Expensify App: Fix Room Avatar Full Screen Issue

by Mei Lin 49 views

Hey guys! So, we've got a quirky issue in the Expensify app where the room avatar isn't opening in full screen as expected. Let's dive into the details and figure out what's going on.

Issue Overview

Keywords: Room avatar, full screen, Expensify app, bug report, chat report view

We've identified an issue where clicking on a room avatar within the Expensify app doesn't open it in full screen. Instead, a tooltip pops up, which isn't the intended behavior. This bug affects multiple platforms, making it a pretty widespread problem. It’s reproducible in the staging environment but not in production, which is interesting. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Version Number: 9.1.89-1
  • Reproducible in staging?: Yes
  • Reproducible in production?: No
  • Affected Tester: [email protected]
  • Reported by: Applause Internal Team
  • Device Used: Mac 15.5 / Chrome
  • App Component: Chat Report View

Steps to Reproduce

To replicate this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Precondition: Make sure you have at least one workspace.
  2. Go to staging.new.expensify.com.
  3. Navigate to the #admins room.
  4. Click on the report header.
  5. Click on the avatar.

Expected vs. Actual Result

Expected Result: The avatar should open in full-screen view, allowing a closer look.

Actual Result: The avatar does not open in full screen. Instead, a tooltip appears, which is not the desired outcome. This disrupts the user experience and makes it harder to view the avatar clearly.

Platform Impact

This issue affects a wide range of platforms, which is why it’s crucial to address it promptly. Here’s a summary of the affected platforms:

  • [x] Android: App
  • [x] Android: mWeb Chrome
  • [x] iOS: App
  • [ ] iOS: mWeb Safari
  • [x] iOS: mWeb Chrome
  • [ ] Windows: Chrome
  • [x] MacOS: Chrome / Safari
  • [x] MacOS: Desktop

As you can see, it's pretty widespread, hitting both mobile apps and web versions on various operating systems.

Deeper Dive into the Issue

Let's dig a bit deeper into why this might be happening and what we can do about it. When a user interacts with an avatar, especially in a collaborative app like Expensify, they expect a seamless experience. A full-screen view of the avatar is essential for clarity and better user engagement. The current behavior, where a tooltip appears instead, not only breaks this expectation but also adds an unnecessary friction point.

Root Cause Analysis:

To effectively address this, we need to understand the root cause. Some potential reasons for this behavior could be:

  1. Incorrect Event Handling: The click event on the avatar might be triggering the tooltip event instead of the full-screen view event. This could be due to a misconfiguration in the event listeners.
  2. CSS Overrides: There might be CSS rules that are preventing the avatar from expanding to full screen. Styles could be interfering with the intended behavior.
  3. JavaScript Errors: JavaScript errors in the component could be halting the execution of the full-screen functionality. Debugging the JavaScript console might reveal some clues.
  4. Platform-Specific Issues: Since the issue is reproducible on some platforms and not others (like staging vs. production), there might be platform-specific code that's causing the discrepancy. Conditional logic or environment variables could be playing a role.
  5. Caching Issues: Sometimes, outdated cached assets can cause unexpected behavior. Clearing the cache in the affected environments might help.

Impact on User Experience:

The inability to view avatars in full screen can lead to a degraded user experience in several ways:

  • Reduced Clarity: Avatars are often used to identify users or groups quickly. A small, non-fullscreen avatar can make it difficult to distinguish between different users, especially if they have similar avatars.
  • Frustration: Users expect a certain level of interactivity and responsiveness in modern apps. When a simple action like clicking an avatar doesn't produce the expected result, it can lead to frustration.
  • Accessibility Concerns: For users with visual impairments, the inability to view avatars in full screen can pose an accessibility challenge. Clear visuals are crucial for inclusive design.

Debugging Strategies:

To get to the bottom of this, we can employ several debugging strategies:

  1. Inspect Element: Using the browser's developer tools to inspect the HTML and CSS of the avatar element can reveal any styling issues that might be preventing full-screen display.
  2. JavaScript Console: Checking the JavaScript console for errors or warnings can highlight any script-related issues.
  3. Network Tab: Monitoring network requests can help identify any issues with asset loading or API calls related to the avatar display.
  4. Remote Debugging: For mobile apps, using remote debugging tools (like Chrome DevTools for Android or Safari Web Inspector for iOS) can provide insights into the app's behavior on actual devices.
  5. Code Review: A thorough code review of the avatar component and its related modules can help identify logical errors or misconfigurations.

Workaround and Next Steps

Keywords: Workaround, bug fix, Expensify, troubleshooting

Currently, there's no known workaround for this issue, which means users are stuck with the tooltip instead of the full-screen view. This makes it even more important to find a fix ASAP!

Immediate Next Steps

  1. Prioritize the Bug: Given the wide range of affected platforms, this bug should be prioritized for a fix. A broken feature like this can significantly impact user experience.
  2. Assign a Developer: Assign a developer to investigate the issue. They can start by reproducing the bug in the staging environment and then diving into the codebase.
  3. Set a Timeline: Set a timeline for the investigation and fix. Quick turnaround times are essential to maintain user trust and satisfaction.

Long-Term Solutions

To prevent similar issues in the future, we can implement a few long-term solutions:

  1. Improved Testing: Enhance the testing process to include more comprehensive UI testing, especially for interactive elements like avatars. Automated tests can catch these issues early.
  2. Code Reviews: Regular code reviews can help identify potential bugs before they make it into production. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot issues that the original developer might have missed.
  3. Monitoring and Alerting: Set up monitoring and alerting for critical features. If a feature breaks, the team should be notified immediately so they can take action.
  4. Staging Environment Parity: Ensure the staging environment closely mirrors the production environment. This will help catch bugs that might only appear in a specific environment.

Screenshots/Videos

To get a better visual understanding of the issue, check out the provided screenshots and videos:

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0f403056-3721-4f02-bca4-beeed047773d8

These visual aids can be super helpful for developers to see exactly what’s happening and diagnose the problem more effectively.

Contributing Guidelines

If you're interested in contributing to the fix, here are some helpful resources:

Open Jobs on GitHub

Looking for more ways to get involved? Check out the open jobs on GitHub:

View all open jobs on GitHub

There are plenty of opportunities to contribute and make a difference in the Expensify community. We welcome all the help we can get, and it’s a fantastic way to build your skills and experience while working on a real-world project.

Conclusion

Keywords: Conclusion, fix, Expensify app, user experience, bug resolution

So, to wrap things up, the issue of the room avatar not opening in full screen is a pretty significant one that affects user experience across multiple platforms. While there's no current workaround, understanding the steps to reproduce the issue, potential root causes, and the impact on users helps us prioritize and tackle this bug effectively.

By focusing on immediate next steps like assigning a developer and setting a timeline, and by implementing long-term solutions such as improved testing and code reviews, we can ensure that similar issues are caught and resolved quickly in the future. Plus, with the help of the community and open jobs on GitHub, we're always looking for ways to make the Expensify app even better. Let's get this avatar issue sorted out and keep the user experience top-notch!

Keep an eye out for updates, and thanks for being part of the Expensify community. Your feedback and contributions are what make this app great!