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Privacy Policy
Last Updated: January 22, 2026
We’re Yarn Spinner Pty. Ltd., a small team based in Tasmania, Australia, and we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what information we collect on yarnspinner.dev and try.yarnspinner.dev, why we collect it, and what we do with it in plain English, no legal jargon required.
By using our websites and tools, you agree to this privacy policy.
The Short Version
We collect minimal, anonymous data to understand how people use our website and improve it. We use privacy-focused analytics that don’t track you personally. YouTube videos may use cookies if you play them. We don’t sell your data to anyone. If you have questions, just ask.
What This Policy Covers
This privacy policy applies to:
- yarnspinner.dev - Our main website
- try.yarnspinner.dev - Our browser-based Yarn Spinner editor and dialogue player
By using these sites, you agree to this privacy policy.
Our other apps, tools, products, and services may have their own privacy policies. If you’re using Yarn Spinner tools, plugins, or software not listed above, please check the documentation or settings within those products for information about how they handle data.
Who We Are
Yarn Spinner Pty. Ltd. An Australian Private Company Based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Contact: privacy@yarnspinner.dev
We make narrative game development tools for writers, programmers, and everyone in between. Learn more at yarnspinner.dev.
What Information We Collect
Information You Give Us
When you contact us or submit forms on our website, we collect your name so we know what to call you, your email address so we can reply, and whatever message you send us so we can help. We only collect this when you voluntarily provide it, like filling out a contact form or submitting your game to our showcase.
Information We Collect Automatically
We use Umami Analytics to understand how people use our sites (yarnspinner.dev and try.yarnspinner.dev). This includes which pages you visit, how long you stay, your approximate location (country or region), what kind of device you’re using, and which browser.
Why we don’t need consent for this: Umami is a privacy-focused analytics service that doesn’t collect personal data, doesn’t use tracking cookies, and anonymizes all visitor information by default. Under GDPR, we use “legitimate interest” as our legal basis because the data collected is completely anonymous and essential for improving the website.
You’re always in control: If you prefer not to be counted in analytics at all, you can enable “Do Not Track” in your browser settings or use an ad blocker (like uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, or similar). Both methods will completely block Umami analytics. Our websites work perfectly either way, and we respect your choice.
Cookies
This website uses minimal cookies. Umami Analytics doesn’t use cookies at all (it uses browser localStorage for session tracking, which is privacy-focused and doesn’t persist across sites).
YouTube may set cookies when you play embedded videos. Each video has a click-to-load placeholder that clearly informs you before any YouTube cookies are set.
You can clear your browser data anytime through your browser settings.
Try Yarn Spinner (try.yarnspinner.dev)
Our browser-based Yarn Spinner editor and player deserves special mention because it’s designed with privacy at its core.
By using try.yarnspinner.dev, you agree to this privacy policy.
Everything Runs Locally in Your Browser
Try Yarn Spinner runs entirely in your web browser using WebAssembly technology. This means:
- Your scripts are stored locally in your browser’s localStorage, not on our servers
- We never see your dialogue scripts - all compilation and execution happens on your device
- Loading files from disk or GitHub Gists happens client-side in your browser; we don’t receive, store, or process that content
- Exporting standalone players generates files locally in your browser without sending data to us
The only data we collect from try.yarnspinner.dev is the same anonymous usage analytics (via Umami) that we collect from our main website: which pages you visit, how long you stay, your approximate location, device type, and browser.
Analytics & Event Tracking
Like our main website, try.yarnspinner.dev uses Umami Analytics to collect anonymous usage data. In addition to basic page views, we track anonymized events when you:
- Click “Run” to play your dialogue
- Save your script to disk
- Export a standalone player
- Load a file from disk or GitHub Gist
- Click links to documentation
These events help us understand which features are used and how to improve the tool. Importantly:
- Event tracking is completely anonymous - we can’t tie events to individual users
- We don’t track the content of your scripts, the names of files you load, or any other personal data
- We don’t track keystrokes, mouse movements, or what you type in the editor
- All event data is processed by Umami using the same privacy-respecting approach described above
Don’t want to be tracked at all? You can block Umami analytics entirely by enabling “Do Not Track” in your browser settings or using an ad blocker. We respect your choice and the app will work perfectly without sending any analytics data.
Service Workers & Caching
Try Yarn Spinner uses a service worker to cache the WebAssembly runtime and application files in your browser. This makes the app load faster on repeat visits and allows it to work offline. The service worker only caches our application code, not your personal scripts or data.
Local Storage
Your Yarn scripts are saved to your browser’s localStorage so they persist between sessions. This data:
- Stays on your device and is never transmitted to us
- Can be cleared anytime through your browser’s settings
- Is not synchronized across devices
- Is not backed up by us (we recommend saving your work to disk regularly)
If you load a file from your computer or a GitHub Gist, that file is processed entirely in your browser. We don’t receive a copy, don’t store it on our servers, and have no way to access it.
What We Don’t Collect
We explicitly do NOT collect:
- The content of your Yarn scripts
- Files you load from disk or GitHub
- Variables, dialogue, or game logic you create
- Standalone players you export
- Any personally identifiable information beyond standard anonymous analytics
Want even more privacy? Block our analytics entirely by enabling “Do Not Track” in your browser or using an ad blocker. Try Yarn Spinner works perfectly without sending any analytics data, and we respect your choice to opt out.
How We Use Your Information
Information you give us (contact forms, showcase submissions) is used to respond to your messages, showcase your games if you submit them, and send occasional updates if you explicitly sign up for our mailing list.
Anonymous analytics data (from Umami) helps us understand how people use our site so we can make it better, fix bugs, and improve performance.
We never sell your data to third parties, use your data for advertising purposes, share your data with anyone except where required by law, or send you spam. We hate spam too.
Third-Party Services & Data Processors
We use a few third-party services that process data on our behalf. Under GDPR, these are called “data processors.”
Umami Analytics (runs automatically based on legitimate interest) helps us understand website usage. Umami is a privacy-focused analytics platform that doesn’t collect personal information, doesn’t use tracking cookies, and anonymizes all data by default. Because it’s completely anonymous and privacy-respecting, we don’t require consent to use it. However, you can block it completely by enabling “Do Not Track” in your browser or using an ad blocker, and everything will work normally. See their privacy policy.
YouTube (click-to-load) hosts our video content. They may set cookies when you play videos. Videos show a placeholder that clearly warns you before loading. Clicking to play a video loads YouTube content and may set cookies. See their privacy policy.
Font Awesome & Google Fonts provide icons and fonts. They collect your IP address when loading resources. See Font Awesome and Google Fonts privacy policies.
Google Forms (showcase submissions) processes showcase submission forms. They receive whatever you enter in the form. See their privacy policy.
Formspree (contact forms) processes our contact form submissions. They receive whatever you enter in the form. See their privacy policy.
GitHub (Gist loading on try.yarnspinner.dev) may be accessed when you load a Gist URL. When you load from a GitHub Gist, your browser makes a direct request to GitHub’s API. We don’t proxy this request or receive the Gist content. GitHub will see your IP address and the Gist ID you’re accessing, subject to their privacy policy.
Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you have different rights.
Everyone Can
You can:
- Avoid YouTube cookies by not playing embedded videos
- Block all analytics by enabling “Do Not Track” in your browser settings or using an ad blocker (recommended: uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, or any similar privacy extension)
- Contact us to ask questions about your data at privacy@yarnspinner.dev
- Request deletion of information we have about you
Note: Umami analytics data is fully anonymous, so we cannot identify or delete specific user data from analytics. However, you can block Umami entirely using the methods above, and our sites will work perfectly without any analytics.
If You’re in the EU/UK (GDPR Rights)
You can access your data to see what we have about you, rectify inaccurate information, erase your data (the “right to be forgotten”), restrict how we use your data, get your data in a portable format, tell us to stop using your data, or lodge a complaint with your data protection authority.
If You’re in California (CCPA/CPRA Rights)
You can know what data we collect and why, request deletion, opt out of sales (we don’t sell data, but you can still opt out), and we won’t discriminate if you exercise your rights.
If You’re in Australia (Privacy Act Rights)
You can access your data to see what we have, correct inaccurate information, or complain to us or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
To exercise any rights, email us at privacy@yarnspinner.dev
We’ll respond within 30 days.
How We Protect Your Data
We take reasonable security measures to protect your information. All data transmitted is encrypted via HTTPS, our website is hosted on secure infrastructure, only team members who need access have it, and we keep our software up to date.
However, no website is 100% secure. If you notice a security issue, please let us know immediately.
Data Retention
We keep your data for as long as necessary.
Contact form submissions are kept until resolved, then deleted. Showcase submissions stay as long as your game is in our showcase. Umami Analytics retains anonymized usage data indefinitely for trend analysis, but this data cannot be linked back to individual users. Cookie consent preferences last 1 year, then you’ll be asked again.
For try.yarnspinner.dev: Your scripts stored in browser localStorage remain until you clear your browser data or use a different browser/device. We have no access to this data and cannot delete it for you. The service worker cache refreshes automatically when we update the application.
You can request deletion anytime by emailing us (though this only applies to data we actually store, not data kept locally in your browser).
International Data Transfers
We’re based in Australia, but our website is global. If you’re in the EU, UK, or other regions with strict data protection laws, you should know that Umami Cloud is based in the EU and complies with GDPR requirements. All analytics data is anonymized and does not contain personally identifiable information.
Children’s Privacy
Our website is not directed at children under 13 (or 16 in the EU). We don’t knowingly collect data from children. If you’re a parent and believe we’ve collected your child’s data, please contact us and we’ll delete it.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy occasionally. When we do, we’ll update the “Last Updated” date at the top. For major changes, we’ll post a notice on our website. You can always find the latest version at yarnspinner.dev/privacy/.
We recommend checking back periodically, but we’ll never make changes that reduce your rights without clear notice.
Contact Us
Questions? Concerns? Want to chat about privacy? We’re here to help.
Email: privacy@yarnspinner.dev
We’ll respond as quickly as we can, usually within a few days.
Complaints & Disputes
If you have a complaint about how we handle your data, contact us first and we’ll try to resolve it. If you’re unsatisfied, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in Australia, your local data protection authority in the EU/UK, or the California Attorney General in California.
Acknowledgment
Yarn Spinner Pty. Ltd. is proudly located on the land of the muwinina and palawa people. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded and pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging.
This privacy policy was written with care to be both legally compliant and actually readable. If you spot any issues or have suggestions, we’d love to hear them!