Add indicator to show when users are online #502
Description
Problem
Users often want to know if another co-worker is online before sending them a message and there's no way to know in Chat.
Solution
Add an online indicator that shows when someone is on Chat.
We would need to figure out where to show the indicator. I think it makes most sense in LHN and in the Chat Switcher (keeping in mind the area below the search box in the Chat Switcher will contain unread and most recent chats). Also keep in mind that users will likely be able to pin chats to LHN, it's not on the milestone now and is LOW but pinning will very likely be an option once we go live to the public. #453
More thoughts
Another thing to consider is that, for the public, most people won't be power-users like us. It's possible (although I think unlikely) this could hinder adoption if most users aren't active/online in chat often - people might choose other communication channels where they might be likely to get a quicker response. On the flip side, most users likely wouldn't know the user wasn't online if there wasn't a 🟢 because they're new to chat.
We should get some feedback from Design, I could see having a bunch of 🟢 on the left not looking the best (but.. I think it'd be rare for most users to have many unread or pinned chats in LHN with most users online)
Here's the chat in #deprecate-slack
Mitch Ward 2020-09-03
The lack of online/offline indicators in here got me thinking..
Problem: Expensify Chat lacks a sense of presence. When I message someone, I have no idea if they're actually available/at their desk, which means I'm left wondering whether they'll respond any time soon.
Solution: Add online/offline indicators to the LHN of Expensify Chat.
Assuming this is a valid problem and we decide to solve it, is this WN worthy or do we think it's simple enough for GH to cover this issue?
Matt Allen
I've thought the same @Mitch and I think it's currently a 'nice to have' that we'll likely want before public launch. I have no idea how much work this would take though. Want to open a GH https://github.com/Expensify/ReactNativeChat/issues/new/choose , label it MEDIUM and drop the link in here to see if we get any initial feedback on the potential needed investment?
Jeremy Boniface
does the LHN make the most sense for a presence indicator, considering it will drop from view when you click away? maybe we should (in addition to the LHN) add a presence indicator to the results in the chat switcher?
top of chat might be useful too
Matt Allen
Good point @jez, I spaced that. By only seeing unread chats in LHN, an indicator there would only be so useful. We'd def want an indicator in the chat switcher results too
In the chat switcher doc, this is what's proposed to show below the search box
We’ll use this order to display chats in the switcher:
- Unreads (sorted alphabetically)
- Most recently visited chats
If there were an 'online' indicator next to the above, that would be especially nice
Jeremy Boniface
yeah agreed, i was just going to post about that lol
Matt Allen
also... @jez sent me the above breakdown in a chat and I totally stole it to post here :)
David Barrett
Hm, I don't see why you care about the online status of someone you aren't trying to talk to
I think the process would be:
- Hm, is X online to chat to?
- Open up DM with X to check
- Yes, let's chat!
If you really care to monitor the online status of someone that you aren't actively chatting with, then just pin them
I think having it in the switcher is a very "nice to have", but it seems way more important to have it in the LHN
Matt Allen
Agreed, but I don't see a downside of showing the online indicator in LHN for unread chats and also next to the users name/icon in the area below the search box in the chat switcher.
in Slack, occasionally I'll scroll to the bottom of LHN to see who's online if it's 'off hours' and I need help testing something (edge case yet, but an example)
Jeremy Boniface
@david hmmm ok, I suppose I see your point, but that's one extra step to seeing if someone is online (i have to click into the dm in this flow).. i'm advocating that we show them in both places but in results is actually more important in my view.
them meaning the presence indicator
but if I'm being totally honest, i don't really care if you're online. i'm going to message you regardless. i think the presence indicator is nice because it helps me know that other people are here getting shit done, and as such, i like seeing presence in the chat switcher, especially being remote. that might be kind of a lame argument for putting a presence indicator EVERYWHERE though.
Mitch Ward
I see that side too @jeremy, there is something to be said for that sense of community presence as well. It is a reassuring reminder that we're all in here together but that said, I'm not sure how much I need or should need that. I agree having the indication in the switcher is very nice to have. I'd say having it in the room's "details" tab would be higher priority than the switcher because it immediately gives a sense of activity across the entire policy (thinking of #all).
Mostly I'd like to have in LHN.
Jeremy Boniface
fair enough, ive started doubting my own take at this point anyway, so i'm down for the simplest solution then we can see where it takes us.
i do think the extra click to see if you're active is a little annoying potentially? but we can see how that feels