Message Threading

afterpod admin (rick) via Hubzilla Support Forum

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 01:14:10 +0200

!Hubzilla Support Forum I don't see one, so I'll ask about threading options. The default sequential threading of messages is ok... but there are times when a REPLY to a specific item in the thread is more effective. I don't see this capability, just some ordering options. Obviously, this adds a certain level of complexity so maybe that's why it's avoided (esp. in light of message privs, etc).

I've found some features (or lack of) are based on a platform design or operational philosophy. Is there one regarding item/message threading and inline replies?

show all 6 comments

Mike Macgirvin

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 01:30:06 +0200

Code exists for multi-threading posts/comments. When we did this before the UI was so bad that most people turned it off and went back to unthreaded, but we kept the ability to like comments. The original multi-thread code could possibly be resurrected although it's been dormant for some time. My own preference is for a maximum number of levels (probably 3: post, comment, and comment to comment). When you introduce levels beyond this is when the UI goes to hell in a handbasket. Techies tend to love multi-threading and non-techies usually hate it. In the latter it represents yet another cognitive/complexity barrier.

Max Kostikov

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 01:32:04 +0200

As I see techically Hubzilla is ready for threads in comments and private messaging. We have all required data in database.
The main question is how to display threads?

Max Kostikov

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 01:33:24 +0200

My own preference is for a maximum number of levels (probably 3: post, comment, and comment to comment)

+1. Like it done in Facebook.

afterpod admin (rick)

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:56:28 +0200

I thought maybe it was coming when I saw the db references to parent as well as thread. With this project, I should have known... come and gone.

Maybe the time it right again? It would increase familiarity. Limiting the depth seems reasonable. Presentation is important.
#threading

Mike Macgirvin

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 00:06:35 +0200

Hopefully you understand the open source way of doing things. Most development is done by somebody with a need making it happen.

Nobody in the project is likely to get in your way if one a) makes the new thing optional and b) doesn't break something that exists. There is a toggle to turn on threading and set the number of levels somewhere in the code. One would probably have to fix a few things because it has been turned off for a long time and there have been a lot of changes in that time.

afterpod admin (rick)

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 01:07:38 +0200

Finding a fit close enough to my needs that I can adapt is my goal, at which time I do hope to contribute something back to the community.

I hope my questions do not sound like demands and trust no one takes offense.  I am simply exploring the various paths necessary to reach my ends and this forum has been quite helpful!  Happily, I'm finding a great deal of flexibility in the system.  Having built many large and small web-oriented applications over the years, I can see where several typical dead ends have been avoided, so especially appreciate certain aspects of the design.

It's clear I"m late to this party (hence my "come and gone" remark)... still a mystery to me how I've not stumbled across Hubzilla before.  I am not new to the internet nor PHP nor...

Anyway, this seems like a friendly, reasonable place and -- so far as I can tell -- Hubzilla is some solid code that will be able to do what I want (with a little tailoring).  I think this might be a win-win.