celzero
General UI observations/suggestions
Buttons under DNS and Firewall cards don't seem like buttons at first, and their sideways scroll is not intuitive. I understand why they're here — to provide top-level access to options that are otherwise difficult to find/understand in their respective Settings menus. But the way they're presented, scrolling across under both features' cards, uncouples them from the features to which they relate, and makes it difficult to understand the difference between them. Enable RethinkDNS+ relates to DNS. Whitelist Apps relates to Firewall. Exclude Apps relates to both. Especially since the terms Whitelist and Exclude are so closely related in dictionary meanings (albeit as opposites), keeping them more firmly linked to their features is something to consider.
Regarding the same buttons layout, Dark Theme could be a toggle in a position that indicates its related to the general interface, perhaps in the bottom menu, or simply moved to the top of the General section on the Settings screen.
In the Whitelist and Exclude screens, 'back' swipe (or button) functionality would be helpful.
On the Settings tab, Exclude feels out of place under VPN since it relates to both VPN and the firewall. The other options listed here relate more to VPN functionality strictly speaking.
On the Settings tab, perhaps Whitelist should be listed under Firewall?
One of the most difficult concepts I encountered when learning the app today was the difference between Exclusion, Whitelisting and Blocking. I got it eventually, but then I'm a nerd and I know what these things mean. The organization of the interface didn't necessarily help me. I would consider some sort of UI framework that accounts for the differences between these options, and reinforce that framework wherever the options show up.
On the Home tab, DNS and Firewall cards feel too small for their significance. These are the two basic modes of the app, so I would elevate them to that status in the UI.
The interface for setting up DNS+ feels different from the rest of the app. Actually, it feels like a paid feature selection screen, which may be the reason (upcoming thing?). If there's not a good reason for this difference, though, I would bring it into alignment with the other areas (the minimalism of which I prefer). There are other things about the way + is accessed (the configure button on a page with no other such buttons; tapping 'X blocklists in-use' after tapping the same button to activate +) that also feel clunky.
Anyway, sorry to hit you with a litany of things… I like the app and it's going to be my go-to. Once I got it figured out, I could get it set up. But after a few months if I come back in to tweak something I'll have to learn it all over. It would be cool if that wasn't the case.
cc: @hussainmohd-a
some of the UI decisions are just us being lazy, but you're right. It needs a rethink.
Hussain is already looking to redo some of the elements, so, you should see changes gradually making it in the upcoming releases.
Open to more inputs. But, v053i (web download; expect Play/F-Droid releases in a week) addresses some of the feedback:
Especially since the terms Whitelist and Exclude are so closely related in dictionary meanings (albeit as opposites), keeping them more firmly linked to their features is something to consider.
These settings are now bundled together in All Apps tab in the Firewall screen.
In the Whitelist and Exclude screens, 'back' swipe (or button) functionality would be helpful.
This screen has been removed, since it was a bit complicated (in its implementation which is one reason why the back button was disabled).
On the Settings tab, perhaps Whitelist should be listed under Firewall?
You mean Exclude? Again, this UI is gone in v053i (:
One of the most difficult concepts I encountered when learning the app today was the difference between Exclusion, Whitelisting and Blocking.
We've added descriptive labels in UI that highlight what each of these settings mean for an app (in the context of the firewall).
I would consider some sort of UI framework that accounts for the differences between these options, and reinforce that framework wherever the options show up.
We've tried our best, but let us know whether or not v053i's Network Logs tab in the Firewall screen does a good job on reinforcing these differences.
On the Home tab, DNS and Firewall cards feel too small for their significance. These are the two basic modes of the app, so I would elevate them to that status in the UI.
We've "elevated" (or so we think) these card with bg-colour in v053i...
The interface for setting up DNS+ feels different from the rest of the app. Actually, it feels like a paid feature selection screen, which may be the reason (upcoming thing?). If there's not a good reason for this difference, though, I would bring it into alignment with the other areas (the minimalism of which I prefer).
We've changed this too, but not sure if you'd like the current UI. Again, let us know whatever the case. All ears.
I like the app and it's going to be my go-to.
Months on, did the app hold up to your expectations?
Try the v053i (it should hit F-Droid in ~5 days from today), may be you'd like it slightly better than its predecessor...?
@DorianHeckler we've implemented a bunch of your suggestions. v053k is out on our website and will soon (within 7 days?) be on playstore and f-droid. With v054 we will continue to make more UI changes. Test it out and let us know.
Sorry to not reply when you first wrote back. I did download the new version and it seems a lot better, thank you for all you're doing. I'll continue to update and let you know if I have any other thoughts. But seriously, nice work!
The "Theme" toggle currently focus shifts the UI, and then the user has to scroll back to it to change it again. Would be fixed by having it on the left, and it would be nice to try to aim for it not to scroll at all.
Would be fixed by having it on the left, and it would be nice to try to aim for it not to scroll at all.
I believe this is harder to do because the activity (ui) is being reloaded to have the new theme applied to it. While possible to do, I do not think it is worth the added complexity to preserve the scroll position of the chips.
All mine are just gone now. Don't know how that happened, but problem solved, I guess.
I like the current tab/bottom category being grayed out. Following this, the "Pause" indicator to the left of the blue "START" should be grayed out too when it isn't started to begin with. (As then it can't be paused either.)