2023-06-13 00:15:37 +02:00
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# Suggesting features and improvements
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If you have ideas for how to make Zulip better, we'd love to hear from you! Many
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improvements start with a user's suggestion. The best way to suggest a feature
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or an improvement is by starting a conversation in the [Zulip development
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community](https://zulip.com/development-community/). It's a great way to engage
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interactively with members of the community, and explore how best to improve
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Zulip for you and other users.
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Usually, if the discussion leads to a concrete proposal, Zulip's product team
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will follow up by filing a GitHub issue to track the idea. Many conversations do
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not immediately lead to a GitHub issue, and that's OK! Sometimes the time is not
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right to pin down a plan, or more ideas need to come in before a great proposal
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emerges. Regardless of whether a discussion results in immediate action, we
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appreciate the time everyone takes to make suggestions and brainstorm ideas.
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## What to include in your proposal
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- Describe your idea. It's absolutely fine to bring up a problem without
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suggesting a concrete solution.
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- Provide context on how the change you are proposing would help you or your
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organization. It is often helpful to describe how you are using Zulip (e.g.,
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"I work at a small startup", or "I'm teaching a class"). This lets us combine
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our Zulip expertise with your requirements to come up with a great design for
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a feature.
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- If you are aware of a related issue in GitHub or a prior conversation in the
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development community, please include a link.
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## Starting a conversation about a suggested feature or improvement
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Steps and best practices for starting a conversation:
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1. [**Join** the Zulip development
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community](https://zulip.com/development-community/) if you don't already
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have an account.
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2024-05-20 18:14:34 +02:00
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2. Pick an **appropriate channel** to discuss your idea:
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- [#feedback](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/stream/137-feedback) for suggestions for
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the Zulip web app or server. Use this channel if you aren't sure which channel is
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2023-06-16 20:36:09 +02:00
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most appropriate.
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2023-06-13 00:15:37 +02:00
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- [#mobile](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/stream/48-mobile) for suggestions
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for the mobile apps.
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- [#desktop](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/stream/16-desktop) for suggestions
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that are specific to the Zulip desktop app.
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- [#zulip-terminal](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/stream/206-zulip-terminal)
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for suggestions for the terminal app.
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- [#production
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help](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/stream/31-production-help) for suggestions
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related to self-hosting Zulip.
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3. **[Start a new topic](https://zulip.com/help/starting-a-new-topic)** for
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discussing your suggestions, using a brief summary of your idea as the
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name of the topic.
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If you aren't sure where to post or how to name your topic, don't worry!
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Moderators can always rename the topic, or move the thread to another channel.
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Members of the development community will jump in to discuss your idea. You can
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help by participating in the discussion, including replying to any follow-up
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questions, and helping develop the proposal. The discussion may conclude with an
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issue being filed in GitHub to track the plan that was developed.
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## Filing a GitHub issue
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Filing a GitHub issue can be effective when you have a very specific proposal
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for a feature or improvement. Steps and best practices for filing an issue:
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1. File the issue in the **appropriate [Zulip
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repository](https://github.com/zulip)**. The most commonly used repositories
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are:
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- [zulip/zulip](https://github.com/zulip/zulip/issues) for suggestions for the
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Zulip web app or server. A good default if you aren't sure which repository
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to use.
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- [zulip/zulip-mobile](https://github.com/zulip/zulip-mobile/issues) for
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suggestions for the mobile apps.
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- [zulip/zulip-desktop](https://github.com/zulip/zulip-desktop/issues) for
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suggestions that are specific to the Zulip desktop app.
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- [zulip/zulip-terminal](https://github.com/zulip/zulip-terminal/issues) for
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suggestions for the terminal app.
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2. Do a **quick search** of the repository to see if there is already a similar
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request. If there is, add a comment explaining why you would also appreciate
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the proposed change, and make any additional suggestions you might have. Do
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not file a new issue.
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3. If you are aware of a related discussion in the Zulip development community,
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please **cross-link** between the issue and the discussion thread. [Link to a
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specific
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message](https://zulip.com/help/link-to-a-message-or-conversation#get-a-link-to-a-specific-message)
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in the discussion thread, as message links will still work even if the topic is
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renamed or resolved.
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