📨Messaging

Here are detailed user stories focused on the messaging functionality of Intracom to ensure a robust, intuitive, and feature-rich user experience.

User Stories for Messaging

Sending and Receiving Messages

1. As a user, I want to send messages quickly and easily in a channel or direct message (DM), so I can communicate effectively with my colleagues.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • Users can type messages into a text input field and send them by pressing Enter or clicking a send button.

     • The application supports real-time messaging, ensuring messages are delivered and displayed without noticeable delay.

     • Users can see if their message has been successfully sent and received.

2. As a user, I want to receive notifications for new messages, so I can promptly respond to important communications.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • Users receive desktop notifications for new messages in channels they are part of or in direct messages.

     • Notifications include a preview of the message content and who sent it.

     • Users can customize notification settings, such as turning them off for specific channels or during specific hours.

Real-Time Messaging

1. As a user, I want to send and receive messages instantly, so I can engage in real-time conversations with my colleagues.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • Messages are transmitted and displayed almost immediately after they are sent, without noticeable delays.

     • The application maintains a stable and fast connection to ensure continuous real-time communication even during high network traffic.

     • Users receive immediate visual confirmation when messages are successfully sent and displayed on the recipient's screen.

Typing Indicators

1. As a user, I want to see when other users are typing a message in the same conversation, so I can anticipate incoming messages and manage my responses accordingly.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • When a user is typing, a small indicator (such as "User is typing...") appears in the chat interface.

     • The typing indicator is shown in real-time and disappears when the user stops typing for more than a few seconds.

     • Typing indicators are supported in both group channels and direct messages, providing context in active conversations.

Message Read Receipts

1. As a user, I want to know when my messages have been read by the recipient, so I can be assured that my communication has been acknowledged.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • Read receipts are displayed as visual indicators (e.g., checkmarks) next to each message.

     • Users can see the status of their messages, such as sent, delivered, and read, with distinctive icons or colors.

     • The application allows users to toggle read receipts on or off, giving them control over their privacy in different conversation contexts.

Message Formatting and Tools

1. As a user, I want to format my messages with basic text formatting options (like bold, italic, and underlined), so I can emphasize important points.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • The message input field supports formatting options, which can be applied via keyboard shortcuts or a formatting toolbar.

     • Users can preview formatted text before sending to ensure it appears as intended.

     • The system preserves formatting for all viewers, displaying the styled text correctly across different devices.

2. As a user, I want to attach files to my messages, so I can share documents and images with my colleagues directly through the chat.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • Users can attach files by dragging and dropping them into the chat window or using an upload button.

     • The application displays a preview of the file type and size before sending, allowing users to confirm or cancel the upload.

     • Sent files are accessible within the chat, with options for all channel members to download or preview them directly from the message stream.

Search and Message History

1. As a user, I want to search for specific messages, so I can find important information quickly without scrolling through long chat histories.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • The application provides a search function that allows users to search messages by keywords, sender, or date.

     • Search results are highlighted within the chat history, making it easy to locate the relevant messages.

     • Users can jump to the context of the message within the chat history from the search results.

Interactivity and Engagement

1. As a user, I want to react to messages with emojis, so I can express my responses quickly and engagingly without typing a reply.

   • Acceptance Criteria:

     • Users can add reactions to messages by selecting emojis from a menu available on hover or click on the message.

     • Multiple users can react to the same message, and all reactions are displayed beneath the message.

     • The application shows a summary of reactions on each message, including who has reacted.