Use the new room list by default

[langleyd]

This PR forces on the new room list for app/develop and fixes the tests that used to depend on the old room list

• Fixes for axe have been split out into a separate PR.
• There are 2 fixes still contained in this PR that are awkward to split out:
  • A fix to LandmarkNavigation that needs to change when the new room list changes as the selectors have changed. There is an accompanying fix to the RoomListPanel.
  • A fix to RoomListStoreV3. Rooms were not being remove from the new room list when a user cancelled their own knocking request, I think we should be using the "Effective" membership events to account for this.

Checklist

• Tests written for new code (and old code if feasible).
• New or updated public/exported symbols have accurate TSDoc documentation.
• Linter and other CI checks pass.
• I have licensed the changes to Element by completing the Contributor License Agreement (CLA)

[vcunat]

You say "by default", but is there a way to remain on the old room list? For my usage I find this (v1.12.0) a significant UX downgrade, even after looking through settings a lot, trying to mitigate it somehow.

[t3chguy]

@vcunat you can disable it in Settings > Labs only if your instance has show_labs_settings: true in config.json, or it can also be disabled in config.json features field.

[herndlm]

You say "by default", but is there a way to remain on the old room list? For my usage I find this (v1.12.0) a significant UX downgrade, even after looking through settings a lot, trying to mitigate it somehow.

I think for me one of the filters (Unreads/People/Rooms) was suddenly selected by default and me never using it, I didn't realize that I can just unselect them and it confused me massively. after toggling beta settings they were unchecked though. anyway, maybe you experience something similar?

[vcunat]

I only see "Video rooms" and "Notification Settings" in the labs.

[t3chguy]

@vcunat sounds like your instance lacks this:

only if your instance has show_labs_settings: true in config.json

There are many options available in labs with that option enabled.

[vcunat]

My instance, as in https://app.element.io or matrix.org?

Anyway, my "problem" is that there are veeery many rooms. So I was permanently in a room view (icons only on the left) where I had the "favorite" rooms first and underneath the normal rooms from which only a couple last-active could fit – and the rest would get visible by simple scrolling. Now I'd apparently have to expand the filter list and adjust filters whenever I wanted to have a look.

Also the room list takes a few times more width than before. It can't be reduced to just icons anymore, which hurts me especially when viewing threads. Well sure, I could start maximizing the Element window whenever I do something like that...

[t3chguy]

app.element.io, matrix.org is your (presumably) chosen Matrix homeserver.

As you can see on http://app.element.io/config.json show_labs_settings is false

[bertiebaggio]

@vcunat It can still be disabled for now on app.element.io if devtools are enabled (/devtools command in any room)

[JohnDepon]

You say "by default", but is there a way to remain on the old room list? For my usage I find this (v1.12.0) a significant UX downgrade, even after looking through settings a lot, trying to mitigate it somehow.

I agree, the new room list is a major downgrade in terms of usability. It might look cleaner, but it removes significant functionality. You can no longer have in one screen/view the 3 groups (Favorites/People/Rooms) you had before (without having to click anywhere to see the stuff you want), with the option to show more/less rooms for each group and also can no longer show message previews.

I've disabled the new room list for now, but I am afraid this option will be removed in the future, making Element unusable for me.

[t3chguy]

and also can no longer show message previews.

This isn't true...

[bertiebaggio]

@JohnDepon There is a just-opened issue for groups/sections instead of filters you might be interested in

[soonic6]

is the option gone, to hide the "room name"?

[DakingRT]

This design is horrible, please go back to the previous one, it's much more useful.

[rgpublic]

This is the stuff of nightmares. I can only negative feedback from all of our users. Why was this decided? Please, please bring back the old simple sidebar with Persons and Rooms in one single view. It's absolutely confusing and inconvenient. I have yet to find at least a single person in the whole company who likes it... Sigh.

[DakingRT]

Please revert these changes. No one at my company is happy with the new room list, there's only negative feedback. You need to listen to the community.

[ara4n]

hi folks - thanks for the feedback, it has been noted; we’ll work on bringing back “sections” (ie room sublists) on the new leftpanel in future. fwiw, the feedback has not been universally negative - we’ve seen a bunch of positive feedback… just not here.

Meanwhile, I’m going to lock this; the point has been made.