Mefi app? April 21, 2025 9:22 AM Subscribe
Could we make a Mefi app? I know some people dislike the reddit and bluesky ones but personally I spent more time on my phone than on my computer.
I find the design of the website pretty responsive and usable on mobile. What would an app bring that the browser experience doesn't?
posted by jacquilynne at 9:44 AM on April 21 [25 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 9:44 AM on April 21 [25 favorites]
Considering how much discussion and work it has taken the small number of people that are working on the site redesign to get to the point of just a MVP-level release of a beta test of a new site, maybe...an app might be a bit much to ask for at this particular point in time?
That's no shade against anyone here or their abilities. But can we be cognizant of the workload of the people actually charged with doing the work of building these things, and maybe let 'em finish, or substantially finish, the site redesign, and get it live, before thinking about building an app? It's taken so long to get to where they are with the site that I'd hate to split focus at this point.
posted by pdb at 10:08 AM on April 21 [16 favorites]
That's no shade against anyone here or their abilities. But can we be cognizant of the workload of the people actually charged with doing the work of building these things, and maybe let 'em finish, or substantially finish, the site redesign, and get it live, before thinking about building an app? It's taken so long to get to where they are with the site that I'd hate to split focus at this point.
posted by pdb at 10:08 AM on April 21 [16 favorites]
On Android, if you go into the three dots menu on the top right of the browser, it has "add to home screen". That gives you most of what you'd get with an app, and quite a bit cheaper!
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:16 AM on April 21 [5 favorites]
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:16 AM on April 21 [5 favorites]
why make app for do what mobile site do just fine
posted by phunniemee at 10:41 AM on April 21 [8 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 10:41 AM on April 21 [8 favorites]
Can you explain what a MeFi app might do that the a website cannot?
posted by ssg at 10:48 AM on April 21
posted by ssg at 10:48 AM on April 21
Can you explain what a MeFi app might do that the a website cannot?
Be advertised on app stores as a way of building membership?
I do like the app idea, if it could overcome the problem I have with the mobile site, where it's very difficult to comment, add links, etc. But that may just be my aging eyes and poor phone skills rather than anything wrong with the mobile site myself. I usually have to come back here to the computer if I want to comment.
However, with what Kirk has been saying about some of the updates, it could be that these problems will be mitigated by the design of the new site?
posted by mittens at 10:56 AM on April 21
Be advertised on app stores as a way of building membership?
I do like the app idea, if it could overcome the problem I have with the mobile site, where it's very difficult to comment, add links, etc. But that may just be my aging eyes and poor phone skills rather than anything wrong with the mobile site myself. I usually have to come back here to the computer if I want to comment.
However, with what Kirk has been saying about some of the updates, it could be that these problems will be mitigated by the design of the new site?
posted by mittens at 10:56 AM on April 21
Just the thought of this project gives me heartburn.
posted by june_dodecahedron at 11:04 AM on April 21 [8 favorites]
posted by june_dodecahedron at 11:04 AM on April 21 [8 favorites]
iOS also offers the same option of saving websites as app icons on the home screen, and desktop Safari and Chrome can create self-contained websites that basically function as apps.
I can't imagine what a MeFi app would need to do that the website/subsites don't already do.
posted by emelenjr at 11:16 AM on April 21 [1 favorite]
I can't imagine what a MeFi app would need to do that the website/subsites don't already do.
posted by emelenjr at 11:16 AM on April 21 [1 favorite]
Not necessarily an app thing, but I'd like to be notified in some way when someone @s my username, replies to my comment, MeMails me, replies to an old question or projects post, etc. This is something most other forum-like places have now. I'll add it to the feature suggestion spreadsheet.
posted by Klipspringer at 11:28 AM on April 21 [2 favorites]
posted by Klipspringer at 11:28 AM on April 21 [2 favorites]
We should be able to make some improvements to the site on mobile during the rebuild.
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 11:38 AM on April 21 [10 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 11:38 AM on April 21 [10 favorites]
No thanks. This website has always worked great on mobile and I would like it to stay that way.
posted by azarbayejani at 12:28 PM on April 21 [1 favorite]
posted by azarbayejani at 12:28 PM on April 21 [1 favorite]
I am not proposing that it's a high priority for MeFi's developer(s) to build a mobile app, but there are things an app could be better at that would enhance some people's experience. Off the top of my head:
Drafting a comment or post, and saving it to finish and post later (also, often the native app interface for writing and editing text is superior to the mobile web experience)
Caching posts/threads to read later, offline
Reading offline and still being able to favorite things (those faves reliably syncing to the server when I next go online)
Exploring MeFi's archives in new ways, like complex tag/search combinations, or searches across two or three subsites but not all of them
Some sort of interesting integration between MeFi Music and music-playing/streaming apps
Richer integrations with bookmarking/"read later" apps for interesting links in FPPs
Richer "share this" functionality as appropriate
Blocking/muting individual users, or tags, so those posts/comments do not display in my reading view (yes, I know there are user scripts that can do this and/or My MeFi helps; I imagine an app might have an easier UI)
posted by brainwane at 12:43 PM on April 21 [4 favorites]
Drafting a comment or post, and saving it to finish and post later (also, often the native app interface for writing and editing text is superior to the mobile web experience)
Caching posts/threads to read later, offline
Reading offline and still being able to favorite things (those faves reliably syncing to the server when I next go online)
Exploring MeFi's archives in new ways, like complex tag/search combinations, or searches across two or three subsites but not all of them
Some sort of interesting integration between MeFi Music and music-playing/streaming apps
Richer integrations with bookmarking/"read later" apps for interesting links in FPPs
Richer "share this" functionality as appropriate
Blocking/muting individual users, or tags, so those posts/comments do not display in my reading view (yes, I know there are user scripts that can do this and/or My MeFi helps; I imagine an app might have an easier UI)
posted by brainwane at 12:43 PM on April 21 [4 favorites]
brainwane, most of your list is something a website could also do given the time and space to build out those features. (maybe not the offline things.) mobile-responsive web design and functionality is pretty robust these days. (also I personally would prefer doing many of those things in a roomier desktop environment!)
having a distinct app that's simply running mobile website in an "app" container, for folks who don't know or would rather not use their phone browser's "save to home screen" function, is something I know can be done and would be the only version of this I'd personally think of as feasible. but getting an app into official Android/Apple stores isn't entirely trivial.
posted by Kybard at 1:20 PM on April 21 [3 favorites]
having a distinct app that's simply running mobile website in an "app" container, for folks who don't know or would rather not use their phone browser's "save to home screen" function, is something I know can be done and would be the only version of this I'd personally think of as feasible. but getting an app into official Android/Apple stores isn't entirely trivial.
posted by Kybard at 1:20 PM on April 21 [3 favorites]
A surprising amount of that *should* be doable using web standards, with broad compatibility between different mobile *and* desktop platforms. I think things like a better search interface, blocking, hooks for getting data into/out of external apps (sharing , music, galleries, who knows), and even offline reading should all be the sort of feature requests that the new site should make it easier to build, even if they aren't initial features.
Regardless, given that the new site is still being worked on and will require an entirely different database, there's probably not a *ton* that can be done on this until it's finalized and there's an actual site to target.
posted by sagc at 1:21 PM on April 21 [2 favorites]
Regardless, given that the new site is still being worked on and will require an entirely different database, there's probably not a *ton* that can be done on this until it's finalized and there's an actual site to target.
posted by sagc at 1:21 PM on April 21 [2 favorites]
for me, having a mobile page that works well is always preferable to an app.
posted by Dr. Twist at 4:03 PM on April 21 [4 favorites]
posted by Dr. Twist at 4:03 PM on April 21 [4 favorites]
The virtue of an app for a social network is that it promotes scrolling through, which is not typically the way Mefi is postured to be interacted with. That's good and bad! But it's a result of Mefi being a relic of an older form of the web.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:21 PM on April 21
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:21 PM on April 21
Drafting a comment or post, and saving it to finish and post later
this appears after you return, if you click 'preview' (on blue)
this appears after you return, if you click 'preview' (on blue)
Continue Editing Draft?posted by HearHere at 5:44 PM on April 21
You have a draft post that was saved in progress:
Mod note: Yes front page Metafilter posts are saved when you click preview aka you can start a draft and finish it later.
This does not work on any other sub-site.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 5:48 PM on April 21
This does not work on any other sub-site.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 5:48 PM on April 21
As a data point, I would never never never install and use a MeFi app.
If the development and deployment of an app has no impact on the website, its utility and availability, then I don't care if there's an app. If it takes anything from the availability and utility of the website, I am strongly opposed to it.
posted by crush at 6:07 PM on April 21 [3 favorites]
If the development and deployment of an app has no impact on the website, its utility and availability, then I don't care if there's an app. If it takes anything from the availability and utility of the website, I am strongly opposed to it.
posted by crush at 6:07 PM on April 21 [3 favorites]
Thanks for those responses. I read multiple people who asked why someone would want an app, what a MeFi app could do that the website could not. So I figured I'd share a few thoughts to at least demonstrate that there are some reasons. Also, maybe the new site will have a rich enough API that volunteer individuals or teams can use it to build apps as desired. But, as you said, Kybard, the App Store/Play Store issue is nontrivial!
brainwane, most of your list is something a website could also do given the time and space to build out those features. (maybe not the offline things.) mobile-responsive web design and functionality is pretty robust these days. (also I personally would prefer doing many of those things in a roomier desktop environment!)
I also generally prefer to do these things in a roomier desktop environment! But I am often on a mobile device, especially while on the New York City subway. That's a big reason my mind immediately went to offline functionality. On the MTA, while underground, I get little fractional moments of data signal, but mostly I'm offline. I appreciate that I can refresh my Mastodon client app before going underground, then scroll through it and read posts and compose draft replies in the app. My Mastodon client app also makes it easy to switch between different user accounts, and to schedule a post for a later time.
Regarding the existing draft post functionality: yes, I have come across it, and I think I have never used it. It is only for front page posts, and as I understand it, it only lets you retain one draft at a time. I imagine an app would be better than mobile web would be at allowing me to keep multiple drafts going, not just one, for posts and comments and MeMail messages and the Contact form, across all subsites, and work on them offline when I want.
A few more ideas:
People who use MeFi Chat might have thoughts on how connections from the site to Chat, and vice versa, could work better, and whether an app might aid in this.
An app might make it easier for me to integrate my MeFi contacts into my phone's address book and thus think to MeMail them more often.
Turning on my location and letting MeFi IRL know it could help me find existing IRL proposals or meetups, or start a new one to tell folks: want to meet me here, at this venue? tonight?
Please note that, again, I am saying these as responses to help people imagine why someone might possibly imagine pleasure and utility in a MeFi app. I am not saying "and therefore we should prioritize doing this."
posted by brainwane at 6:21 PM on April 21 [4 favorites]
brainwane, most of your list is something a website could also do given the time and space to build out those features. (maybe not the offline things.) mobile-responsive web design and functionality is pretty robust these days. (also I personally would prefer doing many of those things in a roomier desktop environment!)
I also generally prefer to do these things in a roomier desktop environment! But I am often on a mobile device, especially while on the New York City subway. That's a big reason my mind immediately went to offline functionality. On the MTA, while underground, I get little fractional moments of data signal, but mostly I'm offline. I appreciate that I can refresh my Mastodon client app before going underground, then scroll through it and read posts and compose draft replies in the app. My Mastodon client app also makes it easy to switch between different user accounts, and to schedule a post for a later time.
Regarding the existing draft post functionality: yes, I have come across it, and I think I have never used it. It is only for front page posts, and as I understand it, it only lets you retain one draft at a time. I imagine an app would be better than mobile web would be at allowing me to keep multiple drafts going, not just one, for posts and comments and MeMail messages and the Contact form, across all subsites, and work on them offline when I want.
A few more ideas:
People who use MeFi Chat might have thoughts on how connections from the site to Chat, and vice versa, could work better, and whether an app might aid in this.
An app might make it easier for me to integrate my MeFi contacts into my phone's address book and thus think to MeMail them more often.
Turning on my location and letting MeFi IRL know it could help me find existing IRL proposals or meetups, or start a new one to tell folks: want to meet me here, at this venue? tonight?
Please note that, again, I am saying these as responses to help people imagine why someone might possibly imagine pleasure and utility in a MeFi app. I am not saying "and therefore we should prioritize doing this."
posted by brainwane at 6:21 PM on April 21 [4 favorites]
I'm neither for nor against a MeFi app as a thing - I wouldn't use it but I get that plenty of people would. I am definitely against any splitting of current resources being used towards the new site design. So, sure, if you want an app, but not now. I'm neither a programmer nor do I play one on TV, but I think it would be better to wait until the new site is finalised (or at least the database design) anyway or the app would have to be re-made to work when the new site goes live.
If there is someone that could build an app, is willing and has capacity, that resource may be better used to contribute to the site re-design. I'm not here to tell anyone what to do with their time, but we have a current major project that is under-resourced, so adding another project doesn't seem like a smart move right now.
posted by dg at 7:36 PM on April 21 [1 favorite]
If there is someone that could build an app, is willing and has capacity, that resource may be better used to contribute to the site re-design. I'm not here to tell anyone what to do with their time, but we have a current major project that is under-resourced, so adding another project doesn't seem like a smart move right now.
posted by dg at 7:36 PM on April 21 [1 favorite]
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posted by loup (staff) at 9:26 AM on April 21