Release Notes & Changelog

🖼️ Image Pipeline

• Always downsample images to on-screen size to reduce memory and decode cost.
• Reused a single shared URLSession and added explicit cancellation in image views via task(id:).
• Laid groundwork to unify image caches under a single API keyed by URL+size+scale.

🚀 Startup & Stability

• Fixed a launch crash by registering SwiftData ValueTransformers early and removing a second ModelContainer created by BackupManager; it now uses the app’s container.
• Deferred non-critical registrations until after first frame and staggered them during the loading screen.

🔥 Firebase Instrumentation

• Removed Firebase Performance SDK and all traces/HTTP metrics; replaced with lightweight timing.
• Disabled Analytics automatic screen reporting via Info.plist.
• Deferred Firestore initialization until it’s needed (user authenticated, after first frame).
• Kept Crashlytics initialization immediately after FirebaseApp.configure() for reliable crash capture.

📦 Background Tasks

• Added missing BGTask identifier for backup and aligned all identifiers with bundle ID com.littleguydev.sacredbrotherhood to stop registration rejections.

⚙️ Configuration

• Added RemoteConfigDefaults.plist and removed unused Firestore fetch settings/appConfig to cut startup network calls and log noise.

💾 Backups

• Restore now defaults to the latest available backup to avoid key/format mismatches with older records.

🧼 Logging & Diagnostics

• Reduced launch-time log noise; kept targeted os_signposts for first-frame timing.

🚀 Launch & First‑Frame

• Deferred non‑critical setup to just after first render for a quicker perceived launch.
• Added lightweight launch instrumentation to measure first draw time.

🧵 Concurrency & MainActor Cleanup

• Removed unnecessary @MainActor from non‑UI services to ease main‑thread pressure.
• Adopted explicit main‑thread hops only where UI/analytics require it.

🔌 Real‑time Listeners Lifecycle

• Centralized subscription listeners and gated them by app/view lifecycle.
• Debounced high‑churn updates to prevent redundant work.

🧹 Swift 6 Cleanups

• Addressed isolation/Sendable warnings and explicit captures in @Sendable closures.

🐞 Stability

• Addresses a reported crash on launch for some users by resolving Swift 6 isolation issues and deferring heavy startup work until after first frame.

🐞 Bug Fixes

• Fixed profile and banner images not saving from Profile Settings.
• Fixed accounts being inaccurately marked for onboarding recovery.
• Fixed the Cancel button in the tarot card view (was blue/inactive; now correct).
• Fixed missing Knights in the tarot card list.

🍎 Major: Native iOS StoreKit Integration

• Seamless App Store subscriptions with automatic receipt validation.
• Intelligent distribution detection for App Store vs. sideloaded installs.
• Dual payment support: StoreKit primary, Stripe as fallback where appropriate.

💳 Smart Payment System

• StoreKit default for App Store users; Stripe as additional option for US when allowed.
• Simplified pricing: Monthly $7.99 / Annual $79.99 via StoreKit; Web Stripe $5.99 / $59.99.

🔧 Critical App Store Review Fix (Build 3)

• Fixed distribution detection that caused Stripe-only display during review.
• Improved App Store receipt validation and removed problematic debug shortcut.
• Ensured StoreKit is presented as the primary option for App Store distribution.

✨ UX – Liquid‑Glass Birthdate Calendar (Build 4)

• Custom themed calendar with Apple’s Liquid‑Glass material on iOS 26+.
• Quick month/year picker and pre‑selected 18‑years‑ago date for faster onboarding.
• Improved contrast for selected days.

🔗 Compliance Link Update

• Terms, Community Guidelines, and Privacy Policy now open to Termly‑hosted versions.

🚀 What's New in Version 1.1.2

We've been hard at work behind the scenes to make The Sacred Circle faster, more reliable, and future-ready.

🔧 Major Upgrades Under the Hood

• Fully reorganized and optimized critical systems including caching, image handling, backup services, and feed view models to boost performance and stability
• This means fewer bugs, smoother loading, and a foundation that's easier to improve moving forward

⚡ Over 1,000 Issues Resolved

• Cleaned up outdated or deprecated code
• Fixed hundreds of bugs tied to concurrency and threading (fewer crashes, less lag)
• Standardized internal systems so the app plays nicer with the latest iOS and Swift updates

🧠 What This Means for You

• Faster app performance across the board
• More reliable backups and sync features
• Improved compatibility with iOS 18 and future updates
• Foundation prepared for exciting new features coming soon

🐞 Bug Fixes

• Fixed profile and banner images not saving from Profile Settings.
• Fixed accounts being inaccurately marked for onboarding recovery.
• Fixed the Cancel button in the tarot card view (was blue/inactive; now correct).
• Fixed missing Knights in the tarot card list.

🔧 Critical Bug Fixes

🛡️ Subscription Access Restored

• Fixed a critical issue where some Pro subscribers were incorrectly blocked from accessing premium content
• Resolved legacy subscription data compatibility issue in the gatekeeper system
• Enhanced subscription validation to properly recognize all Pro tier formats (both "tier" and "tierString" fields)
• Improved backward compatibility for users who subscribed before the Firebase Stripe Extension migration

⚡ Performance & Reliability

• Strengthened subscription status checking to prevent false negatives
• Enhanced multi-source subscription validation for bulletproof access control
• Improved real-time subscription status updates

🛡️ Major: Bulletproof Subscription System

Migrated to Firebase Stripe Extension with Enhanced Reliability

🏗️ Infrastructure Overhaul

• Stripe Integration: Fully migrated from custom functions to official Firebase Stripe Extension for improved reliability, security, and Google/Stripe support
• Bulletproof Gatekeeper: Implemented multi-source subscription validation that checks Firebase Auth claims, Stripe Extension data, and legacy subscription data as fallback
• Data Reconciliation: Fixed subscription data deletion issues by eliminating conflicts between custom and extension systems
• Webhook Reliability: Resolved webhook signature verification issues that prevented subscription updates

🔐 Enhanced Subscription Security

• Multi-Layer Validation: Subscription status now verified through multiple independent sources to prevent access disruption
• Custom Claims Priority: Firebase Auth custom claims provide instant, cached subscription status for premium performance
• Extension Data Integration: Direct integration with official Stripe Extension subcollections (subscriptions/, payments/, checkout_sessions/)
• Legacy Compatibility: Maintains full backward compatibility with existing user subscription data during transition period

⚡ Performance & Reliability Improvements

• Instant Access Validation: Custom claims provide immediate subscription status without network calls
• Reduced Database Queries: Optimized gatekeeper logic reduces Firestore reads while maintaining accuracy
• Conflict Resolution: Eliminated dual-system conflicts that caused subscription data corruption
• Future-Proof Architecture: Positioned for seamless transition to extension-only data structure in upcoming billing cycles

🛠️ Technical Enhancements

• Clean Function Migration: Removed conflicting custom Stripe webhook functions while preserving essential business logic
• Extension-Compatible User Documents: Added stripeId fields for full Firebase Stripe Extension compatibility
• Comprehensive Testing: Validated subscription access across all user scenarios and edge cases

🏗️ Backend Infrastructure

• Migrated to Firebase Stripe Extension for improved payment reliability, security, and easier maintenance of subscription services.

🧭 Navigation & Profile Improvements

• Fixed profile navigation issues where the blue system back button would appear alongside our custom gold back button.
• Resolved navigation cycling through previously viewed profiles instead of returning to the correct previous view.
• Profile views from the Home tab now properly use fade transitions when navigating back.
• Enhanced profile access reliability from Discovery and Search tabs with consistent navigation behavior.
• Unified navigation implementation across all profile access points for a seamless experience.

🛠️ User Interface Fixes

• Fixed notification sheet transparency issues - connection request previews and other notifications now display properly without content overlap.
• Resolved scroll view visibility in Deities section - all content is now fully accessible without being cut off by the navigation menu.
• Fixed intermittent app crashes when navigating to search results.
• Updated scroll view constraints to properly respect safe areas and navigation elements.

⚙️ Technical Enhancements

• Added intelligent back button handling that detects the appropriate navigation style for each context.
• Enhanced toolbar configuration for consistent custom styling across all navigation scenarios.
• Improved navigation stack management to prevent history loops and ensure smooth app flow.

💳 Subscription & Trial Management

• Fixed a critical issue where users would be blocked from the app when their trial ended, instead of properly checking their current subscription status through Firestore and Stripe.

🔐 Authentication & Login Improvements

• Fixed an issue where resetting your password would also reset your account type and subscription status - now your account details remain intact during password resets.
• Improved login experience by preventing automatic login attempts while you're still typing your password.
• Enhanced login view stability by removing unnecessary scrolling behavior.

⚡ Performance & Stability

• Resolved app crashes related to background processes and improved overall app stability.
• Enhanced thread management to prevent app state resets that could cause unexpected behavior.

📱 Core Features

💫 Special Features

🌱 Join Our Growing Community

The Sacred Circle is more than an app—it's a living, growing community of practitioners supporting each other on their spiritual journeys. Download today and find your place in The Sacred Circle.