known/kindling-pool · operator Hearthhold, introductions for chosen family: platonic partners, co-parents and housemates, stewards@hearthhold.example
It lists the two public Pools. Intentional Co-Parents is left out on purpose, and is in no registry §8.3 §8.4.
| Pool | Visibility | Status | Intent | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platonic Life Partners https://hearthhold.example/pools/platonic-partners.json | public | active | platonic-partnership, chosen-family | 22 September 2026 |
| Later-Life Housemates https://hearthhold.example/pools/later-life-housemates.json | public | active | housemates, later-life, friendship | 25 September 2026 |
{
"schema_version": "0.1",
"pools": [
{
"manifest_url": "https://hearthhold.example/pools/platonic-partners.json",
"name": "Platonic Life Partners",
"intent_tags": [
"platonic-partnership",
"chosen-family"
],
"visibility": "public",
"status": "active",
"geographic_scope": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"last_updated": "2026-09-22T18:00:00Z"
},
{
"manifest_url": "https://hearthhold.example/pools/later-life-housemates.json",
"name": "Later-Life Housemates",
"intent_tags": [
"housemates",
"later-life",
"friendship"
],
"visibility": "public",
"status": "active",
"geographic_scope": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"last_updated": "2026-09-25T10:00:00Z"
}
],
"operator": {
"name": "Hearthhold, introductions for chosen family: platonic partners, co-parents and housemates",
"contact": "stewards@hearthhold.example",
"url": "https://hearthhold.example"
}
}Manifests
File: pools/platonic-partners.json · served at https://hearthhold.example/pools/platonic-partners.json
platonic-partnerspublicvouching-requiredoauthactive · created 10 April 2026 · updated 22 September 2026| Entry | Level | Consent proof | Added | Their messaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dana Whitcombe https://dana-whitcombe.carrd.example | Vouched for by the curator | curator-vouchinghs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-dana | 12 April 2026 | vouched, no cold: true |
| Leo Marchetti https://leo-marchetti.example | Vouched for by the curator | curator-vouchinghs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-leo | 3 May 2026 | vouched, no cold: true |
| Sam Adebayo https://sam-adebayo.notion.example | Vouched for by the curator | curator-vouchinghs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-sam | 21 June 2026 | vouched, no cold: true |
{
"schema_version": "0.1",
"id": "platonic-partners",
"name": "Platonic Life Partners",
"curator": [
{
"identity": "mireille@mail.example",
"display_name": "Mireille Dufresne",
"verification_level": "oauth",
"primary": true
},
{
"identity": "omar@mail.example",
"display_name": "Omar Qureshi",
"verification_level": "oauth",
"primary": false
}
],
"intent_tags": [
"platonic-partnership",
"chosen-family"
],
"visibility": "public",
"consent_model": "vouching-required",
"curator_contact": "stewards@hearthhold.example",
"charter": "People looking for a committed partner who is not a romantic one: a shared household, shared decisions, each other’s emergency contact. Aromantic, asexual, widowed, single on purpose, and anyone else who wants this. A steward meets you before you are listed.",
"geographic_scope": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"governance_rules": "A steward meets each person on a call before vouching for them; the vouch is local to this Pool. Every member keeps no_cold_messages on. Hearthhold charges nothing to be listed or introduced; it charges only for help after two people decide to build something, such as a written agreement or a mediation session.",
"messaging_preferences": {
"block_list_subscriptions": [
"https://protocol.kindling.foundation/blocklist.json",
"https://thecircular.example/blocklist.json"
],
"minimum_sender_verification": "oauth"
},
"status": "active",
"created_at": "2026-04-10T12:00:00Z",
"updated_at": "2026-09-22T18:00:00Z",
"entries": [
{
"profile_url": "https://dana-whitcombe.carrd.example",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://dana-whitcombe.carrd.example",
"display_name": "Dana Whitcombe",
"pronouns": "she/her",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"platonic-partnership",
"chosen-family"
],
"about": "Aromantic, 38, a hospital pharmacist. Looking for a life partner who is not a romantic one: a household, shared decisions, each other’s emergency contact.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "dana@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "curator-vouched",
"verified_at": "2026-04-12T18:30:00Z",
"verifier": "omar@mail.example"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "vouched",
"no_cold_messages": true,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-04-12T18:30:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-04-12T18:30:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-dana",
"accepted_at": "2026-04-12T18:30:00Z",
"method": "curator-vouching"
},
"verification_level": "curator-vouched",
"added_at": "2026-04-12T18:30:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
},
{
"profile_url": "https://leo-marchetti.example",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://leo-marchetti.example",
"display_name": "Leo Marchetti",
"pronouns": "he/him",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"platonic-partnership",
"chosen-family"
],
"about": "Widowed at 44. I miss having someone to run a life with more than I miss romance. Carpenter, early riser, good at taxes.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "leo@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "curator-vouched",
"verified_at": "2026-05-03T17:00:00Z",
"verifier": "omar@mail.example"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "vouched",
"no_cold_messages": true,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-05-03T17:00:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-05-03T17:00:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-leo",
"accepted_at": "2026-05-03T17:00:00Z",
"method": "curator-vouching"
},
"verification_level": "curator-vouched",
"added_at": "2026-05-03T17:00:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
},
{
"profile_url": "https://sam-adebayo.notion.example",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://sam-adebayo.notion.example",
"display_name": "Sam Adebayo",
"pronouns": "they/them",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"platonic-partnership",
"chosen-family"
],
"about": "Asexual, 41, a union electrician. Looking for a person to buy a house with and grow old next to.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "sam@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "curator-vouched",
"verified_at": "2026-06-21T20:10:00Z",
"verifier": "omar@mail.example"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "vouched",
"no_cold_messages": true,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-06-21T20:10:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-06-21T20:10:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-sam",
"accepted_at": "2026-06-21T20:10:00Z",
"method": "curator-vouching"
},
"verification_level": "curator-vouched",
"added_at": "2026-06-21T20:10:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
}
]
}File: pools/co-parents.json · served at https://hearthhold.example/pools/co-parents.json
co-parentsunlistedvouching-requiredoauthactive · created 15 May 2026 · updated 10 September 2026In practice this file’s address travels only from a steward, after two meetings, and no page of ours lists who is in it. We show it here because this is an example and every person in it is invented. Anyone who holds the address of an unlisted Pool can read it; that is the honest limit of unlisted.
| Entry | Level | Consent proof | Added | Their messaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priyanka Sethi https://priyanka-sethi.example | Vouched for by the curator | curator-vouchinghs-hearthhold-co-parents-priyanka | 18 May 2026 | vouched, no cold: true |
| Graham Ellis https://graham-ellis.carrd.example | Vouched for by the curator | curator-vouchinghs-hearthhold-co-parents-graham | 2 June 2026 | vouched, no cold: true |
| Toni Alvarado https://toni-alvarado.notion.example | Vouched for by the curator | curator-vouchinghs-hearthhold-co-parents-toni | 15 July 2026 | vouched, no cold: true |
{
"schema_version": "0.1",
"id": "co-parents",
"name": "Intentional Co-Parents",
"curator": [
{
"identity": "mireille@mail.example",
"display_name": "Mireille Dufresne",
"verification_level": "oauth",
"primary": true
},
{
"identity": "omar@mail.example",
"display_name": "Omar Qureshi",
"verification_level": "oauth",
"primary": false
}
],
"intent_tags": [
"co-parenting",
"chosen-family"
],
"visibility": "unlisted",
"consent_model": "vouching-required",
"curator_contact": "stewards@hearthhold.example",
"charter": "Adults who want to raise a child together as co-parents rather than as a couple. A steward meets each person twice before vouching. Unlisted: the address travels from a steward. Introductions are slow here on purpose.",
"geographic_scope": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"governance_rules": "A steward meets each person twice, once on a call and once in person, before vouching for them; the vouch is local to this Pool. Every member keeps no_cold_messages on. Hearthhold charges nothing to be listed or introduced; it charges only for help after two people decide to build something, such as a written agreement or a mediation session.",
"messaging_preferences": {
"block_list_subscriptions": [
"https://protocol.kindling.foundation/blocklist.json",
"https://thecircular.example/blocklist.json"
],
"minimum_sender_verification": "oauth"
},
"status": "active",
"created_at": "2026-05-15T12:00:00Z",
"updated_at": "2026-09-10T19:00:00Z",
"entries": [
{
"profile_url": "https://priyanka-sethi.example",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://priyanka-sethi.example",
"display_name": "Priyanka Sethi",
"pronouns": "she/her",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"co-parenting",
"chosen-family"
],
"about": "Pediatric nurse, 37. Want to raise a child with a co-parent who is a close friend, not a spouse. I have a spreadsheet and I am not ashamed of it.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "priyanka@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "curator-vouched",
"verified_at": "2026-05-18T19:00:00Z",
"verifier": "omar@mail.example"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "vouched",
"no_cold_messages": true,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-05-18T19:00:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-05-18T19:00:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-co-parents-priyanka",
"accepted_at": "2026-05-18T19:00:00Z",
"method": "curator-vouching"
},
"verification_level": "curator-vouched",
"added_at": "2026-05-18T19:00:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
},
{
"profile_url": "https://graham-ellis.carrd.example",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://graham-ellis.carrd.example",
"display_name": "Graham Ellis",
"pronouns": "he/him",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"co-parenting",
"chosen-family"
],
"about": "Gay, 40, a high school counselor. Ready to parent, with a partner in parenting rather than romance.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "graham@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "curator-vouched",
"verified_at": "2026-06-02T18:45:00Z",
"verifier": "omar@mail.example"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "vouched",
"no_cold_messages": true,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-06-02T18:45:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-06-02T18:45:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-co-parents-graham",
"accepted_at": "2026-06-02T18:45:00Z",
"method": "curator-vouching"
},
"verification_level": "curator-vouched",
"added_at": "2026-06-02T18:45:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
},
{
"profile_url": "https://toni-alvarado.notion.example",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://toni-alvarado.notion.example",
"display_name": "Toni Alvarado",
"pronouns": "she/her",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"co-parenting",
"chosen-family"
],
"about": "Single, 39, a civil engineer. Would like to co-parent with someone who shares my values about school, money and grandparents.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "toni@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "curator-vouched",
"verified_at": "2026-07-15T20:30:00Z",
"verifier": "omar@mail.example"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "vouched",
"no_cold_messages": true,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-07-15T20:30:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-07-15T20:30:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-co-parents-toni",
"accepted_at": "2026-07-15T20:30:00Z",
"method": "curator-vouching"
},
"verification_level": "curator-vouched",
"added_at": "2026-07-15T20:30:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
}
]
}File: pools/later-life-housemates.json · served at https://hearthhold.example/pools/later-life-housemates.json
later-life-housematespublicuniversal-opt-innot setactive · created 1 August 2026 · updated 25 September 2026| Entry | Level | Consent proof | Added | Their messaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walt Kessler https://walt-kessler.example | Email verified | email-linkhs-hearthhold-later-life-housemates-walt | 3 August 2026 | verified, no cold: false |
| Rosalind Achebe https://rosalind-achebe.carrd.example | Email verified | email-linkhs-hearthhold-later-life-housemates-rosalind | 11 August 2026 | verified, no cold: false |
| Evelyn Marsh https://evelyn-marsh.carrd.example/home | Email verified | email-linkhs-hearthhold-later-life-housemates-evelyn | 2 September 2026 | vouched, no cold: true |
{
"schema_version": "0.1",
"id": "later-life-housemates",
"name": "Later-Life Housemates",
"curator": [
{
"identity": "omar@mail.example",
"display_name": "Omar Qureshi",
"verification_level": "oauth",
"primary": true
}
],
"intent_tags": [
"housemates",
"later-life",
"friendship"
],
"visibility": "public",
"consent_model": "universal-opt-in",
"curator_contact": "stewards@hearthhold.example",
"charter": "People fifty-five and over who would like to share a home: company in the kitchen, help with the stairs, someone who notices. Friendship, not romance, unless two people decide otherwise on their own.",
"geographic_scope": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"governance_rules": "Anyone may say yes to being listed. Hearthhold helps with house agreements after two or more people decide to share a home, and charges only then.",
"messaging_preferences": {
"block_list_subscriptions": [
"https://protocol.kindling.foundation/blocklist.json",
"https://thecircular.example/blocklist.json"
]
},
"status": "active",
"created_at": "2026-08-01T09:00:00Z",
"updated_at": "2026-09-25T10:00:00Z",
"entries": [
{
"profile_url": "https://walt-kessler.example",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://walt-kessler.example",
"display_name": "Walt Kessler",
"pronouns": "he/him",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"housemates",
"later-life",
"friendship"
],
"about": "Retired harbor master, 68. The house is too big and too quiet. I cook, I fix things, and I go to bed at nine.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "walt@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "email",
"verified_at": "2026-08-03T10:00:00Z"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "verified",
"no_cold_messages": false,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-08-03T10:00:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-08-03T10:00:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-later-life-housemates-walt",
"accepted_at": "2026-08-03T10:00:00Z",
"method": "email-link"
},
"verification_level": "email",
"added_at": "2026-08-03T10:00:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
},
{
"profile_url": "https://rosalind-achebe.carrd.example",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://rosalind-achebe.carrd.example",
"display_name": "Rosalind Achebe",
"pronouns": "she/her",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"housemates",
"later-life",
"friendship"
],
"about": "Retired choir director, 71. Looking for housemates who like music in the kitchen and quiet after ten.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "rosalind@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "email",
"verified_at": "2026-08-11T14:20:00Z"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "verified",
"no_cold_messages": false,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-08-11T14:20:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-08-11T14:20:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-later-life-housemates-rosalind",
"accepted_at": "2026-08-11T14:20:00Z",
"method": "email-link"
},
"verification_level": "email",
"added_at": "2026-08-11T14:20:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
},
{
"profile_url": "https://evelyn-marsh.carrd.example/home",
"parsed_profile": {
"schema_version": "0.1",
"profile_url": "https://evelyn-marsh.carrd.example/home",
"display_name": "Evelyn Marsh",
"pronouns": "she/her",
"location": {
"city": "Port Ellery",
"country": "United States"
},
"intent_tags": [
"housemates",
"later-life",
"friendship"
],
"about": "Retired schoolteacher, two grown sons who live far away. I would like to share a house with people who read at the table and do not mind a small sailboat in the driveway.",
"contact_methods": [
{
"type": "email",
"value": "evelyn@mail.example",
"label": "Kindling identity"
}
],
"verification": {
"level": "email",
"verified_at": "2026-09-02T11:45:00Z"
},
"messaging_preferences": {
"accept_from": "vouched",
"no_cold_messages": true,
"minimum_curator_verification": "email"
},
"kindling_noindex": false,
"parsed_at": "2026-09-02T11:45:00Z",
"parser": "kindling-parser/0.1.1"
},
"parsed_at": "2026-09-02T11:45:00Z",
"consent_proof": {
"handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-later-life-housemates-evelyn",
"accepted_at": "2026-09-02T11:45:00Z",
"method": "email-link"
},
"verification_level": "email",
"added_at": "2026-09-02T11:45:00Z",
"added_by": "omar@mail.example"
}
]
}Block lists
Messages and handshakes from anything on these lists are refused §7.3.
Copy: blocklist.json · published at https://protocol.kindling.foundation/blocklist.json · version 3, 20 September 2026
The block list the Kindling project will publish under SPEC.md §7.3, for identities and implementations with confirmed abuse. The entries here are illustrative until the registry opens. No personal details are ever published.
| Type | Target | Reason | Detail | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
implementation | scrapekit/0.3 | scraping | Ignores kindling-noindex and robots signals. | 2 July 2026 |
identity | promo-blast@mail.example | spam | 14 August 2026 |
Copy: circular/blocklist.json · published at https://thecircular.example/blocklist.json · version 8, 27 September 2026
Shared by every member of the Circular consortium. Each member subscribes; any member may propose an entry, and two others must second it.
| Type | Target | Reason | Detail | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
curator_identity | listed-them-anyway@mail.example | consent_violation | Submitted other people’s pages, a whole household’s among them, to Pools without asking any of them. | 27 September 2026 |
pool_url | https://free-friends-now.example/pools/everyone.json | consent_violation | Listed profiles that never accepted a handshake. | 26 September 2026 |
identity | bulk-intros@relay.example | spam | 3 September 2026 | |
implementation | scrapekit/0.3 | scraping | Also on the Kindling public list. | 3 July 2026 |
Honest limits
Where the specification text and a schema disagree, our JSON follows the schema. These are the gaps that touch Hearthhold.
§4.5 names email-verified, oauth-verified, curator-vouched and unverified. The schemas say email, oauth, curator-vouched, unverified and cryptographic, and a curator can only be email, oauth or cryptographic. Our JSON follows the schemas; our pages use the words.
§7.1 says curator-vouched senders must pass within the Pool that vouched for them. Our two vouching Pools also set an OAuth minimum, and minimum_sender_verification can only name unverified, email or oauth. We read the floor as a Pool rule on top of §7.1, like a per-profile rule in §7.2, so Leo, vouched here but email verified, signs in with OAuth before he writes. The protocol does not say which reading is right.
§6.3 lists four types; the schema has six, adding withdrawal and system. Neither has a proposal. We send a steward’s note as a system message and each answer as a reply to it. The schema accepts both, but another client would not know they are a proposal.
no_cold_messages needs “confirmed mutual interest” §7.2, but no field carries it. We keep the two replies and check them ourselves before the introduction goes.
intro has one recipient.The envelope’s recipient is a single identity, so we send two envelopes, one to each, sharing a thread header.
Every member of the two vouching Pools accepts messages from vouched senders only. A steward is the curator, not vouched, so a strict reading of §7.2 would hold back their own invitations and introductions. We treat mail from a Pool’s curator about that Pool as the Pool’s own, which each member agreed to by saying yes. The protocol does not say.
Our governance text says every member keeps no_cold_messages on. The manifest’s messaging_preferences holds only block lists and a sender minimum §3.3, so the rule lives on each member’s own page, and we check it when we vouch.
A vouched profile records verifier and verified_at §4.4. That Platonic Life Partners means one call and Co-Parents means two meetings lives only in the charters and governance text. A client reading the JSON cannot check it.
There is no field for who a Pool is for beyond intent tags and a place. Later-Life Housemates says its age in the charter, and nothing verifies it.
A handshake request’s pool object names the curator, charter, intent and visibility §5.2, but not consent_model. Anton’s letter says “only a steward proposes” in words; a client reading the JSON could not.
The protocol has no access control on a manifest §3.1. Anyone who holds the address of Intentional Co-Parents can read who is in it. “We never publish its members” is a promise about our own pages and how we share the address.
§5.2 says the 14-day window is “configurable per Pool”. There is no field for it, so each request carries it in expires_at. We use the default.
§6.2 calls the Pool reference pool_ref; the schema calls it via_pool. §12.1 names kindling_version; every schema uses schema_version. §10.2 names pool_url and a per-Pool curator_contact; the well-known schema uses manifest_url, with one contact on operator. Our JSON follows the schemas.
§2.3 names extraction_source, but the parsed-profile schema has no such field and forbids extra ones. Our members’ cards cannot say which lines were marked up and which were inferred.
A chargeable surface at the connection layer is a non-goal §1.3, and the v0.2 draft adds only voluntary thanks after an introduction, which it says can never become a paywall. Our written agreements and mediation are a separate service, off the protocol, and appear only as a sentence in governance_rules.