Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
1028 lines (775 loc) · 21.3 KB

File metadata and controls

1028 lines (775 loc) · 21.3 KB

StackLoop UX Flow Specification

1. Product Flow Principles

These flows are designed to feel native to modern developer products such as GitHub, Linear, and Notion.

Core UX Principles

  • Reduce friction to the next best action
  • Keep core actions reachable in 1–3 clicks
  • Use progressive disclosure for advanced features
  • Make state changes visible and immediate
  • Support both logged-out and logged-in experiences without forcing sign-up
  • Show trust signals early for repositories and contribution paths

Default Interaction Model

  • Users land on a discovery surface first
  • They can browse without signing in
  • Saving, personalizing, and contributing unlock progressively
  • Authentication is contextual and lightweight

2. Visitor Journey

Journey: Landing Page → Explore → Repository → Login → Save Repository

Goal

Allow a first-time visitor to explore valuable repositories quickly and convert to a signed-in user after demonstrating intent.

Flow Diagram

[Landing Page]
   ↓
[Explore / Discover]
   ↓
[Repository Listing / Detail]
   ↓
[Login Prompt]
   ↓
[GitHub Auth]
   ↓
[Save Repository]
   ↓
[Saved Collections / Dashboard]

User Actions

  1. Open the landing page
  2. Browse featured repositories or recommendations
  3. Open a repository page
  4. View AI summary and contribution context
  5. Tap "Save" or "Login to Save"
  6. Complete GitHub authentication
  7. Return to repository and confirm saved state

System Responses

  • Show hero content, featured projects, and curated collections
  • Display repository cards with AI summary snippets
  • Offer contextual sign-in when the user attempts a personalized action
  • Persist saved repositories after auth completion
  • Update saved state across the session and dashboard

Decision Points

  • Does the user browse anonymously or immediately attempt a save action?
  • Is the user a first-time visitor or returning user?
  • Does the repository have enough metadata to provide a quality summary?

Edge Cases

  • User exits auth flow mid-process
  • User clicks save before login
  • Repository is unavailable or missing summary data
  • Browser session is restored after partial auth

Success State

  • Visitor can browse and understand a repository without friction
  • Visitor is invited to sign in at the right moment
  • Save action completes and becomes visible in the dashboard

Failure State

  • Save action fails due to authentication issues
  • Repository details do not load
  • User is shown a gentle fallback with retry options

3. Authentication Flows

3.1 GitHub Login

Goal

Let users authenticate quickly and securely using GitHub.

Flow Diagram

[User Clicks Login]
   ↓
[Auth Choice: GitHub]
   ↓
[OAuth Redirect]
   ↓
[GitHub Permission Consent]
   ↓
[StackLoop Session Created]
   ↓
[Return to Previous Page]

User Actions

  1. Tap Login
  2. Choose GitHub as auth provider
  3. Approve requested scopes
  4. Return to the app

System Responses

  • Show loading state during OAuth
  • Provide clear permission explanation
  • Create user profile and initial preferences on first login
  • Redirect to the previous page or onboarding flow

Decision Points

  • Has the user logged in before?
  • Does the user accept GitHub permissions?
  • Is the GitHub account already linked to an existing StackLoop account?

Edge Cases

  • OAuth error or denied permissions
  • Account already exists with a different provider
  • GitHub rate limit or timeout

Success State

  • User is authenticated and sees a personalized experience

Failure State

  • User sees a clear error screen with retry and fallback options

3.2 GitHub Logout

Flow Diagram

[User Opens Settings/Profile]
   ↓
[Click Logout]
   ↓
[Confirm Logout]
   ↓
[Session Cleared]
   ↓
[Return to Public Experience]

User Actions

  1. Open settings or profile
  2. Choose Logout
  3. Confirm action

System Responses

  • Clear session and local state
  • Remove personalized content temporarily
  • Keep public browsing available

Edge Cases

  • Session already expired
  • Token revocation fails
  • Multi-tab sessions remain active

Success State

  • User is signed out and redirected to a neutral state

Failure State

  • User receives a warning with retry instructions

3.3 Session Expiry

Goal

Handle expired sessions gracefully without breaking the experience.

Flow Diagram

[Protected Action Triggered]
   ↓
[Session Check]
   ↓
[Session Expired]
   ↓
[Prompt Re-authentication]
   ↓
[User Re-authenticates]

User Actions

  1. Trigger a protected action
  2. Re-authenticate if prompted

System Responses

  • Preserve the current page context
  • Show a lightweight modal or inline prompt
  • Restore the user to the same action after login

Edge Cases

  • Token refresh fails
  • User declines re-authentication
  • Expiry occurs during a long-running workflow

Success State

  • User resumes the same task without significant loss

Failure State

  • User is returned to a safe, signed-out state with a retry option

3.4 Reconnect GitHub

Goal

Allow a user to reconnect GitHub access if previously revoked or expired.

Flow Diagram

[Settings / Integrations]
   ↓
[Reconnect GitHub]
   ↓
[OAuth Flow]
   ↓
[Permissions Restored]

User Actions

  1. Open settings
  2. Select reconnect GitHub
  3. Re-authorize

System Responses

  • Show permission reason clearly
  • Re-establish linked account access
  • Re-enable repository and contribution features

Edge Cases

  • Previously granted scopes were revoked
  • Permissions changed since initial hookup

Success State

  • GitHub integration becomes active again

Failure State

  • User sees a clear explanation of the missing permission

4. Onboarding Flows

4.1 Interest Selection

Goal

Learn what kinds of repositories the user cares about.

Flow Diagram

[First Login]
   ↓
[Onboarding Modal / Step 1]
   ↓
[Select Interests]
   ↓
[Continue]

User Actions

  1. Choose from categories such as AI, Backend, DevTools, Data, Mobile
  2. Select preferred experience level
  3. Continue

System Responses

  • Show recommended interests based on common developer personas
  • Persist selections immediately
  • Use them to personalize repository ranking

Decision Points

  • Whether the user wants beginner-friendly content or advanced projects
  • Whether they want to focus on one domain or multiple domains

Edge Cases

  • User skips onboarding entirely
  • User selects too many interests
  • User changes their selection later

Success State

  • Personalized recommendations become more relevant immediately

Failure State

  • Default recommendations are shown until the user completes onboarding

4.2 Technology Preferences

Goal

Capture stack preferences so recommendations are more precise.

Flow Diagram

[Interest Selection]
   ↓
[Select Technologies]
   ↓
[Save Preferences]

User Actions

  1. Choose languages, frameworks, and tools
  2. Mark essential versus exploratory interests
  3. Save preferences

System Responses

  • Show badges or chips for selected technologies
  • Update feed ranking and learning suggestions

Edge Cases

  • User has no strong preferences yet
  • Preferences conflict with current selection

Success State

  • Feed becomes more targeted and contextual

Failure State

  • Fallback to broad recommendations is used

4.3 Feed Personalization

Goal

Create a tailored discovery experience after initial preferences are known.

Flow Diagram

[Preferences Saved]
   ↓
[Personalized Feed Generated]
   ↓
[User Reviews Recommendations]
   ↓
[Optional Feedback / Refinement]

User Actions

  1. Review personalized feed
  2. Save repositories
  3. Mark items as relevant or irrelevant

System Responses

  • Adjust ranking dynamically based on engagement
  • Introduce “Why recommended” explanations
  • Promote learning and contribution items where appropriate

Edge Cases

  • No recommendation data yet
  • User does not engage with initial suggestions

Success State

  • Feed becomes progressively more useful with each interaction

Failure State

  • Generic feed remains visible with a clear “personalizing your experience” state

5. Repository Discovery Flows

5.1 Home Feed

Goal

Help users quickly discover useful repositories through a high-signal feed.

Flow Diagram

[Home Feed]
   ↓
[Browse Repository Cards]
   ↓
[Open Repository]

User Actions

  1. View recommended repositories
  2. Scroll through curated sections
  3. Open a repository

System Responses

  • Show AI summary, stars, recency, and fit score
  • Surface “Why this is recommended” information
  • Support quick save/share actions

Decision Points

  • Is the repository relevant enough to open?
  • Is the user looking for a trending item, a learning target, or a contribution opportunity?

Edge Cases

  • Feed is empty due to insufficient preferences
  • Repository cards are loading slowly

Success State

  • User finds at least one relevant project quickly

Failure State

  • Empty state explains how to improve recommendations

5.2 Categories

Goal

Support browsing by topic and ecosystem.

Flow Diagram

[Categories Page]
   ↓
[Select Category]
   ↓
[Browse Repositories]

User Actions

  1. Pick a category
  2. Review repositories within it
  3. Open a repository

System Responses

  • Display category-level context, popularity, and featured projects
  • Show recommended subcategories if relevant

Edge Cases

  • Category has too few items
  • Category name is ambiguous

Success State

  • User finds repositories that match a high-level interest area

Failure State

  • Empty category state with suggestion-based fallback

5.3 Search

Goal

Let users reach a specific repo, technology, or maintainer quickly.

Flow Diagram

[Search Input]
   ↓
[Query Entered]
   ↓
[Results Loaded]
   ↓
[Open Result]

User Actions

  1. Enter a search query
  2. View result groups
  3. Apply filters
  4. Open a specific result

System Responses

  • Show instant suggestions and grouped results
  • Highlight result type by category
  • Persist filters when navigating deeper

Edge Cases

  • No results found
  • Query is too broad
  • Search is slow or unavailable

Success State

  • User reaches the intended repository or entity quickly

Failure State

  • Empty state with helpful suggestions and alternative terms

5.4 Recommendations

Goal

Strengthen discovery through personalized and explanation-driven suggestions.

Flow Diagram

[Recommendations Surface]
   ↓
[Review Why This Is Suggested]
   ↓
[Open Repository]

User Actions

  1. Review recommendations
  2. Tap for explanation or explore related projects

System Responses

  • Display reason labels such as matching tech stack or beginner-friendly fit
  • Offer save and contribute actions

Edge Cases

  • Insufficient data for strong recommendations
  • Recommendation quality declines over time

Success State

  • User finds a relevant project with clear reasoning

Failure State

  • No-recommendations state encourages preference updates

5.5 Trending

Goal

Surface momentum and fast-moving projects.

Flow Diagram

[Trending Page]
   ↓
[Browse Trending Repositories]
   ↓
[Open Repository]

User Actions

  1. Open trending content
  2. Compare projects
  3. Save or explore further

System Responses

  • Highlight growth indicators, recency, and activity signals
  • Show AI summary even on quickly changing results

Edge Cases

  • Trending results are too noisy
  • Hidden or low-context repositories

Success State

  • User can quickly identify relevant momentum

Failure State

  • Fallback to curated lists or slower-loading results

5.6 Recently Updated

Goal

Support discovery of active and evolving repositories.

Flow Diagram

[Recently Updated List]
   ↓
[Open Repository]

User Actions

  1. Browse recently updated repositories
  2. Open one that matches their current goal

System Responses

  • Show last updated time and meaningful activity highlights
  • Offer relevant filters such as language or topic

Edge Cases

  • Activity is stale or noisy
  • Results overlap heavily with trending

Success State

  • User finds an active and relevant project quickly

Failure State

  • Empty state or fallback to trending

6. Repository Details Flow

Journey: Repository → AI Summary → Technologies → Contribution → Star → Fork → Share → Save

Goal

Help users understand a repository, evaluate whether it fits their goals, and take the next action.

Flow Diagram

[Repository Page]
   ↓
[AI Summary]
   ↓
[Technologies / Metadata]
   ↓
[Contribution Section]
   ↓
[Primary Action: Star / Fork / Share / Save]

User Actions

  1. Open repository page
  2. Read AI summary
  3. Review technologies and fit
  4. Explore contribution opportunities
  5. Take a core action

System Responses

  • Present a concise executive summary first
  • Highlight key technical context and repo fit
  • Use progressive disclosure for deeper details
  • Update action buttons with immediate state changes

Decision Points

  • Is the user here for learning, contribution, or bookmarking?
  • Does the user need a deeper explanation or a direct action?

Edge Cases

  • Summary data is missing
  • Repository is archived or inactive
  • User has no GitHub connection but tries to contribute

Success State

  • User clearly understands the repository and can act on it

Failure State

  • Fallback content and action alternatives are shown

7. Contribution Journey

Journey: Repository → Good First Issue → GitHub → Pull Request → Contribution Completed

Goal

Guide a developer from interest to contribution in a low-friction path.

Flow Diagram

[Repository Page]
   ↓
[Good First Issue / Contribution Section]
   ↓
[Issue Details]
   ↓
[GitHub Redirect / Auth]
   ↓
[Create Pull Request]
   ↓
[Contribution Completed]

User Actions

  1. Open repository
  2. Browse contribution opportunities
  3. Choose a starter issue
  4. Open the issue or contribution flow
  5. Make a contribution
  6. Submit a pull request

System Responses

  • Show issue fit by difficulty and skill match
  • Explain why the issue is suitable for the user
  • Provide a direct path to GitHub with context preserved
  • Confirm contribution completion and update history

Decision Points

  • Does the user have the required technical context?
  • Is the issue beginner-friendly?
  • Is the repository currently accepting contributions?

Edge Cases

  • Issue is closed or stale
  • User lacks GitHub permissions
  • Repo requires special setup steps

Success State

  • User completes a contribution and sees it reflected in the profile

Failure State

  • User receives guidance, alternative issues, or a “come back later” state

8. Repository Owner Journey

Journey: Login → Claim Repository → Verification → Manage Repository → Analytics

Goal

Give maintainers a simple path to claim and manage their repositories.

Flow Diagram

[Login]
   ↓
[Claim Repository]
   ↓
[Verification]
   ↓
[Repository Management Dashboard]
   ↓
[Analytics / Insights]

User Actions

  1. Sign in with GitHub
  2. Search for the repository to claim
  3. Verify ownership
  4. Manage metadata and visibility
  5. Review analytics

System Responses

  • Guide the user to claim the correct repository
  • Show verification status clearly
  • Allow editing of summary, tags, and contribution signals
  • Surface analytics after verification is complete

Decision Points

  • Is the user the legitimate maintainer?
  • Does the repo already have an existing managed profile?
  • Does the maintainer need advanced analytics or basic management?

Edge Cases

  • Ownership cannot be verified
  • Repo already claimed by another account
  • Verification token is missing or invalid

Success State

  • The repository becomes managed and editable by the maintainer

Failure State

  • Verification fails and the user is guided to resolve ownership issues

9. Profile Journey

Journey: Profile → Saved → History → Recommendations → Settings

Goal

Help users revisit prior activity and manage their preferences.

Flow Diagram

[Profile Page]
   ↓
[Saved Repositories]
   ↓
[History / Activity]
   ↓
[Recommendations]
   ↓
[Settings]

User Actions

  1. Open profile
  2. Review saved repositories
  3. Inspect interaction history
  4. Adjust recommendations
  5. Update settings

System Responses

  • Show a clean personal workspace
  • Group content by relevance and recency
  • Keep settings simple and grouped by intent

Decision Points

  • Is the user looking for a saved repo or a new recommendation?
  • Do they want to tweak personalization or manage integrations?

Edge Cases

  • Profile has no saved content yet
  • History is sparse or empty
  • User changes preferences frequently

Success State

  • Profile becomes a useful personal hub for continued discovery

Failure State

  • Empty states guide the user toward first actions

10. Search Flow

Journey: Search → Filters → Results → Repository

Goal

Support fast, high-confidence navigation to the right content.

Flow Diagram

[Search Input]
   ↓
[Filter Selection]
   ↓
[Results List]
   ↓
[Open Repository / Technology / Person]

User Actions

  1. Enter a term
  2. Choose filters
  3. Browse results
  4. Open a result

System Responses

  • Show result type labels and relevance signals
  • Persist filters while the user navigates
  • Display additional suggestions if no match is found

Decision Points

  • Is the user looking for a repository or a person/technology?
  • Do filters need to be applied immediately?

Edge Cases

  • Query returns too many results
  • Filter combination yields zero results
  • Search index is unavailable

Success State

  • User finds the target content with minimal effort

Failure State

  • Empty state and suggested alternatives are shown

11. Error States

11.1 404

Goal

Guide the user back to a useful destination when content is missing.

Flow Diagram

[Broken or Missing URL]
   ↓
[404 Screen]
   ↓
[Suggested Recovery Options]

User Actions

  1. See the error page
  2. Navigate to home, search, or recommendations

System Responses

  • Show a clear explanation
  • Offer recovery shortcuts
  • Keep the layout consistent with the main product

Success State

  • User can recover quickly

Failure State

  • User becomes stuck without guidance

11.2 Empty Search

Goal

Prevent dead-end search behavior.

Flow Diagram

[No Search Results]
   ↓
[Empty State]
   ↓
[Suggested Alternatives]

User Actions

  1. Review suggestions
  2. Adjust query or filters

System Responses

  • Suggest broader terms and popular searches
  • Offer category or technology alternatives

Success State

  • User can refine their query easily

Failure State

  • The user leaves without discovering anything

11.3 No Recommendations

Goal

Avoid making the experience feel empty or broken.

Flow Diagram

[Insufficient Data]
   ↓
[No Recommendations State]
   ↓
[Prompt to Personalize / Explore]

User Actions

  1. Review the empty state
  2. Choose to personalize or browse trending content

System Responses

  • Explain why recommendations are unavailable
  • Offer alternatives such as trending or categories

Success State

  • User still has a productive path forward

Failure State

  • User feels blocked without context

11.4 API Failure

Goal

Communicate failure clearly without losing trust.

Flow Diagram

[API Error]
   ↓
[Error Banner / Inline Alert]
   ↓
[Retry or Fallback]

User Actions

  1. Retry if appropriate
  2. Continue with cached or fallback content

System Responses

  • Show non-blocking error messaging
  • Preserve as much content as possible
  • Retry automatically where appropriate

Success State

  • User can continue interacting despite the failure

Failure State

  • User loses trust or cannot proceed

11.5 Network Failure

Goal

Support offline or weak-network conditions gracefully.

Flow Diagram

[Network Drop]
   ↓
[Offline / Retry State]
   ↓
[Cached Content / Retry]

User Actions

  1. Retry the action
  2. Continue with cached content if available

System Responses

  • Show offline state with retry support
  • Preserve user input where possible

Success State

  • User is informed and can recover quickly

Failure State

  • User loses progress without warning

12. Implementation Notes for Engineering

Interaction Patterns to Standardize

  • All primary actions should include visible feedback
  • Auth-required actions should be deferred until needed
  • Empty states should always provide the next action
  • Search and recommendation experiences should support rapid retry

Recommended Frontend States

  • Idle
  • Loading
  • Success
  • Empty
  • Error
  • Auth required
  • Re-auth required

Recommended UX Components

  • Auth modal
  • Inline confirmation toast
  • Empty-state card
  • Filter drawer or sheet
  • Repository action bar
  • Personalized recommendation card
  • Contribution CTA module

13. Summary

The StackLoop UX flows are structured to support the product’s primary motion:

  1. Discover
  2. Understand
  3. Act
  4. Personalize
  5. Return

This creates a product experience that is intuitive, developer-friendly, and ready for implementation across web, mobile, and future platform surfaces.