Privacy Policy
Effective date: August 29, 2026
Commonway System doesn't run accounts, doesn't sell anything, and doesn't collect information directly from visitors beyond what's described below. This page covers the third-party services the publication relies on, and the ordinary logging that comes from being hosted on the web at all.
#What we use
Google Analytics. We use Google Analytics to understand how the publication is used: which pages get visited, how people arrive at the publication, and general device and browser information. This is aggregate usage data, not information tied to your name or identity. See Google's own privacy policy(opens in new tab) for how Google processes this data.
GitHub. The publication's content and code are maintained in a public GitHub repository. If you open an issue, submit a pull request, or otherwise interact with the repository, GitHub collects and publicly displays your GitHub username and activity, the way it does for any public repository. We don't control that data ourselves; see GitHub's Privacy Statement(opens in new tab) for how GitHub handles it.
Netlify (hosting). This publication is hosted as a static site through Netlify, which automatically logs basic request information (like IP address and request timestamp) as a normal part of serving any website. We don't use this data ourselves beyond what Netlify's own infrastructure requires to operate. See Netlify's Privacy Policy(opens in new tab) for details.
Site search. The search feature runs entirely in your browser, against an index that is part of the publication itself. What you type is never sent to us or to anyone else, and search adds no cookies.
We don't run ads, don't sell or share data with advertisers, and don't have any other analytics, tracking, or data collection on the publication beyond what's listed above.
#Cookies
Google Analytics may set cookies in your browser to distinguish visitors and sessions. You can block or delete these through your browser's settings, or use Google's Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on(opens in new tab) to opt out entirely. Blocking cookies won't affect your ability to read the publication; it only affects the usage data we can see.
#Children's privacy
Commonway System isn't directed at children, and we don't knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13.
#Links to other sites
Nearly every pattern page in the guidebook cites external sources: government manuals, published studies, agency documents. Clicking through to those sources takes you to a site we don't control and aren't responsible for. Check the privacy practices of any external site you visit from a citation link.
#Your choices
You can use the Google Analytics opt-out tool linked above, adjust your browser's cookie and tracking settings, or use browser extensions that block analytics scripts. None of this affects your ability to use the publication.
#Changes to this policy
This page may be updated as the publication's tools or practices change. Updates are reflected in the publication's version history the same way any other content change is; see Release History & Roadmap.
#Contact
Questions about this policy can be directed to [email protected].