Consolidating Settings Pages for Enhanced User Experience

Introduction

In our application, we aimed to streamline the user experience by consolidating related settings. Previously, account-specific settings were located on a separate page, leading to potential user confusion. Our goal was to integrate these settings into a more logical and accessible location, simplifying navigation and improving overall usability.

The Problem

The existence of a dedicated "Account Settings" page, distinct from "Automation Settings," created a disjointed user experience. Key settings related to publishing and privacy were scattered across different sections, making it harder for users to manage their preferences efficiently. Specifically, the brave_mode, hide_reported_posts, and hide_reported_projects toggles were isolated, leading to a less intuitive settings interface.

The Solution: Integrating Settings

To address this, we migrated the brave_mode, hide_reported_posts, and hide_reported_projects toggles into a new "Publishing & Privacy" section within the existing "Automation Settings" page. This consolidation provides users with a centralized location to manage all settings related to their automation and privacy preferences. The original "Account Settings" page, view, and associated test file were then removed, as they were no longer necessary.

Consider a simplified example of how these settings might be structured in a Laravel application using Livewire (although Filament was detected in the project, Livewire is shown to better demonstrate the logic):

<?php

namespace App\Livewire;

use Livewire\Component;

class AutomationSettings extends Component
{
    public bool $braveMode;
    public bool $hideReportedPosts;
    public bool $hideReportedProjects;

    public function mount(): void
    {
        $this->braveMode = auth()->user()->app_config['brave_mode'] ?? false;
        $this->hideReportedPosts = auth()->user()->app_config['hide_reported_posts'] ?? false;
        $this->hideReportedProjects = auth()->user()->app_config['hide_reported_projects'] ?? false;
    }

    public function saveSettings(): void
    {
        auth()->user()->app_config = [
            'brave_mode' => $this->braveMode,
            'hide_reported_posts' => $this->hideReportedPosts,
            'hide_reported_projects' => $this->hideReportedProjects,
        ];
        auth()->user()->save();

        session()->flash('message', 'Settings saved!');
    }

    public function render()
    {
        return view('livewire.automation-settings');
    }
}

Benefits

• Improved User Experience: Consolidating related settings into a single, logical location simplifies navigation and makes it easier for users to manage their preferences.
• Reduced Clutter: Removing the redundant "Account Settings" page declutters the settings interface, creating a cleaner and more intuitive user experience.
• Enhanced Discoverability: By grouping publishing and privacy settings together, users can more easily discover and understand the available options.

Conclusion

By merging the "Account Settings" into the "Automation Settings" and creating a dedicated "Publishing & Privacy" section, we have enhanced the user experience in our application. This change promotes a more intuitive and streamlined settings management process. Regularly evaluating and consolidating settings pages can significantly contribute to improved usability and user satisfaction. Prioritize logical grouping and centralized access to key features to optimize the user interface.