#43 – Dashboard Widgets

Summary

Adam and Ste discuss their recent activities and then dive into designing widgets for the Hardcover app’s dashboard. They explore different options for displaying the ‘currently reading’ widget, including the possibility of a carousel-like feature. They also discuss the idea of customizable settings for each widget, such as the ability to track reading progress by day, week, or month. They consider the use of a universal control for widget sizes and the option to edit progress using input fields or a slider. They also discuss the design of the update button and the possibility of making the progress fields content editable. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss different ways to update progress and add actions to the currently reading widget. They explore options such as marking a book as read, leaving a review, changing the edition, and setting a custom page count. They also consider the possibility of resizing and reordering the widget based on the number of books being read. The conversation concludes with a discussion on using interactive inputs for page numbers and percentages. Overall, they aim to make updating progress and taking actions on the currently reading widget more intuitive and efficient.

Takeaways

The dashboard in the Hardcover app will serve as a customized portal to users’ data and preferences.
Widgets on the dashboard can be designed to work on both desktop and mobile, with some widgets having multiple size options.
Customizable settings for each widget, such as tracking progress by day, week, or month, can enhance user experience.
The ‘currently reading’ widget can display all books being read, with the option to scroll or adjust the widget size based on the number of books.
The update button can trigger a drawer or window for editing progress, and progress fields can be made content editable for seamless editing. The currently reading widget can be enhanced by adding actions such as marking a book as read, leaving a review, and changing the edition.
Consider implementing a custom page count or minute count option for books with different editions or formats.
Resizing and reordering the currently reading widget based on the number of books being read can provide a better user experience.
Using interactive inputs, such as draggable sliders, for page numbers and percentages can make updating progress more intuitive.
Reuse design elements and styles from other cards, such as the letter books card, to maintain consistency across the application.