# DaoTrace — Pick a Stone. Know Yourself. > Daily guided self-reflection and pattern analysis tool. (iPhone/iPad app by 珊 杨.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daotrace/id6760527717 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [珊 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818588831) - Category: Health & Fitness, Lifestyle - Price: $0.99 - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.6 · 4 MB - Languages: American English, Chinese (Simplified, China), Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan) - Released: 2026-03-17 - Data updated: 2026-08-14 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daotrace/id6760527717/reviews.md ## What is DaoTrace? Do you ever feel anxious, but can't figure out what you're actually afraid of? DaoTrace is a self-reflection tool built on the "River World" philosophy from the book "Ren Xuan Tian Xuan Lun" (On Human and Heavenly Choice). Each day, seven guided layers help you reach the bottom of your mind's river — and pick up a stone. Pick a Stone Every Day 7 layers, each deeper than the last: Layer 1 · Fact: What happened today that stirred the water? Write only what occurred. Layer 2 · First Reaction: What did you feel immediately? Not the "right" answer. Layer 3 · Greed: What did you actually want? Be specific — no grand words. Layer 4 · Fear: What are you actually afraid of? Write the ugliest, smallest, most direct fear. Layer 5 · Self-justification: What excuse did you use to feel better? Layer 6 · Main Stone: What stone did you pick up today? One sentence only. Layer 7 · Simulate Choice: If you face the same thing tomorrow, what will you choose? Once sealed, entries cannot be edited — whatever you pulled up is what it is. Understand Your Patterns Every sealed entry triggers automatic NLP clustering to surface recurring stones. - Semantic clustering groups similar stones (Apple NaturalLanguage framework, fully on-device) - Stone timeline shows which stones keep reappearing - Weekly / monthly reports highlight repeated patterns - Stone comparison: view entries from the same group side by side to see if you've actually changed See Your River A dynamic SpriteKit visualization maps your data into a living river: River width (variety of topics), water depth (7-layer completion rate), flow speed (recording frequency), surface ripples (how many excuses you wrote), and river stones (your top recurring patterns). Radically Minimal — Written for Yourself DaoTrace intentionally does not include: - AI commentary on your entries (thinking is yours, not the tool's) - Streaks or check-in rewards (no manufactured anxiety) - Social sharing (your stones don't need anyone's approval) - Psychological assessments All data stays on your device (SwiftData local storage). iCloud sync available via Apple CloudKit encryption. More Details - Supports Simplified Chinese / Traditional Chinese / English — switch instantly in Settings - Face ID / Touch ID App Lock to protect deeply private content - Full dark mode support, system-synced or manual - Home screen Widget: today's status + current river type - Auto-save drafts every 30 seconds and on layer switch - Later Notes: add reflections after sealing, shown in a different color beside the original DaoTrace is a self-awareness tool and does not provide mental health counseling, therapy, or medical advice. If you are experiencing serious psychological distress, please seek professional help. Privacy Policy: https://daohen.me/privacy.html Terms of Service: https://daohen.me/terms.html ## Key features - 7-layer guided reflection - NLP-based pattern analysis - Visual river metaphor - On-device data storage - iCloud sync with encryption - Face ID/Touch ID lock - Multi-language support ## Chart rankings - #186 in Top Paid · Health & Fitness (US App Store) ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daotrace/id6760527717/reviews.md ### 1/5 — 闪退 *2026-05-10* 闪退 ### 5/5 — 在思考 *2026-03-23* 感谢这款软件，这段时间看了很多路飞的视频，也读了人选天选论，一直不知道该怎么实践，脑子里想做又不知道该怎么做，没想到居然已经有人做出来了。根据引导去填写，可以帮我理清思路，就是不知道一段时间后再看会怎么样 ## Frequently asked questions about DaoTrace ### What is DaoTrace? DaoTrace is a self-reflection tool that uses a guided 7-layer process to help you understand your thoughts and emotions. It identifies recurring patterns in your entries and visualizes your progress. ### How does DaoTrace help me understand my fears? DaoTrace includes a specific layer dedicated to identifying your 'ugliest, smallest, most direct fear.' By prompting you to be specific, it aims to uncover the root of your anxieties. ### Is my data safe with DaoTrace? Yes, all data is stored locally on your device using SwiftData. For added security, iCloud sync is available with Apple CloudKit encryption, and the app supports Face ID/Touch ID for locking. ### Does DaoTrace have ads? No, DaoTrace does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application designed to provide a distraction-free self-reflection experience. ### What languages does DaoTrace support? DaoTrace supports Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and English. You can switch between these languages instantly within the app's settings. ### How often is DaoTrace updated? The app was last updated on March 27, 2026, indicating active development. Users can expect ongoing improvements and feature additions. ### What is the price of DaoTrace? DaoTrace is available for a one-time purchase of $0.99. This grants you access to all its features without any recurring fees or in-app purchases. ### What devices is DaoTrace compatible with? DaoTrace is currently supported on iPhones. The app is designed for mobile use, offering a convenient way to journal on the go. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.2 — 2026-03-27 Fixed a crash that affected some users after upgrading to the previous version. The river view now properly adapts to light mode — it no longer forces a dark background when you're using the light theme. Fixed several missing translations across Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and English. ### 1.1 — 2026-03-19 What's New New "Dammed" river type: detects mental stagnation when your river nearly stops flowing Stones auto-classified as Greed / Fear / Mixed types, shown with color markers in overview Improvements River parameters page now shows all river types with your current status highlighted Dammed river displays darker, sluggish visuals Removed min/max character limits per layer for freer writing Renamed "Dao Trace Details" to "Dao Trace Journal" Fixes Fixed widget language not following app language setting ### 1.0 — 2026-03-18 No release notes. ## More apps by 珊 杨 - [MoeLog - Pet Photo & Health](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moelog-pet-photo-and-health/id6759881424) All apps by 珊 杨: https://appshunter.io/developer/1818588831 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-14.*