Date people who actually get your taste
Your music taste, gaming library, code projects, favourite drinks, and more - turned into compatibility signals. We aim to match on shared interests weighted by how niche they are, because both loving a band with 12 listeners means more than both knowing the charts.
The demo uses mock data and runs entirely in your browser - no sign-up required.
What we'll match on
Interest categories - from music and gaming to fitness and beyond - each with planned platform integrations. Your hobbies become compatibility signals.
How it works
Real behavioural data, weighted by how rare the overlap is.
Real signals, not self-reported
Listening history, game libraries, code repos, and more - your profile will reflect who you actually are, not just what you claim.
Niche-weighted matching
Sharing a love for an obscure saison scores higher than both liking IPA. Rarity matters.
Explainable compatibility
Every match shows clear reasons - which artists, games, or styles you share and how rare they are.
Privacy-first, always
Every integration is opt-in and revocable. We show signals, never raw data.
Why Affinity Atlas exists
Most dating platforms are built on a fundamental conflict of interest. Their revenue comes from subscriptions, and subscriptions require repeat customers. If everyone found a meaningful connection in their first month, the business model collapses. Platforms like Tinder have a structural incentive to keep you swiping - not to help you find someone.
Affinity Atlas is being built by a developer and data scientist who thinks that is backwards. The algorithm is transparent - you can see exactly why someone was suggested. The matching logic rewards genuine compatibility, not engagement metrics. And the platform uses data you are already creating through your hobbies, communities, and interests to find people who actually share your world.
This is not a venture-backed startup optimising for time-on-app. It is an independent project driven by the belief that technology should make human connection easier, not more profitable. No gatekeeping, no dark patterns, no incentive to keep you searching.
The matching algorithm
For the technically, mathematically, and data science inclined - here is exactly how compatibility is calculated.
Core formula
Compatibility = Σ(Commonality × NicheWeight × SignalWeight) / Σ(SignalWeight)
Normalised to a 0–100 score across all active data sources.
- Commonality
- Binary overlap - 1 if two users share an item (artist, game, language, beer style), 0 if not.
- NicheWeight
max(0.05, 1 − popularity / 100)- rare items contribute more signal. A shared artist at popularity 10 has a niche weight of 0.90; at popularity 90, only 0.10.- SignalWeight
- Per-source importance. Defaults: Spotify 1.0, Steam 1.0, Untappd 0.9, GitHub 0.8, Q&A 1.2. User-configurable.
Worked example
Both like Porridge Radio
Spotify popularity: 22/100
NicheWeight = 1 − 0.22 = 0.78
Contribution = 1 × 0.78 × 1.0 = 0.78
Both like Radiohead
Spotify popularity: 82/100
NicheWeight = 1 − 0.82 = 0.18
Contribution = 1 × 0.18 × 1.0 = 0.18
The niche overlap contributes 4.3× more to the compatibility score. Shared obscure tastes are a stronger signal of genuine compatibility than shared mainstream ones.
Data sources scored
- ♫ Music (e.g. Spotify)
- Shared top artists (niche proxy: popularity 0–100) and genre overlap
- 🎮 Gaming (e.g. Steam)
- Shared games (niche proxy: global ownership percentage)
- ⌨ Code (e.g. GitHub)
- Shared languages and topics (niche proxy: frequency in developer population)
- 🍺 Beer & Drinks (e.g. Untappd)
- Shared beer styles and breweries (niche proxy: style and brewery rarity)
- 💬 Q&A
- Answer alignment weighted by importance (0.1 to 1.0). Dealbreaker conflicts halve the sub-score.
Frequently asked questions
Is Affinity Atlas a real dating app I can use today?
Not yet. Affinity Atlas is currently a concept and interactive demo. You can explore the matching algorithm with mock profiles, but you cannot match with real people. Fill in the form below to follow along or get in touch.
What happens when I click "Try the demo"?
You enter an interactive prototype that runs entirely in your browser. You will see mock profiles, a working matching algorithm, and simulated chat - all using fictional data. No real accounts are created and no data leaves your device.
Does the demo collect any personal data?
No. The demo runs client-side using localStorage. Any information you enter stays on your device. You can delete it at any time using the "Delete account" button in the demo, or by clearing your browser data.
How does the matching algorithm actually work?
Compatibility is computed as the sum of shared overlaps multiplied by a niche weight and a signal weight, normalised to 0–100. The niche weight formula is max(0.05, 1 − popularity/100), meaning rare shared tastes contribute significantly more than mainstream ones. See the full technical breakdown above.
Why build another dating app?
Most dating platforms profit from keeping users searching, not from helping them find someone. Subscription models like Tinder's incentivise repeat customers - if everyone found a life partner quickly, the revenue model fails. Affinity Atlas is an independent project built on transparency and genuine compatibility.
What platforms will be supported at launch?
We're planning integrations with Spotify, Steam, GitHub, Untappd, Letterboxd, Strava, and Goodreads as initial targets. Additional platforms are on the roadmap across interest categories including music, gaming, code, drinks, film, fitness, and books. The architecture will support multiple providers per category - for example, both Spotify and Apple Music feeding the same music signal.
When will Affinity Atlas launch?
There is no confirmed launch date. This is an early-stage project. Drop your details below to hear about progress - no spam, just milestones when they happen.
How can I get involved or provide feedback?
Fill in the Get in touch form below and include any ideas, feedback, or interest in contributing in the notes section. Every submission is read.
Stay in the loop
Affinity Atlas is a passion project - there is no fixed timeline or guaranteed schedule. Drop your details to hear about progress when it happens, share ideas, or express interest in collaborating.