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element-hq / element-android

A Matrix collaboration client for Android.
https://element.io/
GNU Affero General Public License v3.0
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Remove Breadcrumbs #2996

Open ShadowJonathan opened 3 years ago

ShadowJonathan commented 3 years ago

(For anyone who doesn't know, "Breadcrumbs" is the sidebar menu you get when you swipe left from the left side of the screen)

The breadcrumbs sidebar should be removed on the premise that it breaks UX "promise" with other platforms, or at the very least, with iOS' design language.

As far as I know, there's no explicit design language for swiping from the left side of the screen on android, I suspect that google either already has, or will in the future, make it similar to iOS: swiping "back" means "back" (the same as pressing the "back" button on the top bar, or pressing the back button)

Breadcrumbs explicitly break the rules in this design language, while I think it's a nice feature for powerusers, it shouldn't exist in this neglected state, as currently it could (at the very least) confuse people who're used to swiping left to "go back".

I also propose to make the "swipe left" behaviour the same as the "back" button, Discord has a "three panel" design, with server + channel lists on the "left", and users + channel details on the "right", coming from discord, people will be used to swiping left to "go back to the menu".

So at the very least, either remove breadcrumbs, or make their default feature-toggle "off"

LinAGKar commented 3 years ago

Swiping in from either side edge will already go back if you have Android set to navigation gestures rather than a navigation field, making Element's edge swipe inaccessible.

Also, I don't see any breadcrumbs navigation in the sidebar. And how can you swipe left from the left?

T-bond commented 3 years ago

Swiping in from either side edge will already go back if you have Android set to navigation gestures rather than a navigation field, making Element's edge swipe inaccessible.

It is still accessible, the same way as navigation drawer is accessible with back swipe navigation (at least with One UI). You have to swipe at first up/down a little bit, than inwards (without letting go between the two swipes). This will move the breadcrumbs/navigation drawer in, and won't navigate back. So I wouldn't say it is inaccessible, but maybe hard to find, as I had to tell to others that it is there. Maybe some tooltip at first lunch would be better to promote this function.

The breadcrumbs sidebar should be removed on the premise that it breaks UX "promise" with other platforms, or at the very least, with iOS' design language.

It is an android app. It should follow the Android design principles (Material deisgn) rather than iOS' ones. Android user are used to this, and they except this.

As far as I know, there's no explicit design language for swiping from the left side of the screen on android, I suspect that google either already has, or will in the future, make it similar to iOS: swiping "back" means "back" (the same as pressing the "back" button on the top bar, or pressing the back button)

I just checked the material design guidelines and yes, there is no word about swiping it in, also there is swiping back to close the navigation drawer. But the default behaviour is for a navigation drawer allows it to be swiped in. So it comes with the default components of the platform. I know it is not a navigation drawer, but it has a same purpose (mainly navigation) and there is the closes android component to it.

To be clear: I am not completely against removing it. I just want some alternative. For example the one you mentioned used in Discord works good, just a little bit strange as an android user. Or maybe not removing it, and improving it by promoting the feature a bit more, or some small changes. But the quick navigation is a great future.

ShadowJonathan commented 3 years ago

Also, I don't see any breadcrumbs navigation in the sidebar. And how can you swipe left from the left?

Swipe right from the left, sorry, I didn't word that correctly.

bmarty commented 3 years ago

For those who know it and have access to it, breadcrumbs are really useful. We will not remove them, but could think of a way to improve the UX.

ShadowJonathan commented 3 years ago

I propose to then at least (by default) turn them off for new users, or provide a way to turn them off at all, as they can be a confusing to new users.