Kbin Roadmap 2023

A certain stage of development has ended - a prototype was created that allowed me to verify whether such a form makes sense in the #fediverse. Until now, it was a project that I developed in my free time. Now, thanks to the great people from Nlnet, I will be able to devote much more time to it. This time, we have already outlined a plan for the next few months officially: https://nlnet.nl/project/Kbin/

The progress of the work can be followed here: https://dev.karab.in - this is the version set up on the cheapest server, and it will remain so until all stages are completed, because one of the goals is to create a lightweight platform that will have very low requirements in its basic version, and therefore low maintenance costs for instances. With each passing day, more subpages and features will work.

Many of you are working on cool projects, it's worth calling on the Open call for funding ;-) https://nlnet.nl/news/2023/20230201-call.html

Soon, the kbin.social instance will also officially launch, now work on the server is still underway.

Stage 1 Frontend - refreshed, modern and accessible layout
To save time, the /kbin prototype was created using tools such as Bootstrap. Due to frequent iterations, good interface development practices were often overlooked. The goal is to create a clean, modern, responsive and accessible layout based on feedback from the community, which will work on any device, also without the need to use JS.

Stage 2 Backend - upgrade
Updating the environment, PHP, Symfony, API-Platform, etc.

Stage 3 Search module and alpha release
Currently, the search engine is based on Elasticsearch, which significantly increases the minimum server requirements. The goal is to eliminate Elasticsearch and create a search module with the ability of contextual filters and prepare the first alpha release.

Stage 4 Backend - refactor existing services.
Update of frameworks and tools used in the project. Refactor existing services. Refinement of existing services in order to achieve efficiency. Writing documentation for other developers, admins and visitors. Preparing a repository for contributors.

Stage 5 Federation improvements
Optimization of communication using ActivityPub. Completion of integration, creation of documentation for fediverse developers.

Stage 6 Admin section and user UX improvements
The goal is to provide tools for Kbin instance admins and to improve instance community sections.

Stage 7 Prepare for stable release
The goal is to release a stable version of the platform, solve problems reported by users and, using appropriate tools, develop the highest scalability and efficiency.

Stage 8 Implementing Events (incl. ‘stretch goals’)
At this stage, kbin will also become an events aggregator.

Stage 9 ActivityPub federation of Events (incl. ‘stretch goals’)
The events module will communicate with other platforms via ActivityPub (e.g. Mobilizon)

Currently, I am at stage 1/2/3.

Other instances:

@fediversenews

A person pointing to something that resembles the kbin platform's homepage.
DisgruntledGoat,

Don't know if this is the right place for suggestions, but I have a few that were immediately obvious. (Please let me know if there's somewhere more appropriate to post these!)

  • I started a new thread in a quiet sub where the last post was 2 months ago. However, my thread didn't show up at the top (when using the default "hot" view). That would be understandable for busy subs but if the latest post is months old its "hotness" should have decayed enough that a new post goes to the top.
  • I also got an error when submitting the thread, although it did go through. I ended up double posting because of that. (Also it wasn't totally clear it was an error at first as the page itself didn't say "error", only the title on the browser tab.)
  • The dropdown menus suffer from the "diagonal problem" where they disappear the instant the mouse moves out of the hitbox. For starting a new thread, I hover over the + then move diagonally down and left towards "add new thread" but the menu disappears.
  • Someone else mentioned it, but comment folding is a must.
zd,

I definitely prefer this over Lemmy. Clean and easy to figure out without the shady development decisions.

ittu,

users should be able to copy external links without having to enter the thread,

ittu,

I would love an official old.reddit.com clone interface combined with reddit enhancement suite functionality.

Wage_Slave,

As a new comer, seeing shit like this is refreshing and may be wildly addictive. Road maps, open communication, user base oriented initiatives. This is like heroin when the only update you got from reddit usually was the last one you can't remember them sending.

I for one am excited to see this, and look forward to being along for the ride.

ngmi,
ngmi avatar

Any plans to use HTMX?

FredOnline,
FredOnline avatar

Ernest, looking at all the previous comments, you must feel like you've been connected to 'The Borg Collective', with it's 'thousands' of voices!

m-p-3,
m-p-3 avatar

I just wanna say thanks for letting me in and good luck with the project !

ANuStart,

I like @ernest

alicee,

Another suggestion might be to move the comment box up to the top section of comments since its pain to scroll to the bottom to comment

NotTheOnlyGamer,
NotTheOnlyGamer avatar

I wonder if it's not a good thing that you've had to jump from phase 1/2/3 all the way to phase 7 thanks to the Reddit departure. The fact that the site is as strong as it is, and is starting to develop communities, shows that you've done a great job.

DodgeForthrast, (edited )
DodgeForthrast avatar

One more reddit refugee here. Thanks for all your work so far and your devotion to the project. Growing pains are normal, especially when you're asked to ramp up this fast. Keep up the good work. We'll be patient!

alexm42,

Two questions: Is there any plan to add the ability to collapse comment chains? That's, like, the one big UI thing from Reddit that I'm missing. The other question is, is having the comment box for adding a top level comment at the bottom an intentional design choice, to encourage people to read the threads before commenting? I think at the very least adding a shortcut to take users to the comment box near the top would go a long way to improving usability.

Other than that, if the goal is to be a replacement for Reddit refugees, my first impressions are that this has the right recipe. Very impressive work so far.

TheK,

Is there any plan to add the ability to collapse comment chains? That's, like, the one big UI thing from Reddit that I'm missing.

Same. @ernest is this something you are considering?

AfroThundr,
AfroThundr avatar

@TheK @alexm42 There's an open PR to implement this. In the meantime, this userscript implements the collapsing functionality.

TheK,

Thank you!

Doom,
Doom avatar

Hello @ernest and thank you for all your efforts in developing this new space for us all

I'm new to the concept of fediverse, but I think I got the gist of it.

I have a few questions about all of this works, but I can find answers by myself, no problem.

I do have a question regarding magazines/communities though that probably many of us newbies have, but I didn't find anything about it.

Since the fediverse is so decentralized it's obvious that every space could have its own version of a magazine/community (for example having a "gaming" magazine here and a gaming community in one of the Lemmy instances).

Do you think it would make sense to allow us users to aggregate them somehow if we want to follow them both?

I know that the "subscribed" feed already aggregates everything, but I think it would be handy if I only wanted to browse the gaming magazines/communities, to be able to view them all at the same time.

I understand you have other priorities right now, but do you think it would be something you'd be interested in implementing?

Thank you again

ughsuddenly,
ughsuddenly avatar

It's absolutely WILD that this is a prototype. It's always a treat to be on the ground floor of something new, so I'm excited to participate and add value to kbin's growth.

Can we add a Stage 10 Branding?

The foundation of the Fediverse lies in it's values, ActivityPub, and communities, but that doesn't mean we can't match the aesthetic values that exist outside of our rich inner world. Personally, would love to see a name change and clean colour palette. Kbin is a fairly UNIX-esque name and we do want people with less affinity for tech to enjoy kbin with as little barriers as possible.

Just my $0.02 on the subject. I'm here to be a cheerleader and support what's being build :)

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