## What & why
Adds a **read-only MCP server** so a paid ("Pro") user can connect
Whisper Money to their own AI assistant (Claude web/desktop, Claude
Code, ChatGPT) and analyse their own finances — spending, cashflow, net
worth, transactions.
This is **Phase 1 (PR1): read-only**. Write tools (create/edit/delete
transactions, categories, labels, rules, balances) are a deliberate
follow-up (PR2); the token plumbing already reserves an `mcp:write`
ability for them.
## How it works
- **Transport:** remote streamable HTTP server via `laravel/mcp`,
mounted at `/mcp` (`routes/ai.php`).
- **Auth:** Sanctum personal access tokens with **MCP-only abilities**
(`mcp:read`). The route is gated by `auth:sanctum` +
`abilities:mcp:read` + `throttle:60,1`, so a future public-API token
(different ability) can't reach it and vice versa.
- **Pro gating** is enforced **per request inside the tools**
(`User::canUseFeature(PlanFeature::McpAccess)`), so a lapsed
subscription stops working on its own without the user revoking the
token. Free users can still create tokens (marked **PRO** in the UI) but
every call returns a "paid plan required" error with an upgrade URL.
- **Consent:** connecting is the consent — a clearly-weighted
data-egress disclaimer + per-client connection instructions on the
settings page. No separate checkbox (by design).
## Tools (all read-only)
| Tool | Scope |
|------|-------|
| `search_transactions` | space-scoped (optional `space`, defaults to
personal) |
| `list_accounts`, `list_categories`, `list_spaces` | space-scoped |
| `spending_by_category`, `get_cashflow`, `get_net_worth` | user's whole
account (reuse existing analytics services/controllers) |
Recurring-charge detection is left to the agent over
`search_transactions` results (no dedicated tool).
## Settings → MCP access
New page to create / rotate / revoke tokens (name + one-time secret
reveal), with `last_used_at`, a PRO badge, the egress disclaimer, and
copy-paste connection instructions for Claude (web/desktop), Claude Code
and ChatGPT.
## Tests
- Tool behaviour + Pro gating + **cross-user / cross-space isolation**
(`tests/Feature/Mcp/McpToolsTest.php`).
- HTTP auth boundary: 401 without a token, 403 without `mcp:read`, 200
with it (`tests/Feature/Mcp/McpEndpointAuthTest.php`).
- Token CRUD + ownership + free-tier creation
(`tests/Feature/Settings/McpTokenTest.php`).
## Reviewed & adjusted
Ran technical + product reviews and applied the fixes: kept PR1 strictly
read-only (dropped a UI scope selector that promised non-existent
write), routed gating through the `PlanFeature` convention, put token
rotation behind a confirmation, removed a silent on-load clipboard copy,
weighted the egress disclaimer, and fixed a `list_spaces` N+1.
### Known, deliberate tradeoffs
- `get_cashflow` / `get_net_worth` / `spending_by_category` reuse the
existing **user-scoped** analytics controllers/services, so they cover
the whole account rather than a single space (documented in the server
instructions). Per-space analytics is a follow-up.
- Space tools scope by `space_id` gated by membership
(`accessibleSpaces`) — the intended shared-tenant model — rather than a
per-row `user_id` filter.
## Not runnable in this environment
Browser QA of the settings page wasn't run here (no local
`node_modules`); that surface relies on CI build/typecheck/lint and
follows existing settings-page conventions.
---
## Updates since opening
- **Behind a feature flag.** New `App\Features\Mcp` (default off) hides
the whole settings screen — the nav item and every `settings/mcp*` route
(404 when off). Pro-plan gating still happens per request. Enable it
with `php artisan feature:enable "App\Features\Mcp" <email|all|25%>`.
- **Renamed** the user-facing page from "MCP access" to **"AI
Connector"** (nav, title, breadcrumb) so non-technical users understand
it. Route names, files and the feature stay internal.
- **Shared `ProBadge`** component (amber), now used on both the AI
Connector and billing pages instead of an inline badge.
- **Softer data-egress notice** (amber shield icon instead of a red
alert) and plainer copy throughout.
- **Accurate connection instructions (important).** Verified against the
official docs: a personal access token works with **Claude Code** today.
**Claude Desktop** and **ChatGPT** custom connectors authenticate over
**OAuth** and do not accept a static token, so they're now marked
**"coming soon"**. OAuth is the real unlock for those clients and is the
recommended follow-up (it also maps to the deferred write-tools work).
Sources: [Claude custom
connectors](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166-get-started-with-custom-connectors-using-remote-mcp),
[ChatGPT developer
mode](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/developer-mode).
- UI reviewed in a real browser; layout/alignment checked across states
(empty, new-token reveal, token list).
## Summary
- remove the Pennant-based `open-banking` flag and middleware gating so
open banking is always available for authenticated users
- simplify landing, onboarding, settings, and subscription flows to use
always-on open-banking behavior and remove stale frontend/shared flag
plumbing
- update open-banking tests and purge stored `open-banking` Pennant rows
## Testing
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/InstitutionControllerTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/BinanceControllerTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/IndexaCapitalControllerTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/BitpandaControllerTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/AuthorizationControllerTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/ConnectionControllerTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/AccountMappingTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/OpenBankingFeatureFlagTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/OpenBanking/SyncRetryAndLoggingTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact tests/Feature/SubscriptionTest.php`
- `php artisan test --compact
tests/Feature/WelcomeBanksOrderingTest.php`
- `vendor/bin/pint --dirty --format agent`
## Notes
- `php artisan pennant:purge open-banking` was run to remove stale
stored values
- `php artisan test --compact tests/Browser/OnboardingFlowTest.php`
still has one unrelated real-estate onboarding browser failure (`it
creates a real estate account during onboarding when feature is
enabled`)
## Summary
- add a hamburger icon to the mobile settings dropdown trigger so it
reads more clearly as navigation
- reduce the mobile spacing between the settings subtitle and the
dropdown trigger
- keep the desktop settings sidebar unchanged
## Testing
- php artisan test --compact tests/Feature/Settings/CategoryTest.php
## Summary
- Adds **EnableBanking** as the first open banking provider, allowing
users to connect real bank accounts and automatically sync transactions
and balances
- Uses a **`BankingProviderInterface`** contract so future providers
(Plaid, GoCardless, etc.) can be added by implementing the same
interface
- Feature-flagged behind the **`open-banking`** Pennant flag (default:
off)
- Connected accounts are **unencrypted** and transactions have `source =
'enablebanking'`
### What's included
**Backend:**
- `BankingProviderInterface` contract + `EnableBankingProvider`
implementation (JWT RS256 auth)
- `BankingConnection` model with full lifecycle (pending →
awaiting_mapping → active → expired/revoked/error)
- `TransactionSyncService` — pagination, deduplication by
`external_transaction_id`, amount/date mapping
- `BalanceSyncService` — preferred balance type selection (CLBD → ITAV
fallback)
- Authorization flow: start auth → bank redirect → callback → session
creation → account mapping → sync
- `SyncBankingConnectionJob` (unique per connection, 3 retries) +
scheduled every 6 hours
- `banking:sync` artisan command
- 5 migrations: `banking_connections` table, account fields, transaction
`external_transaction_id`, `pending_accounts_data`, `linked_at`
**Frontend:**
- Manual vs Connected account choice in the create account dialog
- Multi-step bank connection dialog (country → bank selection →
confirmation → redirect)
- Account mapping page — map discovered bank accounts to existing
accounts, create new ones, or skip
- Settings/Connections page with status badges, sync/disconnect actions
- "Connected" badge on linked accounts in settings
**Tests:**
- 49 tests covering feature flags, controllers, account mapping,
transaction sync, balance sync, deduplication, and pagination
### Feature Flags
This PR introduces **two Pennant feature flags**:
1. **`open-banking`** — Gates the entire open banking feature
(institutions endpoint, authorization flow, connections page). When
disabled, all open banking routes return 404.
2. **`account-mapping`** — Controls whether users see an intermediate
account mapping step after connecting a bank. When **enabled**, users
are redirected to a mapping page where they can choose to create new
accounts, link to existing ones, or skip each discovered bank account.
When **disabled**, all discovered accounts are automatically created
(original behavior). Linked accounts only sync transactions from their
last transaction date and only update the current balance from the
provider (no historical balance calculation or daily balance tracking).
Enable per-user:
```bash
php artisan feature:enable open-banking user@example.com
php artisan feature:enable account-mapping user@example.com
```
Enable for all users:
```bash
php artisan feature:enable open-banking all
php artisan feature:enable account-mapping all
```
## Test plan
- [x] Enable feature flag: `php artisan feature:enable open-banking`
- [x] Verify "Connected" option appears in create account dialog
- [x] Start authorization flow and verify redirect to bank
- [x] With `account-mapping` **disabled**: verify callback creates
accounts directly and dispatches sync
- [x] With `account-mapping` **enabled**: verify callback redirects to
mapping page
- [x] Test mapping page: create new, link to existing, and skip actions
- [x] Verify linked accounts sync only from last transaction date and
only update current balance
- [x] Verify connections page shows "Setup Required" badge for
awaiting_mapping status
- [x] Run `php artisan banking:sync` and verify transactions sync
- [x] Verify connections page shows status, sync, and disconnect actions
- [x] Run full test suite: `php artisan test --compact`
## Overview
We're excited to introduce budgeting capabilities to Whisper Money! This
feature helps you take control of your finances by setting spending
limits and tracking your progress over time.
## Screenshots
<img width="1316" height="793" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ac394d36-cded-4ea4-9883-120785e260f1"
/>
<img width="1315" height="907" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/7c682474-5aa7-4388-b626-29b56f5ebbef"
/>
<img width="1315" height="992" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/21eace45-23c6-472d-9aa0-0feb6db3fba4"
/>
## What's New
### Create Flexible Budgets
- Set budgets for specific categories or labels
- Choose from monthly, weekly, bi-weekly, or custom periods
- Set your own budget start date for better alignment with your pay
schedule
### Track Your Spending
- Visual spending charts show how much you've spent vs. your budget
- See at a glance which budgets are on track and which need attention
- View all transactions that count toward each budget
### Smart Budget Management
- **Carry Over**: Unused budget amounts automatically roll into the next
period
- **Reset**: Unused amounts return to your available money pool
- Edit or delete budgets anytime as your needs change
### Easy Access
- New Budgets section in the main navigation
- Quick overview cards showing budget status
- Detailed budget pages with spending history and transaction lists
## How It Works
1. Create a budget by selecting a category or label and setting your
spending limit
2. Your transactions are automatically matched to relevant budgets
3. Track your progress with visual charts and spending summaries
4. Adjust your budgets as needed to stay on track with your financial
goals
This feature is now available behind a feature flag and can be enabled
for users who want to start budgeting their expenses.
## Summary
<img width="1220" height="1001" alt="whispermoney test_"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/c35751d5-385b-449c-81d6-14b5b6577ff2"
/>
Introduces a fully-functional demo account that lets prospective users
explore Whisper Money without creating an account. Users can click
"Check Demo" on the welcome page to instantly access a pre-populated
account with realistic financial data spanning 12 months.
## What's New
**Try Before You Sign Up**
- New "Check Demo" button on the welcome page for instant access
- Pre-configured demo account with real-world financial scenarios
- 12 months of sample transactions across multiple account types
(checking, savings, credit cards, investments)
- Pre-built automation rules, labels, and categories to showcase the
full app experience
**Demo Account Limitations**
- Demo accounts are read-only for sensitive operations (can't change
password, email, or payment settings)
- Clear messaging throughout the UI when demo restrictions apply
- Settings pages show helpful notices about demo limitations
- Automatic daily reset to maintain fresh demo experience
**Developer Experience**
- `php artisan demo:reset` command for manual resets
- Configurable via environment variables (DEMO_EMAIL, DEMO_PASSWORD,
DEMO_ENCRYPTION_KEY)
- Comprehensive test coverage for demo restrictions and data generation
## User Impact
This feature removes the friction of signing up before understanding the
product's value. Users can:
- Explore all features with realistic data
- Test automation rules and see them in action
- View charts and insights based on a year of financial activity
- Experience the full privacy-first encryption workflow
- Understand the product before committing to create an account
Perfect for demos, screenshots, documentation, and helping users make
informed decisions about whether Whisper Money fits their needs.
## Summary
Add a labeling system for transactions that differs from categories in
that labels are ephemeral and created on-the-fly when assigned (no
pre-creation required). A transaction can have multiple labels
(many-to-many relationship), and labels can be used for filtering in the
transaction table and as actions in automation rules.
<img width="1372" height="484" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/fd342b11-dafb-44ed-b818-578e1ea856e6"
/>
<img width="1373" height="613" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/aa5cfb8b-50b7-4101-a872-54904924f234"
/>
<img width="1035" height="594" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ffa946b2-b01f-496b-8cb8-ab55ab5b79ed"
/>
## Changes
### Backend (Laravel)
- Add `labels` table with user_id, name, color, and soft deletes
- Add `label_transaction` pivot table for transaction-label many-to-many
- Add `automation_rule_labels` pivot table for automation rule-label
many-to-many
- Create Label model with relationships to User, Transaction, and
AutomationRule
- Add LabelController for CRUD operations (returns JSON for on-the-fly
creation)
- Add LabelSyncController for frontend sync
- Add LabelPolicy for authorization
- Update TransactionController to handle bulk label updates
- Update AutomationRuleController to handle label actions
- Add validation for label_ids in transactions and automation rules
### Frontend (React/TypeScript)
- Add Label type and color utilities
- Add labels table to IndexedDB (Dexie version 6)
- Create label-sync service with findOrCreate functionality
- Create LabelCombobox component with multi-select and create-on-type
- Add labels column to transactions table
- Add labels filter to transaction filters
- Add bulk label assignment in bulk actions bar
- Add labels action in create automation rule dialog
- Update rule engine to include labels in evaluation results
## Testing
- 11 feature tests for label CRUD
- 3 tests for label sync
- All 241 feature tests pass
## Screenshots
N/A - UI changes can be reviewed in browser
Víctor Falcón
