Aura Start Docs

Aura Start vs A Fine Start

Summary

Aura Start is an independent, open-source, local-first start page inspired by simple grouped links and focused on data ownership, export, privacy, and migration.

Aura Start is not affiliated with A Fine Start. This document only makes claims about Aura Start behavior documented in this repository and about A Fine Start details that were noted in the local competitive audit. A Fine Start is an established published product; check its official listing and current documentation before making purchase or migration decisions.

When Aura Start is a better fit

You want open-source
You want local-first storage
You want no required account
You want export formats
You want A Fine Start migration
You want nested groups, fuzzy search, Restore Timeline, backgrounds, and lightweight widgets
You want optional Save open tabs with an explicit runtime tabs permission prompt
You want optional Google Drive backup with Chrome appDataFolder sync and Firefox/compatible Chromium Device OAuth fallback

Feature comparison

Area	Aura Start	A Fine Start
Project relationship	Independent open-source project, not affiliated with A Fine Start	Separate product; check official listing
Source availability	Open-source under the MIT License	Not verified here
Published maturity	Chrome Web Store and Firefox Add-ons release materials exist in this repository; verify the current live listing before sharing a store link	Already published and has an existing audience according to the audit; verify current listing
Browser/web footprint	Browser new tab extension with Chrome/Chromium and Firefox builds	Public A Fine Start pages indicate broader browser/web availability; verify current support
Account requirement	No account required for local use	Depends on current version; check official listing
Default storage	Browser-local extension storage	Not claimed by Aura Start docs
Analytics/tracking	No analytics or tracking in Aura Start docs and source	Not verified here
Link organization	User-created nested groups of links, up to 2 levels	Depends on current version
Search	Fuzzy search across title, URL, description, tags, and supported query modifiers	Check official listing
Drag and drop	Groups and links can be reordered in edit mode; groups can move into/out of parents within the supported depth	Check official listing
Save open tabs	Optional current-window tabs preview and save flow; requests `tabs` only at runtime when used	Public docs noted in the audit describe a quick-add/current-page workflow; verify current behavior
Full Aura backup	Full Backup JSON export/import	Not verified here
Export formats	JSON, Browser Bookmarks HTML, Markdown, CSV, and A Fine Start-compatible export code	A Fine Start has import/export tools; exact current formats should be verified
A Fine Start migration	Imports A Fine Start export codes	Native format behavior depends on current version
Restore points	Searchable Restore Timeline, up to 20 local snapshots, and safety points before important/destructive operations	Public help checked in the audit documents restore points, including a broader every-change story and higher cap; verify current documentation
Power-user tools	Command Palette, fuzzy search, visible palette button, layout-aware shortcuts where implemented, and read-only Duplicate Finder scan	A Fine Start documents a search pane shortcut; broader command palette/duplicate tooling was not verified
Personalization	Background presets, custom local backgrounds, blur/dim/position controls, clock, Markdown notes, and Pomodoro widgets	Check official listing
Optional cloud backup	Google Chrome `appDataFolder` sync file, Firefox/compatible Chromium `drive.file` fallback limited to Aura Start's own sync file, off by default, with automatic backup after connection and first-run restore if a sync file exists	Not claimed by Aura Start docs
Browser permissions	`storage`, `identity`, optional `tabs`, Google API host permissions for optional Drive sync	Check official listing

Where A Fine Start may be stronger today

A Fine Start is already published and has existing market proof; Aura Start's live Chrome Web Store status should be verified before using a store link in public materials.
Public pages checked in the audit indicate a broader browser/web footprint for A Fine Start beyond browser extension builds; verify current support.
Public A Fine Start docs/listing describe a quick-add/current-page workflow. Aura Start supports saving current-window tabs as an optional explicit flow, not a silent browser-wide bookmark importer.
A Fine Start publicly documents restore points with a broader every-bookmark-change story. Aura Start focuses Restore Timeline on important actions, keeps snapshots visible and searchable, and recommends Full Backup JSON for long-term backups.

Migration guide

Open A Fine Start.
Go to Settings.
Export bookmarks and copy the export code.
Open Aura Start.
Open Settings, then choose Import from A Fine Start.
Paste the export code.
Review the preview.
Choose Merge or Replace.
Confirm the import.

Aura Start validates imported URLs before saving them. Unsupported or unsafe URL schemes are rejected instead of being stored.

Data ownership

Aura Start is export-first. The primary data lives in local extension storage by default, and users can export a full JSON backup at any time. Manual JSON export/import works independently of optional Google Drive sync.

Optional Google Drive sync uses a hidden aura-start-sync.json file in the user's Google Drive appDataFolder in Google Chrome. Firefox and compatible Chromium fallback builds use drive.file only for Aura Start's own sync file marked with Aura Start app properties. After connection, local changes are backed up automatically. Aura Start does not request full Google Drive access and does not touch unrelated Drive files.

When exporting back to an A Fine Start-compatible export code, Aura Start writes the compatibility fields supported by that format: group names and bookmark name/url values. Aura Start-specific fields such as descriptions and tags are not included in that compatibility export when the target format does not support them.

Notes

Aura Start is independent and not affiliated with A Fine Start. A Fine Start is mentioned only for inspiration, migration, and compatibility context.