CrumbLabs - Plain Language Guide

Free learning tools that respect children's privacy

🎯 What is CrumbLabs?

CrumbLabs is a collection of free, privacy-first learning tools for children and students. All tools work in your web browser with no signup, no tracking, and no data collection.

Three core tools available now:
- CrumbMatrix - Pixel art editor (ages 6-12)
- CrumbType - Typing trainer for code characters (ages 8-14)
- CrumbBlocks - Block-based programming with hardware simulations (ages 9-15)

Two alpha tools in testing:
- BashPanda - Terminal command quiz system
- Schnippsi - HTML/CSS/JavaScript live editor

👨‍🏫 For Teachers: Use Tomorrow

Getting Started (5 minutes)

1. Visit: https://branko.de/crumblabs/
2. Click: Any tool that fits your lesson
3. Open: Works immediately in any browser
4. Use: No login, no setup, no installation needed

In Your Classroom

Example 1: Art Class (CrumbMatrix)

Morning Activity:
1. Open: crumbmatrix_v2.html on classroom computer
2. Project: Screen for whole class to see
3. Activity: Students design pixel mascots together
4. Export: Save as PNG for printing/sharing

Example 2: Computer Class (CrumbType)

Typing Practice:
1. Each student opens: crumbtype_v2_missions.html
2. Students choose: Their favorite role (FunkFox, DeepBit, etc.)
3. Practice: Special characters used in programming
4. Track: Progress saves in browser automatically

Example 3: STEM Lab (CrumbBlocks)

Hardware Simulation:
1. Open: crumbblocks_v2.html
2. Choose: Mission (Water Kettle, Solar Panel, etc.)
3. Build: Logic with visual blocks
4. Test: Run simulation in browser

Works Offline

After first load, all tools work without internet:
1. Visit tool once while online
2. Browser caches files
3. Use offline anytime after
4. Perfect for schools with limited connectivity

👪 For Parents: What to Know

Privacy First

What we DON'T do:
- ❌ No account creation
- ❌ No personal information collected
- ❌ No tracking or analytics
- ❌ No advertisements
- ❌ No in-app purchases

What happens to data:
- ✅ Everything stays in your child's browser
- ✅ Progress saved locally (optional)
- ✅ You can delete anytime
- ✅ Nothing sent to servers

Age Recommendations

Note: With adult guidance, younger children can use these tools too.

How to Clear Data

If your child wants to start over:

Option 1 - Browser Settings:
1. Open browser settings
2. Find "Clear browsing data"
3. Select "Cookies and site data"
4. Clear

Option 2 - Developer Tools:
1. Press F12 in browser
2. Click "Application" tab
3. Find "Local Storage"
4. Right-click → Clear

🤝 For Partners: How to Contribute

Ways to Help

You can contribute without coding:
- 📝 Write documentation
- 🌍 Translate to other languages
- 🎨 Design new missions/exercises
- 📢 Share with educators
- 🐛 Report issues

You can contribute with coding:
- 🔧 Fix bugs
- ✨ Add features
- 🧪 Write tests
- 📦 Package for distribution

The Rules (Important!)

✅ DO:
- Keep tools simple
- Maintain privacy-first approach
- Work locally (browser-based)
- Use open source licenses
- Document everything clearly

❌ DON'T:
- Add user accounts
- Add tracking/analytics
- Require internet connection (after first load)
- Add advertisements
- Collect personal data
- Add subscription/payment models

Technical Stack

All tools use:
- Pure HTML/CSS/JavaScript
- No backend required
- No database needed
- No build process
- Just open in browser and it works

Dependencies (minimal):
- Tailwind CSS (via CDN)
- Blockly (for CrumbBlocks only)

How to Contribute

1. Fork: Repository on https://git.crumbforest.org/branko/CrumbLabs-v.0.0
2. Test: Changes locally in your browser
3. Document: What you changed and why
4. Submit: Pull request with clear description

Quality Standards

Before submitting:
- ✅ Works offline (after first load)
- ✅ No personal data collection
- ✅ No tracking code
- ✅ Accessible (keyboard navigation, screen readers)
- ✅ Works on mobile and desktop
- ✅ Clear documentation

🔧 Technical Details

System Requirements

For Users:
- Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- JavaScript enabled
- 50MB free disk space for browser cache
- No special permissions needed

For Offline Use:
- Initial internet connection required
- Files cached automatically
- Works offline after first load
- Can be saved as local files

Browser Compatibility

Data Storage

LocalStorage (optional):
- CrumbType: Progress tracking (~1KB per user)
- CrumbMatrix: Saved icons (~10KB per icon)
- CrumbBlocks: Workspace state (~5KB)

Total: Less than 1MB for all tools combined

Control: User can clear anytime via browser settings

📚 Resources

Documentation

• Main Website: https://branko.de/crumblabs/
• Git Repository: https://git.crumbforest.org/branko/CrumbLabs-v.0.0
• Crew Guide: https://crumbforest.com/crew
• Principles: See CRUMBFOREST_PRINCIPLES.md in repository

Compliance Documents

• CKL-Kids Compliance Report (full privacy audit)
• DSGVO/GDPR compliance documentation
• COPPA compliance (US children's privacy)
• UK Age Appropriate Design Code compliance

Support

• Issues: Report on Git repository
• Community: See crumbforest.com for contact
• Email: hello@crumbforest.org

🌍 Translation Status

Currently available in:
- 🇩🇪 German (original)
- 🇬🇧 English (UI translations in progress)

Want to help translate? See repository for translation guide.

⚖️ Legal

License

All CrumbLabs tools are licensed under:
- MIT License (code)
- Crumb Kernel License (CKL) (usage restrictions)

CKL Key Points

Allowed:
- ✅ Education
- ✅ Learning
- ✅ Personal use
- ✅ Teaching
- ✅ Non-profit

Not Allowed:
- ❌ Military applications
- ❌ Surveillance
- ❌ Exploitation
- ❌ Harm to children

Full license text available in repository.

🎯 Quick Start Checklist

For Teachers:
- [ ] Visit https://branko.de/crumblabs/
- [ ] Test one tool (5 minutes)
- [ ] Plan lesson around tool
- [ ] Share with students tomorrow
- [ ] No setup needed!

For Parents:
- [ ] Read privacy section above
- [ ] Let child try CrumbMatrix or CrumbType
- [ ] Check if they understand the tool
- [ ] Supervise first few sessions
- [ ] Relax - no data is collected

For Partners:
- [ ] Read contribution rules
- [ ] Check technical stack
- [ ] Fork repository
- [ ] Test locally
- [ ] Submit pull request

💡 Common Questions

Q: Does this cost money?
A: No. All tools are completely free, forever.

Q: Do students need email addresses?
A: No. No registration required at all.

Q: Can I use this in my school?
A: Yes! Free for all educational use.

Q: What if we have no internet?
A: After first load, tools work offline. You can also save files locally.

Q: Is student data safe?
A: Yes. No data is collected. Everything stays in the student's browser.

Q: Can we modify the tools?
A: Yes! Open source. See contribution guide above.

Q: What about accessibility?
A: Keyboard navigation supported. Screen reader compatibility in progress.

Q: Can I translate to my language?
A: Yes! See repository for translation guide.

📞 Contact

General: hello@crumbforest.org
Privacy Questions: privacy@crumbforest.org
Security Issues: security@crumbforest.org
Partnership: Same as general contact

🌲 Philosophy (Optional Reading)

CrumbLabs is built on the principle of "The Forest" - a metaphor for:
- Local-first (not cloud-based)
- Privacy by default (not by permission)
- Simple tools (not feature bloat)
- Free forever (not freemium)

For the full philosophy, see:
- LOBSTER_DANCE_v0.1.md (the metaphorical explanation)
- CLOUDCAT_WARUM_LOKAL.md (why local not cloud)
- CRUMBFOREST_PRINCIPLES.md (core principles)

TL;DR: We believe learning tools should be simple, private, and free. Like a forest - it just grows, naturally, for everyone.

Last Updated: 2026-02-14
Version: 1.0
Status: Production Ready

Made with 💚 in the Crumbforest