wttf/content/conversations_event_documentation.md

Title: The Ecosystem Is Moving - documentation
Category: documentation 
slug: documentation-conversations-gultsch
tags: instant messaging, conversations, xmpp, documentation
featured_image: images/fi_im.jpg


On the 1st and 2nd of June [*varia*](https://varia.zone/en/) hosted 'The Ecosystem Is Moving', a lecture by and worksession with [Daniel Gultsch](https://gultsch.de).

## Talk

Because of the audience's familiarty with the project the lecture turned more into an open conversation with many questions from the audience. We also couldn't resist hosting and displaying a [chat room](xmpp://wttf@muc.vvvvvvaria.org?join) during the talk for people online also to join in. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts" src="https://video.vvvvvvaria.org/videos/embed/0a16d1e5-59de-473d-89b1-958422ec2251" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Video documentation by [Michaela Lakova](http://mlakova.org/)

For notes taken during the talk have a look [here](https://pad.vvvvvvaria.org/WttF.The-Ecosystem-is-Moving.talk)

## Worksession

The worksession itself was based around rethinking and designing the way Conversations displays information about chat groups. Arguably one of the most important features of any chat system, the groupchat view had been underdeveloped in Conversations. During the worksession we discussed the various types of groupchats that exist in the XMPP ecosystem, ranging from public topical rooms to private chats of groups of friends. By comparing what choices other chat applications make and getting a sense of what is (im)possible in the XMPP ecosystem (see [Cristina Cochior's writeup for more details](conversation-with-daniel-gultsch.html) participants got a good idea of where to go. 

Then we spent the afternoon doing a few different wireframes. These different designs all made different choices in accessibility, UX, customization.

![](images/conversations_groups_comparison.png)
The group chat details view from Conversations version 2.2.3 and 2.2.4 where some of the propsed changes have already been implemented

For notes of the worksession have a look [here](https://pad.vvvvvvaria.org/WttF.The-Ecosystem-is-Moving.worksession).