Collapsed Reply Threads

Project Summary

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Last Updated: Jan 28, 2021

Goal

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Improve users’ ability to process channel content, find, follow, and resume conversations more easily, and keep threaded conversations focused

User Experience

02

Highlight Features

Collapsed Reply Messages��Reply messages will no longer appear in the main channel message list. Click on a parent message to open the thread in the RHS.

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Follow Threads and Messages�

Threads that you participate in and are mentioned in are automatically “followed”. You can actively choose to follow or unfollow a thread with the buttons surfaced in the interface.

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Threads List�

Followed threads will be collected and viewable in the “Threads” sidebar section, sorted by recent thread activity. Click on a thread to open it in the RHS.��Unread Threads �

Filter the threads list by only threads with unread messages.

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Configuration Settings

We will introduce a system configuration setting and Account Settings to enable collapsed threads in three states:�

1. Off: Users cannot enable collapsed threads�
2. Enabled (Default On): This enables collapsed threads for all users on the server. Users can disable it in Account Settings.�
3. Enabled (Default Off): Users must enable collapsed threads in Account Settings.

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Target Milestones

03

Target Milestones

• July 06: Low fidelity design wireframes for user testing
• August 03: Customer and user testing completed on wireframes
• August 19: UX direction solidified based on user testing results and design iteration
• Sept 7: Front-end infrastructure/component developer spec complete, front-end coding starts
• Sept 25: High fidelity UX design and functional spec doc complete, including user tutorial and feedback mechanisms. (delayed but in-progress)

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• Sept 28: Backend infrastructure developer spec complete, back-end & mobile coding starts
• Oct 12: Finalize scope of Beta release and determine targeted release version
• November: Ship Phase 1 (back-end infrastructure, no user visible changes)
• Q1 2021: Ship Phase 2 (beta support on web & desktop apps)
• Q2 2021: Ship Phase 3 (beta support on mobile)
• Q2 2021: Ship Phase 4 (general availability)

ROLLOUT PHASES

03

Phase 1: Backend Infrastructure

Release Stage: Experimental

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What’s included?

• Backend server-side changes needed to support the collapsed threading post model
• Config setting to enable or disable the collapsed reply threads backend
• There are no user visible changes included in this release phase

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�Timeline: Available in v5.29+ (November 16, 2020)

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Phase 2: Web/Desktop Beta

Release Stage: Beta for Web/Desktop apps�

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What’s included?

• Web & Desktop User Interface for collapsed reply threads, including:
• Collapsed threads in channels
• Ability to follow/unfollow threads and messages
• Thread list to view all your followed threads accessible from the sidebar
• Ability to filter the thread list to show only unread threads
• Config setting to enable or disable collapsed reply threads on the system level and set the user defaults
• User setting to enable or disable collapsed reply threads for each user

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�Timeline: Available in Q1 2021

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Phase 3: Mobile Beta

Release Stage: Beta for mobile�

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What’s included?

• Mobile User Interface for collapsed reply threads

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�Timeline: Available in Q2 2021 (exact release date depends on feedback from Phase 2)

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Phase 4: General Availability

Release Stage: General Availability�

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What’s included?

• User interface polish
• Iterative tweaks on design and user experience based on feedback

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�Timeline: Available in Q2 2021 (exact release date depends on feedback from Phase 2/3)

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Resources

04

Resources

Design: https://www.figma.com/proto/JmNM3WmTKHTKU5Cf7uNwOj/MM-18107-Threads-Overhaul-v3?node-id=808%3A73&scaling=min-zoom

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