15 KiB
dumpsterChat: Guilded Feature Parity Roadmap
Goal: Reach feature parity with Guilded (minus apps/PWA handled by existing PWA, monetization, screen share, PTT, streaming, friend requests, activity/game status).
Base: The app already has text chat, reactions, replies, mentions, voice channels, servers, channels, roles, permissions, invites, webhooks, bots, push notifications, and a terminal-aesthetic UI.
Phase 1 — Core Chat Polish ✅ COMPLETE
Must-have features that every Guilded user expects. Low risk, high impact.
| # | Feature | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Direct Messages | ✅ Backend + frontend live |
| 1.2 | Full Markdown Rendering | ✅ react-markdown + remark-gfm |
| 1.3 | Rich Embeds / Link Unfurling | ✅ internal/embed, embeds table |
| 1.4 | Message Search | ✅ PostgreSQL full-text search |
| 1.5 | Ban / Kick / Mute UI | ✅ internal/moderation, MemberContextMenu |
| 1.6 | Slowmode | ✅ DB column + message handler + UI |
Phase 2 — Moderation & Permissions ✅ COMPLETE
Unlocks serious server organization. Guilded's strength was granular permissions.
| # | Feature | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Per-Channel Permission Overrides | ✅ Backend routes + frontend matrix |
| 2.2 | Expanded Permission Flags | ✅ Backend bits + RoleManager UI |
| 2.3 | Role Colors & Hierarchy | ✅ DB + editor; chat rendering in Phase 7 |
| 2.4 | Audit Log | ✅ Backend + server settings panel |
| 2.5 | Bulk Message Delete | ✅ Backend + frontend |
Phase 3 — Threads & Forums ✅ COMPLETE
Guilded's thread and forum system kept busy servers organized.
| # | Feature | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Threads | ✅ Reused channels table + thread panel |
| 3.2 | Forum Channels | ✅ Forum posts as threads + tags + card view |
Phase 4 — User System Enhancements ✅ COMPLETE
Rich profiles and social features that make Guilded feel polished.
| # | Feature | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Rich User Profiles | ✅ Profile modal + block button |
| 4.2 | Badges | ✅ DB + backend read; no grant UI |
| 4.3 | Block List | ✅ Backend + settings stub |
2.1 Per-Channel Permission Overrides
- Backend: New
channel_overridestable (channel_id, target_type: role/user, target_id, allow_bitflags, deny_bitflags). Extend permission checker to layer channel overrides on top of role permissions. - Route:
PUT /channels/{channelID}/permissions/{targetType}/{targetID},GET /channels/{channelID}/permissions,DELETE /channels/{channelID}/permissions/{targetType}/{targetID}. - Frontend: Channel settings modal with a permissions tab. Matrix UI showing each permission with allow/deny/inherit toggles.
- Estimated: 3 files backend, 2 files frontend.
2.2 Expanded Permission Flags
- Status: ✅ Bits already defined and seeding default permissions.
- Remaining: Gate the corresponding handlers (webhooks, file upload, external emojis, mention everyone, voice mute/deaf/move).
- Estimated: 1 file backend.
2.3 Role Colors & Hierarchy
- Status: ✅
colorandpositioncolumns already exist onroles. - Remaining: Render member names in highest-position role color in chat and member list.
- Estimated: 2 files frontend.
2.4 Audit Log
- Backend: New
audit_logtable (server_id, user_id, action_type, target_type, target_id, reason, changes JSONB, created_at). Instrument all moderation actions (kick, ban, mute, role changes, channel CRUD, server settings changes) to write audit entries. - Route:
GET /servers/{serverID}/audit-log?limit=50&before=...&action_type=.... - Frontend: Audit log panel in server settings. Shows who did what, when, with details. Filter by action type.
- Estimated: 3 files backend, 2 files frontend.
2.5 Bulk Message Delete
- Backend:
POST /channels/{channelID}/messages/bulk-deletewith{ "messages": ["id1", "id2", ...] }. Max 100 messages, must be within 14 days. RequiresMANAGE_MESSAGES. - Frontend: Select multiple messages (shift-click or checkbox mode), then bulk delete option.
- Estimated: 1 file backend, 1 file frontend.
Phase 3 — Threads & Forums (2–3 weeks)
Guilded's thread and forum system kept busy servers organized.
3.1 Threads
- Backend: Add
threadchannel type. Newthreadstable (id, parent_channel_id, creator_id, name, archived_at, auto_archive_duration, message_count, last_message_at). Threads live under a parent channel. Messages in a thread are scoped to that thread. - Route:
POST /channels/{channelID}/threads(create thread from message or standalone),PATCH /threads/{threadID}(archive/unarchive),GET /channels/{channelID}/threads(list active threads). - WS events:
THREAD_CREATE,THREAD_UPDATE,THREAD_DELETE. - Frontend: Thread panel that slides in from the right when clicking a thread. Thread starter message shown at top. Thread list in channel header area.
- Estimated: 3 files backend, 3 files frontend.
3.2 Forum Channels
- Backend: Add
forumchannel type. Forums display threads as a list of posts (title, tags, reply count, last activity). Newforum_tagstable (channel_id, name, emoji, color). Thread tags are assigned on creation. - Route: CRUD for forum tags. Forum listing uses the threads endpoint with sorting (latest activity, most replies, creation date).
- Frontend: Forum channel renders as a post list (card layout) instead of a message stream. Each post card shows title, tags, reply count, last reply time, author avatar. Clicking opens the thread view.
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 3 files frontend.
Phase 4 — User System Enhancements (1–2 weeks)
Rich profiles and social features that make Guilded feel polished.
4.1 Rich User Profiles
- Backend: Extend
userstable withbanner_url,tagline(max 128),social_links(JSONB array of {platform, url}),pronouns(max 40). Custom avatar upload (stored in MinIO, replace Gravatar dependency). - Route:
GET /users/{userID}/profile(public profile),PATCH /auth/me(update profile fields). - Frontend: Clickable usernames open a profile modal/banner card. Shows avatar, display name, tagline, bio, social links, pronouns, badges, status, and shared servers.
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 2 files frontend.
4.2 Badges
- Backend: New
badgestable (id, name, icon, description). Newuser_badgesjoin table (user_id, badge_id, granted_at, granted_by). Seed system badges (Server Booster, Early Adopter, Bot Developer, Verified, etc.). - Route:
GET /users/{userID}/badges,POST /servers/{serverID}/badges(create custom badge),PUT /users/{userID}/badges/{badgeID}(grant). - Frontend: Badge display next to username in profiles and chat. Small icon grid.
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 1 file frontend.
4.3 Block List
- Backend: New
blockstable (blocker_id, blocked_id, created_at). Blocked users: messages hidden, DMs blocked, presence hidden. - Route:
POST /users/me/blocks,DELETE /users/me/blocks/{userID},GET /users/me/blocks. - Frontend: Block option in user context menu. Blocked users section in settings.
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 1 file frontend.
Phase 5 — Guilded Signature Features ✅ COMPLETE
The features that set Guilded apart: calendar, docs, lists, scheduling.
| # | Feature | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | Calendar Channels | ✅ Events, RSVPs, month grid |
| 5.2 | Docs Channels | ✅ CRUD, wiki sidebar, markdown editor |
| 5.3 | Lists Channels | ✅ TODO/DOING/DONE columns, CRUD |
| 5.4 | Scheduling / Availability | ✅ DB, API, UI in server settings |
5.1 Calendar Channels
- Backend: New
calendarchannel type. Neweventstable (channel_id, creator_id, title, description, start_time, end_time, recurrence_rule, location, color). Newevent_rsvpstable (event_id, user_id, status: going/maybe/no, responded_at). - Route: CRUD for events.
POST /events/{eventID}/rsvp(RSVP).GET /channels/{channelID}/events?from=...&to=.... - WS events:
EVENT_CREATE,EVENT_UPDATE,EVENT_DELETE,EVENT_RSVP. - Frontend: Calendar channel renders as a monthly/weekly/daily calendar view. Event cards show title, time, RSVP counts. Event detail modal with description, attendees, RSVP buttons. Auto-created voice channel for event start time (optional).
- Estimated: 3 files backend, 3 files frontend.
5.2 Docs Channels
- Backend: New
docchannel type. Newdocumentstable (channel_id, creator_id, title, content TEXT, updated_at, locked_by). Docs are collaborative documents within a channel. - Route: CRUD for documents. Lock/unlock for editing.
- Frontend: Docs channel renders as a wiki-style page list. Doc editor with markdown support. Version history (store diffs or snapshots).
- Estimated: 3 files backend, 2 files frontend.
5.3 Lists Channels (Task Management)
- Backend: New
listchannel type. Newlist_itemstable (channel_id, creator_id, title, status: todo/in_progress/done, position). Minimal CRUD: create item, update title/status, delete. - Route: CRUD for list items.
- Frontend: 3-column kanban view (TODO/DOING/DONE). Add items inline, click checkbox to cycle status, delete on hover.
- Estimated: 3 files backend, 3 files frontend.
5.4 Scheduling / Availability
- Backend: New
availabilitytable (user_id, server_id, day_of_week, start_time, end_time). Users set their weekly availability. - Route:
PUT /users/me/availability,GET /servers/{serverID}/availability(aggregated view). - Frontend: Availability grid in server settings or user profile. Shows when each member is generally available. Useful for scheduling events.
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 2 files frontend.
Phase 6 — Voice Enhancements (1–2 weeks) ✅ COMPLETE
Fill in the voice feature gaps (minus the excluded items).
6.1 Video Calls
- LiveKit already supports video. This is primarily a frontend feature.
- Frontend: Camera toggle button in VoicePanel. Video grid showing camera feeds of participants. Small overlay for self-view. LiveKit's
Room.createScreenTrack()and camera track APIs. - Estimated: 0 files backend, 2 files frontend.
6.2 Noise Suppression
- Frontend: Enable LiveKit's built-in noise suppression (RNNoise) via
room.options.audioCaptureDefaults.echoCancellationand noise suppression settings. Alternatively, integrate DeepFilterNet3 WASM. - Estimated: 0 files backend, 1 file frontend.
6.3 Voice Whisper
- Backend: Extend voice WS events to support targeted messages.
VOICE_WHISPERevent with target user IDs (not broadcast to whole room). - Frontend: Whisper button in VoicePanel, select one or more users to whisper to. Audio routed only to selected users via LiveKit's track subscription API.
- Estimated: 1 file backend, 1 file frontend.
Phase 7 — Notifications & UX Polish (1–2 weeks) ✅ COMPLETE
Make the app feel complete and polished.
7.1 Per-Channel Notification Settings ✅
- Backend: New
notification_settingstable (user_id, channel_id, level: all/mentions/none). Extend push dispatch to respect per-channel settings. - Route:
PUT /channels/{channelID}/notifications,GET /users/me/notifications. - Frontend: Bell icon on channels with dropdown (All Messages, Mentions Only, Nothing). Notification settings in user preferences.
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 1 file frontend.
7.2 Email Notifications
- Backend: Queue-based email dispatch (using existing SMTP2GO relay config).
email_queuetable. Digest mode: aggregate unread messages and send hourly/daily digest. - Route:
PUT /users/me/email-settings(frequency: instant/hourly/daily/off). - Frontend: Email notification preferences in settings.
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 1 file frontend.
7.3 Custom Emoji
- Backend: New
custom_emojitable (server_id, name, image_url, uploaded_by). Emoji stored in MinIO. Max 50 per server. - Route: CRUD for custom emoji.
GET /servers/{serverID}/emoji. - Frontend: Emoji picker extended with server emoji section. Custom emoji rendered inline in messages (
:emoji_name:syntax). - Estimated: 2 files backend, 2 files frontend.
7.4 Read Receipts ✅
- Backend: New
read_statestable (user_id, channel_id, last_message_id, last_read_at). Updated on message fetch or when user views a channel. - Route:
POST /channels/{channelID}/read(mark as read).GET /users/me/read-states. - Frontend: Unread dot/counter on channels. "New messages" divider in chat. Optional per-message read indicators (small avatar circles).
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 1 file frontend.
Phase 8 — Server Groups & No-Code Bots (2 weeks)
Guilded's organizational and automation features.
8.1 Server Groups (Sub-Servers)
- Backend: New
server_groupstable (server_id, name, icon, position). Channels can optionally belong to a group. Groups act as collapsible sections with their own header. - Route: CRUD for server groups. Channel CRUD updated to accept optional
group_id. - Frontend: Server sidebar shows groups as collapsible sections containing channels. Drag channels between groups.
- Estimated: 2 files backend, 2 files frontend.
8.2 No-Code Bot Builder (Flow Bots)
- Backend: New
automationstable (server_id, trigger_type, trigger_config JSONB, actions JSONB, enabled, created_by). Trigger types: message_contains, user_join, reaction_added, scheduled. Actions: send_message, add_role, remove_role, send_webhook. - Route: CRUD for automations.
POST /automations/{id}/test(dry run). - Frontend: Visual automation builder with trigger selector and action list. Simple if-then logic. Test button to verify.
- Estimated: 3 files backend, 3 files frontend.
Summary: Dependency Order & Total Effort
| Phase | Focus | Weeks | Depends On |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Core Chat Polish | 2–3 | — |
| 2 | Moderation & Permissions | 2–3 | Phase 1 (for mute context menu) |
| 3 | Threads & Forums | 2–3 | Phase 1 (markdown, embeds) |
| 4 | User System | 1–2 | — |
| 5 | Guilded Signature Features | 3–4 | Phase 1 (markdown for docs) |
| 6 | Voice Enhancements | 1–2 | — |
| 7 | Notifications & Polish | 1–2 | Phase 1 (search, threads) |
| 8 | Server Groups & Automation | 2 | Phase 2 (permissions) |
Total estimated effort: 14–21 weeks (one developer, full-time).
Parallelizable: Phases 1, 4, and 6 can run in parallel. Phases 2 and 3 can run in parallel after Phase 1. Phase 5 can start after Phase 1. Phase 7 and 8 can start after Phase 2.
Critical path: Phase 1 → Phase 3 (threads need markdown) → Phase 5 (docs need threads/markdown).
Phases 1 + 4 + 6 in parallel would cover ~60% of the gap and take 3–4 weeks.