79 votes

Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (February 2024)

Posted February 2 by talklittle (edited February 16)

Tags: three cheers, apps, android, ios, recurring.monthly

This is a recurring topic for the Three Cheers for Tildes mobile app, which is currently in alpha testing.

I'll summarize the previous month's updates at the start of each topic, so people can read the updates and then hit Ignore if they don't care about more frequent updates and user feedback.

Known bugs

~~iOS v0.9.1 crashes when tapping a Details block in a topic OP.~~ Fixed in v0.10.0.

Recently:

Android and iOS v0.10.0 (Feb 15, 2024)

View and send private messages
Added button to send private message from a user's profile
Added "Tap to refresh" when a feed is empty
Show posted time in topic OP
Renamed bottom tab to Inbox (instead of Notifications)
(Android) Removed animation when using bottom tabs
(Android) Fixed crash when replying from a user's profile
(iOS) Fixed crash toggling Details in topic OP
(iOS) Fixed layout bugs with markdown tables
(iOS) Fixed UI bugs when replying in a user's profile
(iOS) Fixed minor UI bugs and crashes

Android v0.9.1: Fixed crash double-tapping comment in profile, and other rare crashes and minor bugs.

iOS hotfix v0.9.1: Fixed a possible crash opening the Notifications tab.

Android and iOS v0.9.0 (Jan 22, 2024)

View user profiles ("all posts" feed; more options like bios coming in the future)
Tweaked app theme colors
Fixed various layout bugs
(Android) Fixed crash tapping links in comment reply preview
(Android) Fixed missing Share button on topic OP if logged out
(Android) Fixed black background setting on Android 9 and earlier

iOS hotfix v0.8.1: Fixed keyboard blocking the Exemplary prompt dialog.

Android and iOS v0.8.0 (Jan 9, 2024)

Apply comment labels (Exemplary, Offtopic, Joke, Noise, Malice)
Tap an Exemplary label you've received to see messages
Added Reply to text selection context menu
Quote selected text when replying
Fixed app incorrectly treating user as logged in after restoring a Google Drive or iCloud backup
(Android) Added Share button to OP in comments section
(Android) Support Android 14
(Android) Fixed rendering non-breaking spaces
(iOS) Fixed logout bug if no connectivity
(iOS) Fixed markdown table layout and CPU idle bugs
(iOS) Fixed rare crash collapsing a comment

Last month's topic: January 2024

Where to get it

Android version on Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talklittle.android.tildes

iOS version on TestFlight: https://testflight.apple.com/join/mpVk1qIy

27 comments

[7]
kaffo
February 2
Link
It seems like you've got the broad strokes of the site functionality complete. Are you aiming for a 1.0 release any time soon? Still loving the app by the way! Great work!

It seems like you've got the broad strokes of the site functionality complete. Are you aiming for a 1.0 release any time soon?
Still loving the app by the way! Great work!

26 votes
1. [6]
  talklittle (OP)
  February 2
  Link Parent
  Thanks! The app is gradually getting closer to a 1.0 release. The big missing features right now are: Private messages Submitting topics Sort options Search Beyond that I do have a ton of other...
  
  Thanks! The app is gradually getting closer to a 1.0 release. The big missing features right now are:
  
  Private messages
  
  Submitting topics
  
  Sort options
  
  Search
  
  Beyond that I do have a ton of other smaller features and quality-of-life changes I'd like to make. I do like how it's coming along so far.
  
  26 votes
  1. [2]
    boxer_dogs_dance
    February 2
    Link Parent
    Thanks for your hard work and commitment to high quality product.
    
    Thanks for your hard work and commitment to high quality product.
    
    17 votes
    
    talklittle (OP)
    February 3
    Link Parent
    Thanks. I appreciate you being such a wonderful and contributing community member!
    
    Thanks. I appreciate you being such a wonderful and contributing community member!
    
    9 votes
  2. [3]
    ibuprofen
    February 14
    Link Parent
    It's already terrific, and the last couple releases have really made it nearly feature complete. Thank you! It's such a clean, snappy app. Outside of reformatting the comment UI so one can refer...
    
    It's already terrific, and the last couple releases have really made it nearly feature complete. Thank you! It's such a clean, snappy app.
    
    Outside of reformatting the comment UI so one can refer to the comment being replied to while typing, there are only a few minor things I've noticed:
    
    There doesn't seem to be an option to bookmark a comment, only a submission
    
    Is there a reason why user profiles are accessed by via the "more" menu instead of by tapping the profile name? It's unintuitive — in fact I was originally going to point out that accessing another user's profile hadn't been added yet. I only saw the option there when I went to double check that bookmarking a comment hadn't been added yet.
    
    7 votes
    
    [2]
    talklittle (OP)
    February 14
    Link Parent
    Sure, added to my todo list. For comments and possibly topic OP. But will still be under the Actions menu on the main topics feed, since that layout is condensed (too close to topic title) and the...
    
    tapping the profile name
    
    Sure, added to my todo list. For comments and possibly topic OP. But will still be under the Actions menu on the main topics feed, since that layout is condensed (too close to topic title) and the username doesn't always show on topics.
    
    6 votes
    
    ibuprofen
    February 14
    Link Parent
    That makes sense. Thanks!
    
    That makes sense. Thanks!
    
    3 votes
jmpavlec
February 2
Link
Use this app every day. It keeps getting better! Great job!

Use this app every day. It keeps getting better! Great job!

16 votes
[4]
cycling_mammoth
February 2
Link
I have really been enjoying the app on my iPad and Android phone. The only issue I have really run into is the inability to change the main feed's "sort" but I understand you have yet to add all...

I have really been enjoying the app on my iPad and Android phone. The only issue I have really run into is the inability to change the main feed's "sort" but I understand you have yet to add all of the website's functionality.

Might I ask if you have made any other apps before this one? For some reason the username "talklittle" is really familiar to me and I don't know if I am just being delusional.

14 votes
1. [2]
  ymhr
  February 2
  Link Parent
  He made the very popular 'Rif for reddit' (or 'Reddit is fun') app.
  
  He made the very popular 'Rif for reddit' (or 'Reddit is fun') app.
  
  16 votes
  1. cycling_mammoth
    February 2
    Link Parent
    No wonder I recognize the name I really loved RIF back when I used Reddit. Thank you for your answer :)
    
    No wonder I recognize the name I really loved RIF back when I used Reddit.
    
    Thank you for your answer :)
    
    14 votes
2. talklittle (OP)
  February 2
  Link Parent
  Thanks for the feedback. Sort options are high priority for a future update.
  
  Thanks for the feedback. Sort options are high priority for a future update.
  
  9 votes
[3]
Wafik
February 2
Link
Love the app. I have fully transitioned and don't use the website anymore. Thank you for your hard work. I appreciate the effort you put into the app and that you aren't charging for it.

Love the app. I have fully transitioned and don't use the website anymore. Thank you for your hard work. I appreciate the effort you put into the app and that you aren't charging for it.

12 votes
1. [2]
  talklittle (OP)
  February 2
  Link Parent
  Thanks for your kind words. Re: charging money, I'm never really going to make meaningful money from this app, even after adding a donation option (which I plan to add at some point). Tildes is a...
  
  Thanks for your kind words. Re: charging money, I'm never really going to make meaningful money from this app, even after adding a donation option (which I plan to add at some point). Tildes is a nonprofit and I'm trying to build the app in that spirit, so I knew that from the start. I've been treating my time spent on it as R&D investment. I can definitely apply my new skills toward other projects that make money.
  
  22 votes
  1. Wafik
    February 3
    Link Parent
    I believe you have said as much before and I totally realize this website isn't big enough anyways. Still, pretty cool of you and wish you the best of luck on your other projects!
    
    I believe you have said as much before and I totally realize this website isn't big enough anyways. Still, pretty cool of you and wish you the best of luck on your other projects!
    
    8 votes
artvandelay
February 2
Link
Thank you so much for all your work! Been using this app since late last year and have really been enjoying the experience on both Android and iOS! Is there anywhere to donate to you for your...

Thank you so much for all your work! Been using this app since late last year and have really been enjoying the experience on both Android and iOS! Is there anywhere to donate to you for your efforts on this app? I know mobile app development isn't easy or cheap, especially when simultaneously developing for both major platforms.

6 votes
talklittle (OP)
February 16
Link
Android and iOS v0.10.0 (Feb 15, 2024) View and send private messages Added button to send private message from a user's profile Added "Tap to refresh" when a feed is empty Show posted time in...
Android and iOS v0.10.0 (Feb 15, 2024)
- View and send private messages
- Added button to send private message from a user's profile
- Added "Tap to refresh" when a feed is empty
- Show posted time in topic OP
- Renamed bottom tab to Inbox (instead of Notifications)
- (Android) Removed animation when using bottom tabs
- (Android) Fixed crash when replying from a user's profile
- (iOS) Fixed crash toggling Details in topic OP
- (iOS) Fixed layout bugs with markdown tables
- (iOS) Fixed UI bugs when replying in a user's profile
- (iOS) Fixed minor UI bugs and crashes
The Android update is available now on Google Play, and the iOS update is under review for a TestFlight release.
6 votes
CunningFatalist
February 2
Link
Just started using it. It feels and looks great :)

Just started using it. It feels and looks great :)

5 votes
[3]
h6nry
February 14
Link
Just wanted to tell you my appreciation for how clean the app is. Real magic. I can suspend the app, start doing completely different tasks, and come back 7 hours later to ThreeCheers and it's...

Just wanted to tell you my appreciation for how clean the app is. Real magic. I can suspend the app, start doing completely different tasks, and come back 7 hours later to ThreeCheers and it's still right where I stopped scrolling im the comment thread, in an instant. It sounds a bit boring, but I am super stoked about it, especially since I experience it on an ancient 2016 iPhone SE!

On a side note, one thing I'd personally change is the contrast ratio on the comment hide and show buttons, and in general some contrast ratios. A bit hard to see the plus and minus signs, I guess not too accessible for some people with disabilities?

5 votes
1. [2]
  talklittle (OP)
  February 16
  Link Parent
  Thank you for the feedback! I'm happy to hear the app is running smoothly on the iPhone SE. I've done a lot of my testing on an old 2013 iPhone 5s running iOS 12, so performance has been a big...
  
  Thank you for the feedback! I'm happy to hear the app is running smoothly on the iPhone SE. I've done a lot of my testing on an old 2013 iPhone 5s running iOS 12, so performance has been a big focus for me. It's been really time consuming actually, so I'm glad that effort has paid off for somebody!
  
  That is a good point about the color contrast. It's difficult because I want to deemphasize certain buttons—I don't think a collapse button should stand out as much as a username, for example—but I do want to strike a better balance with visibility and accessibility. I'll have to investigate that more.
  
  3 votes
  1. h6nry
    February 18
    Link Parent
    Your effort has more than "paid" off for me. Every time I open Three Cheers I admire the app's quality. Hearing that you tested it all the way back to iOS 12 with an iPhone released some ten years...
    
    Your effort has more than "paid" off for me. Every time I open Three Cheers I admire the app's quality. Hearing that you tested it all the way back to iOS 12 with an iPhone released some ten years ago, makes me admire it even more. The source code must be beautiful magic. Three cheers to you!
    
    3 votes
[3]
caliper
February 2
Link
I’m really enjoying the app on iOS! I’m amazed every time an update shows up, you are really rocking it. Thanks!

I’m really enjoying the app on iOS! I’m amazed every time an update shows up, you are really rocking it. Thanks!

3 votes
1. [2]
  talklittle (OP)
  February 2
  Link Parent
  Thanks, I'm happy to hear that! I've been trying not to release updates too frequently. Apple seems to require I send out a push notification for each TestFlight update before people can access...
  
  Thanks, I'm happy to hear that! I've been trying not to release updates too frequently. Apple seems to require I send out a push notification for each TestFlight update before people can access it, which can probably get annoying.
  
  6 votes
  1. caliper
    February 2
    Link Parent
    Not at all annoying for me! I mostly impressed each time.
    
    Not at all annoying for me! I mostly impressed each time.
    
    3 votes
[3]
yuke
February 3
Link
Thanks for your work so far! Would it be possible for the Android version to be ported to F-Droid in the future?

Thanks for your work so far! Would it be possible for the Android version to be ported to F-Droid in the future?

2 votes
1. [2]
  talklittle (OP)
  February 3
  Link Parent
  The latest Android APK can be downloaded from https://www.talklittle.com/three-cheers/ Unfortunately the app won't be on F-Droid since it's closed source (some reasons why listed in the original...
  
  The latest Android APK can be downloaded from https://www.talklittle.com/three-cheers/
  
  Unfortunately the app won't be on F-Droid since it's closed source (some reasons why listed in the original announcement).
  
  (Pasting below because iOS v0.9.1 crashes when tapping the Details block there.)
  
  Why is the app closed source?
  
  I am building the app on my own time, without outside assistance or funding. I'm proud of my work, and I make apps for a living, and am not in a position to give the code away for free.
  
  Client-side code has significantly fewer "natural protections" against copying, compared to open-source server applications, including Tildes itself. The server platform owns the user content which is protected by copyright, owns the domain name, user accounts, private messages, and so on. Client code, on the other hand, is all-or-nothing. If I gave away the code, that's everything—no "natural protections" against wholesale copying.
  
  From personal experience plus countless anecdotes from friends and fellow app and game developers, open sourcing a client-side app will guarantee dozens if not hundreds of clones. It would likely result in well-resourced Tildes competitors taking the code and using it for their own purposes, backfiring on my intended purpose of helping Tildes.
  
  The app does not incorporate Tildes' AGPL-licensed code, and is therefore not required to be open source. It interfaces with the output (HTML) of Tildes, just like a web browser does. See the GPL FAQ on the outputs of GPL'ed applications not being covered by GPL.
  
  My code is often ugly and I want to avoid the incessant questions along the lines of "why are you still using that old technology?" which are too common in app development.
  
  5 votes
  1. yuke
    February 3
    Link Parent
    I wasn't aware, thanks for explaining. Your reasons make sense - it's your app after all, anyway. Good luck with future development!
    
    I wasn't aware, thanks for explaining. Your reasons make sense - it's your app after all, anyway. Good luck with future development!
    
    4 votes