feat(dates): Firestore-backed date catalog + sponsored ideas

- DateIdea gains sponsored/sponsorName/externalUrl (native, clearly-labeled ads
  — no tracking SDK).
- FirestoreDateIdeaDataSource reads the server-curated date_ideas collection
  (defensive: malformed docs skipped, https-only externalUrl); DateMatchRepo
  serves remote first, falling back to the shipped static seed when empty/failed
  so the feature always has content. Fallback verified live (Date Match renders
  the seed) + unit-tested (remote-present / empty / failure).
- Date card shows a "Sponsored · <name>" pill and a "Learn more" link (opened via
  the system browser, https-only, no click IDs).
- Local admin seeder (functions/scripts/seedDateIdeas.ts + date_ideas_seed.json,
  generated from the Kotlin seed + 1 sponsored example) — idempotent by id, has a
  --dry-run; NOT a deployed endpoint. Verified: 38 docs upserted to the emulator,
  1 sponsored, tsc builds.

Owner: run the seeder against prod (GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS) to populate
date_ideas; add real sponsor content.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

app/src/main/java/app/closer/data/remote/FirestoreCollections.kt

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ object FirestoreCollections {
     const val USERS = "users"
     const val COUPLES = "couples"
     const val INVITES = "invites"
+    const val DATE_IDEAS = "date_ideas"
 
     // ── Subcollections under users/{uid} ──────────────────────────────────────
     object Users {

app/src/main/java/app/closer/data/remote/FirestoreDateIdeaDataSource.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package app.closer.data.remote
+
+import android.util.Log
+import app.closer.domain.model.DateCostLevel
+import app.closer.domain.model.DateIdea
+import com.google.firebase.firestore.DocumentSnapshot
+import com.google.firebase.firestore.FirebaseFirestore
+import kotlinx.coroutines.tasks.await
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import javax.inject.Singleton
+
+/**
+ * Reads the curated date-idea catalog from the top-level `date_ideas` collection (server-curated,
+ * read-only for clients per the rules). Server-backed so sponsored/seasonal ideas can be updated
+ * without an app release. A malformed remote doc is skipped, never crashing the list; a fetch
+ * failure returns null so the caller can fall back to the shipped static seed.
+ */
+@Singleton
+class FirestoreDateIdeaDataSource @Inject constructor(
+    private val db: FirebaseFirestore,
+) {
+    /** Returns the remote catalog, or null on failure (caller falls back to the static seed). */
+    suspend fun getDateIdeas(): List<DateIdea>? = runCatching {
+        db.collection(FirestoreCollections.DATE_IDEAS).get().await()
+            .documents
+            .mapNotNull { runCatching { it.toDateIdea() }.getOrNull() }
+    }.onFailure { Log.w(TAG, "date_ideas fetch failed; using static seed", it) }.getOrNull()
+
+    private fun DocumentSnapshot.toDateIdea(): DateIdea? {
+        val title = getString("title")?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() } ?: return null
+        val url = getString("externalUrl")?.takeIf { it.startsWith("https://") } // https-only
+        return DateIdea(
+            id = id,
+            title = title,
+            description = getString("description").orEmpty(),
+            category = getString("category").orEmpty(),
+            estimatedDuration = getString("estimatedDuration").orEmpty(),
+            estimatedCost = DateCostLevel.fromFirestoreValue(getString("estimatedCost").orEmpty()),
+            isPremium = getBoolean("isPremium") ?: false,
+            createdAt = getLong("createdAt") ?: 0L,
+            sponsored = getBoolean("sponsored") ?: false,
+            sponsorName = getString("sponsorName")?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() },
+            externalUrl = url,
+        )
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val TAG = "FirestoreDateIdeaDS"
+    }
+}

app/src/main/java/app/closer/data/repository/DateMatchRepositoryImpl.kt

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package app.closer.data.repository
 
+import app.closer.data.remote.FirestoreDateIdeaDataSource
 import app.closer.data.remote.FirestoreDateMatchDataSource
 import app.closer.data.remote.FirestoreDateSwipeDataSource
 import app.closer.domain.model.DateIdea
@@ -30,10 +31,16 @@ import javax.inject.Singleton
 @Singleton
 class DateMatchRepositoryImpl @Inject constructor(
     private val swipeDataSource: FirestoreDateSwipeDataSource,
-    private val matchDataSource: FirestoreDateMatchDataSource
+    private val matchDataSource: FirestoreDateMatchDataSource,
+    private val dateIdeaDataSource: FirestoreDateIdeaDataSource
 ) : DateMatchRepository {
 
-    override suspend fun getDateIdeas(): List<DateIdea> = DateIdeaSeed.all
+    // Server-curated catalog (lets sponsored/seasonal ideas update without a release). The shipped
+    // static seed is the offline/empty/error fallback, so the feature always has content.
+    override suspend fun getDateIdeas(): List<DateIdea> {
+        val remote = dateIdeaDataSource.getDateIdeas()
+        return if (remote.isNullOrEmpty()) DateIdeaSeed.all else remote
+    }
 
     override suspend fun recordSwipe(
         coupleId: String,

app/src/main/java/app/closer/domain/model/DateIdea.kt

@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ package app.closer.domain.model
  * @property estimatedCost Cost level: free, low, medium, high.
  * @property isPremium True when the idea requires an active premium entitlement.
  * @property createdAt Server timestamp of when the idea was added.
+ * @property sponsored True when this is a clearly-labeled sponsored/partner idea (native ad — not a
+ *   tracking SDK). Server-curated; the UI shows a "Sponsored" chip.
+ * @property sponsorName Display name of the sponsor, shown on the chip.
+ * @property externalUrl Optional https link opened via Chrome Custom Tabs (no click IDs / tracking).
  */
 data class DateIdea(
     val id: String = "",
@@ -20,7 +24,10 @@ data class DateIdea(
     val estimatedDuration: String = "",
     val estimatedCost: DateCostLevel = DateCostLevel.FREE,
     val isPremium: Boolean = false,
-    val createdAt: Long = 0L
+    val createdAt: Long = 0L,
+    val sponsored: Boolean = false,
+    val sponsorName: String? = null,
+    val externalUrl: String? = null
 )
 
 enum class DateCostLevel {

app/src/main/java/app/closer/ui/dates/DateMatchScreen.kt

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import app.closer.ui.theme.closerSoftSurfaceColor
 import androidx.compose.animation.core.animateFloatAsState
 import androidx.compose.animation.core.spring
 import androidx.compose.foundation.background
+import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
 import androidx.compose.foundation.gestures.detectHorizontalDragGestures
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Brush
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.vector.ImageVector
 import androidx.compose.ui.input.pointer.pointerInput
+import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalUriHandler
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.font.FontWeight
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextOverflow
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.IntOffset
@@ -356,7 +358,9 @@ private fun DateCard(
                     verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
                 ) {
                     CategoryPill(idea.category.displayDateCategory())
-                    if (idea.isPremium) {
+                    if (idea.sponsored) {
+                        SponsoredPill(idea.sponsorName)
+                    } else if (idea.isPremium) {
                         PremiumBadge()
                     }
                 }
@@ -378,18 +382,48 @@ private fun DateCard(
                 )
             }
 
-            Row(
-                modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
-                horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceBetween,
-                verticalAlignment = Alignment.Bottom
-            ) {
-                InfoChip(label = idea.estimatedDuration)
-                InfoChip(label = idea.estimatedCost.displayLabel())
+            Column(verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp)) {
+                idea.externalUrl?.takeIf { it.startsWith("https://") }?.let { url ->
+                    val uriHandler = LocalUriHandler.current
+                    Text(
+                        text = "Learn more ↗",
+                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelLarge,
+                        fontWeight = FontWeight.SemiBold,
+                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
+                        modifier = Modifier.clickable { runCatching { uriHandler.openUri(url) } }
+                    )
+                }
+                Row(
+                    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
+                    horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceBetween,
+                    verticalAlignment = Alignment.Bottom
+                ) {
+                    InfoChip(label = idea.estimatedDuration)
+                    InfoChip(label = idea.estimatedCost.displayLabel())
+                }
             }
         }
     }
 }
 
+@Composable
+private fun SponsoredPill(sponsorName: String?) {
+    Surface(
+        shape = RoundedCornerShape(999.dp),
+        color = closerSoftSurfaceColor()
+    ) {
+        Text(
+            text = sponsorName?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }?.let { "Sponsored · $it" } ?: "Sponsored",
+            modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 12.dp, vertical = 7.dp),
+            style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelMedium,
+            color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+            fontWeight = FontWeight.SemiBold,
+            maxLines = 1,
+            overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 @Composable
 private fun PremiumBadge() {
     Surface(

app/src/test/java/app/closer/data/repository/DateMatchRepositoryImplTest.kt

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package app.closer.data.repository
 
+import app.closer.data.remote.FirestoreDateIdeaDataSource
 import app.closer.data.remote.FirestoreDateMatchDataSource
 import app.closer.data.remote.FirestoreDateSwipeDataSource
 import app.closer.domain.model.DateSwipe
@@ -17,7 +18,8 @@ class DateMatchRepositoryImplTest {
 
     private val swipeDataSource: FirestoreDateSwipeDataSource = mockk(relaxed = true)
     private val matchDataSource: FirestoreDateMatchDataSource = mockk(relaxed = true)
-    private val repository = DateMatchRepositoryImpl(swipeDataSource, matchDataSource)
+    private val dateIdeaDataSource: FirestoreDateIdeaDataSource = mockk(relaxed = true)
+    private val repository = DateMatchRepositoryImpl(swipeDataSource, matchDataSource, dateIdeaDataSource)
 
     @Test
     fun `recordSwipe records via data source and always returns null match`() = runTest {
@@ -54,9 +56,28 @@ class DateMatchRepositoryImplTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `getDateIdeas returns non-empty seed catalog with valid ids`() = runTest {
+    fun `getDateIdeas falls back to the static seed when the remote catalog is empty`() = runTest {
+        coEvery { dateIdeaDataSource.getDateIdeas() } returns emptyList()
         val ideas = repository.getDateIdeas()
-        assertTrue("Seed catalog must not be empty", ideas.isNotEmpty())
-        assertTrue("All ideas must have non-blank ids", ideas.all { it.id.isNotBlank() })
+        assertTrue("must fall back to the non-empty seed", ideas.isNotEmpty())
+        assertTrue(ideas.all { it.id.isNotBlank() })
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `getDateIdeas falls back to the static seed when the remote fetch fails`() = runTest {
+        coEvery { dateIdeaDataSource.getDateIdeas() } returns null
+        val ideas = repository.getDateIdeas()
+        assertTrue(ideas.isNotEmpty())
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `getDateIdeas serves the remote catalog when present`() = runTest {
+        val remote = listOf(
+            app.closer.domain.model.DateIdea(id = "remote_1", title = "Remote idea", sponsored = true, sponsorName = "Acme")
+        )
+        coEvery { dateIdeaDataSource.getDateIdeas() } returns remote
+        val ideas = repository.getDateIdeas()
+        assertTrue(ideas.size == 1 && ideas[0].id == "remote_1")
+        assertTrue("sponsored fields flow through", ideas[0].sponsored)
     }
 }

functions/scripts/date_ideas_seed.json

@@ -0,0 +1,347 @@
+[
+  {
+    "id": "adventure_sunrise_hike",
+    "title": "Sunrise hike + thermos coffee",
+    "description": "Pick a nearby overlook, pack warm drinks, and watch the sky change together.",
+    "category": "adventure",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2\u20133 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "adventure_kayak",
+    "title": "Kayak or canoe rental",
+    "description": "Spend a quiet morning paddling a local lake or river.",
+    "category": "adventure",
+    "estimatedDuration": "Half day",
+    "estimatedCost": "medium",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "adventure_rock_climbing",
+    "title": "Indoor rock climbing",
+    "description": "Try a beginner climbing gym session and cheer each other up the wall.",
+    "category": "adventure",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "medium",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "adventure_overnight_camping",
+    "title": "Overnight camping getaway",
+    "description": "Pack a tent and disappear for one night somewhere with dark skies.",
+    "category": "adventure",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1\u20132 days",
+    "estimatedCost": "medium",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "adventure_zipline",
+    "title": "Zipline canopy tour",
+    "description": "Fly through the trees on a guided zip-line course.",
+    "category": "adventure",
+    "estimatedDuration": "Half day",
+    "estimatedCost": "high",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "travel_day_town",
+    "title": "Day trip to a nearby town",
+    "description": "Drive somewhere neither of you has explored and wander without an itinerary.",
+    "category": "travel",
+    "estimatedDuration": "Full day",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "travel_scenic_drive",
+    "title": "Scenic drive with a playlist",
+    "description": "Build a shared playlist, pick a pretty route, and stop for snacks.",
+    "category": "travel",
+    "estimatedDuration": "3\u20134 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "travel_weekend_escape",
+    "title": "Surprise weekend escape",
+    "description": "One partner plans the destination; the other packs a bag blind.",
+    "category": "travel",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 days",
+    "estimatedCost": "high",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "travel_roadside_attractions",
+    "title": "Roadside attractions tour",
+    "description": "Find the weirdest small attractions within a two-hour radius and visit three.",
+    "category": "travel",
+    "estimatedDuration": "Full day",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "food_farmers_market",
+    "title": "Farmers market breakfast",
+    "description": "Buy fresh pastries and fruit, then eat somewhere people-watching is easy.",
+    "category": "food",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "food_cook_together",
+    "title": "Cook a new cuisine together",
+    "description": "Pick a recipe neither of you has made, shop together, and make a mess.",
+    "category": "food",
+    "estimatedDuration": "3 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "food_food_truck_crawl",
+    "title": "Food truck crawl",
+    "description": "Share three different dishes from three different trucks.",
+    "category": "food",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "medium",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "food_tasting_menu",
+    "title": "Tasting menu dinner",
+    "description": "Book a special restaurant and make an evening of every course.",
+    "category": "food",
+    "estimatedDuration": "3 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "high",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "food_winery_tour",
+    "title": "Winery or brewery tour",
+    "description": "Taste flights, learn something, and bring home a bottle to share later.",
+    "category": "food",
+    "estimatedDuration": "Half day",
+    "estimatedCost": "high",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "food_pizza_night",
+    "title": "Homemade pizza night",
+    "description": "Make dough from scratch and compete for the most ridiculous topping combo.",
+    "category": "food",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2\u20133 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "learning_museum",
+    "title": "Museum or gallery visit",
+    "description": "Walk slowly through an exhibit and share the one piece that moved you most.",
+    "category": "learning",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2\u20133 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "learning_dance_class",
+    "title": "Beginner dance class",
+    "description": "Try salsa, swing, or ballroom \u2014 no experience required.",
+    "category": "learning",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1.5 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "medium",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "learning_workshop",
+    "title": "Creative workshop",
+    "description": "Pottery, painting, woodworking \u2014 make something tangible together.",
+    "category": "learning",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2\u20133 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "medium",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "learning_language",
+    "title": "Learn a language lesson together",
+    "description": "Pick a travel destination and learn ten phrases as a team.",
+    "category": "learning",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1 hour",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "learning_lecture",
+    "title": "Attend a lecture or talk",
+    "description": "Find a local speaker on a topic you both know nothing about.",
+    "category": "learning",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "romance_sunset_picnic",
+    "title": "Sunset picnic",
+    "description": "Pack a blanket, simple snacks, and watch the sun go down somewhere quiet.",
+    "category": "romance",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "romance_stargazing",
+    "title": "Stargazing with blankets",
+    "description": "Drive away from city lights, lie back, and name constellations.",
+    "category": "romance",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "romance_couples_massage",
+    "title": "Couples massage",
+    "description": "Book side-by-side treatments and unwind together.",
+    "category": "romance",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "high",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "romance_sunset_sail",
+    "title": "Sunset sail or boat cruise",
+    "description": "Catch the golden hour from the water with a drink in hand.",
+    "category": "romance",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2\u20133 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "high",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "romance_home_spa",
+    "title": "At-home spa night",
+    "description": "Face masks, candles, soft music, and zero pressure to do anything else.",
+    "category": "romance",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "intimacy_question_deck",
+    "title": "Deeper question card night",
+    "description": "Use a deck of intimacy questions and answer them honestly over wine or tea.",
+    "category": "intimacy",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1.5 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "intimacy_slow_cook",
+    "title": "Slow-cook dinner with no phones",
+    "description": "Make a meal that takes real time and spend every minute talking.",
+    "category": "intimacy",
+    "estimatedDuration": "3\u20134 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "intimacy_letters",
+    "title": "Write each other letters",
+    "description": "Handwrite what you appreciate about each other, seal them, then read aloud.",
+    "category": "intimacy",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1 hour",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "intimacy_trust_exercise",
+    "title": "Guided trust exercise",
+    "description": "Follow a short couples communication exercise with eye contact and listening.",
+    "category": "intimacy",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1 hour",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "intimacy_walk_memory_lane",
+    "title": "Walk down memory lane",
+    "description": "Visit the place you first met or had your first real date and retell the story.",
+    "category": "intimacy",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1.5 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "seasonal_ice_skating",
+    "title": "Ice skating",
+    "description": "Hold hands, wobble, and warm up with hot cocoa afterward.",
+    "category": "seasonal",
+    "estimatedDuration": "2 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "medium",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "seasonal_fall_foliage",
+    "title": "Fall foliage drive",
+    "description": "Take the prettiest route, stop for cider, and take a silly photo together.",
+    "category": "seasonal",
+    "estimatedDuration": "Half day",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "seasonal_beach_day",
+    "title": "Off-season beach day",
+    "description": "Go to the beach when it is nearly empty and walk the shoreline.",
+    "category": "seasonal",
+    "estimatedDuration": "Half day",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "seasonal_holiday_lights",
+    "title": "Holiday lights walk",
+    "description": "Find the most over-decorated neighborhood and stroll after dark.",
+    "category": "seasonal",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1 hour",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "seasonal_pumpkin_patch",
+    "title": "Pumpkin patch or apple orchard",
+    "description": "Pick seasonal produce and turn it into something tasty at home.",
+    "category": "seasonal",
+    "estimatedDuration": "Half day",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "romance_rooftop_drink",
+    "title": "Rooftop drink at golden hour",
+    "description": "Find the highest bar with outdoor space and watch the city light up.",
+    "category": "romance",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1.5 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "medium",
+    "isPremium": true
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "adventure_bike_ride",
+    "title": "Neighborhood bike ride",
+    "description": "Borrow or rent bikes and explore streets you usually drive past.",
+    "category": "adventure",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1.5 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "free",
+    "isPremium": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "sponsored_example_cozy_bookshop",
+    "title": "Browse a local bookshop caf\u00e9",
+    "description": "Pick a book for each other, then swap over coffee.",
+    "category": "learning",
+    "estimatedDuration": "1\u20132 hours",
+    "estimatedCost": "low",
+    "isPremium": false,
+    "sponsored": true,
+    "sponsorName": "Sample Partner",
+    "externalUrl": "https://example.com/cozy-bookshop"
+  }
+]

functions/scripts/seedDateIdeas.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+/**
+ * Seeds the top-level `date_ideas` collection from date_ideas_seed.json.
+ *
+ * A LOCAL admin script — NOT a deployed callable (a deployed admin-write endpoint is avoidable
+ * attack surface). Run with admin credentials; idempotent by document id, so re-running updates in
+ * place rather than duplicating. Sponsored/seasonal ideas are edited here and pushed without an app
+ * release; the Android app falls back to its shipped static seed when the collection is empty.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ *   export GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=~/.config/closer/closer-admin-sa.json
+ *   npx ts-node functions/scripts/seedDateIdeas.ts            # writes
+ *   npx ts-node functions/scripts/seedDateIdeas.ts --dry-run  # prints what would change
+ */
+import * as admin from 'firebase-admin'
+import * as fs from 'fs'
+import * as path from 'path'
+
+interface SeedIdea {
+  id: string
+  title: string
+  description?: string
+  category?: string
+  estimatedDuration?: string
+  estimatedCost?: string
+  isPremium?: boolean
+  sponsored?: boolean
+  sponsorName?: string
+  externalUrl?: string
+}
+
+const DRY_RUN = process.argv.includes('--dry-run')
+
+function loadSeed(): SeedIdea[] {
+  const file = path.join(__dirname, 'date_ideas_seed.json')
+  const ideas = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf8')) as SeedIdea[]
+  const ids = new Set<string>()
+  for (const idea of ideas) {
+    if (!idea.id || !idea.title) throw new Error(`seed entry missing id/title: ${JSON.stringify(idea)}`)
+    if (ids.has(idea.id)) throw new Error(`duplicate seed id: ${idea.id}`)
+    ids.add(idea.id)
+    if (idea.externalUrl && !idea.externalUrl.startsWith('https://')) {
+      throw new Error(`externalUrl must be https: ${idea.id}`)
+    }
+  }
+  return ideas
+}
+
+function toDoc(idea: SeedIdea): Record<string, unknown> {
+  const doc: Record<string, unknown> = {
+    title: idea.title,
+    description: idea.description ?? '',
+    category: idea.category ?? '',
+    estimatedDuration: idea.estimatedDuration ?? '',
+    estimatedCost: idea.estimatedCost ?? 'free',
+    isPremium: idea.isPremium ?? false,
+    sponsored: idea.sponsored ?? false,
+    createdAt: Date.now(),
+  }
+  if (idea.sponsorName) doc.sponsorName = idea.sponsorName
+  if (idea.externalUrl) doc.externalUrl = idea.externalUrl
+  return doc
+}
+
+async function main() {
+  const ideas = loadSeed()
+  console.log(`Loaded ${ideas.length} date ideas (${ideas.filter((i) => i.sponsored).length} sponsored).`)
+  if (DRY_RUN) {
+    for (const idea of ideas) console.log(`  would upsert date_ideas/${idea.id}`)
+    console.log('Dry run — nothing written.')
+    return
+  }
+
+  if (!admin.apps.length) admin.initializeApp()
+  const db = admin.firestore()
+  const col = db.collection('date_ideas')
+
+  // Batch upsert (merge) by id — idempotent.
+  let batch = db.batch()
+  let n = 0
+  for (const idea of ideas) {
+    batch.set(col.doc(idea.id), toDoc(idea), { merge: true })
+    if (++n % 400 === 0) {
+      await batch.commit()
+      batch = db.batch()
+    }
+  }
+  await batch.commit()
+  console.log(`Seeded ${ideas.length} ideas into date_ideas.`)
+}
+
+main().catch((err) => {
+  console.error(err)
+  process.exit(1)
+})