It's not only the UI pattern you choose, it's how it works

We're happy to announce that we introduced a big redesign that will change how you experience comments in Slite, one of the most widely used features. Wondering what led us to this? Keep reading, because this feature has come a long way...

Comments once lived in a sidebar

Long-standing users may remember that comments were originally in a right-sidebar. Although I didn’t personally experience this setup, I've heard about it from our team... and not precisely positive memories. They all seem to remember that it caused issues with docs' readability and annoying glitches that made the content jump unexpectedly.

Back then, it was a strategic decision to eliminate the right sidebar, which was apparently the reason causing all the usability issues. At the same time, it was a good moment because there was a big rebranding going on. Alongside a revamped design, we introduced a new layout that displayed floating comments individually, directly linked to the relevant portion of the text. This new setup enhanced focus, eliminated navigation issues, and reduced information overload. It was a fresh, clean redesign that addressed all user feedback, and set the team free from the main issues.

Users were impressed with the new look. However, shortly after its release, we began to hear some concerns.

Iterating the new pattern

Does all this feedback suggest they are asking for a sidebar? At that point, we felt we couldn't revert to the previous pattern after moving away from it so drastically. We needed to make the new design work, not only because it was brand new, but also because we knew it had positive attributes.

And so, we did several iterations to the new system, trying to make it more enjoyable and easier to use. We added speech balloon icons next to the text, to spot the threads more easily. We aligned all comments pop-overs to avoid jumping from one side to the other, and optimized it for large screens to prevent overlapping the content. We improved their performance and loading time. Undoubtedly, all these improvements were a step in the right direction.

Still, people kept asking, literally, for a sidebar of comments.

So, what should you do when this happens? Do they really know the solution to their pain points? Or is it their best attempt at articulating it, comparing it to what they see in other apps?

After improving as much as we could the "new" comments system, we decided it was time for a more fundamental change. Only after all these learnings did we understand that you shouldn't need to choose between one system or the other. They are, in fact, complementary.

Combining both systems

Both systems have their own advantages, and neither was inherently flawed. In scenarios like these, a one-size-fits-all solution does not exist. That's how we learned that pursuing simplicity shouldn't feel restrictive and, instead, we need to let users choose depending on their use case. Giving that power to the user doesn't mean being less opinionated. On the contrary, it reflects we deeply care for what they need, and acknowledges that they don't always need the same thing.

Whether you are the primary author of a document, meticulously reviewing comments from collaborators as they come in, a manager overseeing your team's progress and requiring full context, or simply trying to locate a specific comment in a doc from last year, these systems cater to all these scenarios with ease.

The choice also hinges on personal preferences and hardware capabilities: whether you're working on a compact 13-inch laptop and need to maximize screen space, or using a high-resolution monitor and make full use of the expansive display area.

It's all about quality

So, what exactly was the issue with the initial sidebar? Simply put, it was its quality and behavior. It was just not good enough yet. It was too noticeable. Interactions were too visible, making the content jump annoyingly, and obstructing users' attention.

In a tool like Slite, most features should be invisible. They are designed to facilitate focused work without distractions. The moment you notice something, you can't unsee it, and you lost focus on your primary job. In addition to bringing back the sidebar layout and nailing the experience and interactions, we took the chance to do a big but invisible cleanup.

We hope you enjoy working with the new comments. Actually... we hope it's so smooth that you don't notice anything at all.