Quick access to private apps (Launchpad)

Expected behavior

You can select a private app for quick access.
In DC-Desktop, this app is pinned to the chat bar.
In the mobile versions of DC you can access this app by swiping left in the chat view.

Actual behavior

There is no quick access to private apps.

Explanation

It would be convenient and time-saving if you could quickly launch frequently used apps this way.

Example Images

Private app pinned at the chat bar in DC-Desktop:

6 Likes

Yup, sth. lik this is on the “virtual roadmap” for the next year or so!

2 Likes

Check out how Apple do it with their iMessage apps:


(from Use iMessage apps on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support)

@WofWca interesting, it seems that even stickers packs are apps themselves? that could be an approach to easily add/manage sticker packs, we have strict app size limits currently tho (but that could change once we have de-duplication of blobs)

note, that there are some ways to quick access apps meanwhile:

  • on Android and iOS, you can add apps to the home screen for quick access - they behave similar to “normal” apps by then

  • moreover, all systems meanwhile have an “App” tab in the chat profiles - and android / ios also globally. in the “App” taps, the most recent apps are shown atop that makes quick access also simpler

just saying :slight_smile: of course, things can and probably will be improved further :slight_smile:

3 Likes

I’ve been rethinking the proposal. In DC-Desktop, it might not be such a good idea to pin the apps individually to the title bar of the chat. Depending on the size of the chat window, space might be very limited. It would also make the UI look rather cluttered.
A button in the bar that could open a window containing the pinned apps would probably be the better solution. This window/screen for pinned apps could perhaps be called “launchpad” and would complement the new app picker well.
The new picker makes it more convenient to send new apps in a chat, while the “launchpad” would allow users to start already used apps faster because they wouldn’t have to scroll through a chat or search for them in the media library.
For DC-Android and DC-iOS, as described in the original post, the most elegant way to open the “launchpad” would be to swipe left in the chat.
A disadvantage of this would be that the feature is not immediately apparent to new users. Therefore, it might make sense if the “launchpad” could also be accessed via the chat information screen.