Sprint Review (56 & 57) (Updated)

[sambouwer]

Back at it again!

Step by step we are inching closer to the beta launch of the new Anytype release, which will include not only some cool new features in the application itself, but it will also feature the new infrastructure! I really can’t wait to test out the new infrastructure and the new Anytype apps, but yes, we do need to hang tight a bit longer… [insert elevator-waiting-music] .

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Please take note, these are not the release notes for the next update, but rather a list of items the teams have worked on and are working on. The actual release notes will be posted in the Latest News & Announcements/Release Notes category in the forum and inside the Anytype Desktop app. As part of the Release Train, the next release is again planned for the end of the month, but due to the migration to the new infrastructure this planning is subject to change .

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Highlights

• The team is finalizing the technical migration to new infrastructure and the (rapidly growing) group of Nightly testers will start testing the onboarding and migration processes in the coming weeks
• This also brings some cool new features like Collections, Widgets, Migration to and Onboarding into new infrastructure, Export from old app)
• During design reviews the teams will make sure the app is nicely polished

Completed

Middleware

• File storage and account limits can now be managed from the application settings
• Breaking changes to improve the AnySync protocol are merged, making the protocol robust enough for the beta launch of the new infrastructure
  • Load distribution across backend nodes
  • Cryptographic improvements to increase security

Desktop

• “Collection on Desktop” is completed
• “Widgets on Desktop” is completed

Mobile

• “Collection on Mobile” is completed
  • Create new Object directly in Collection
  • Add Object to Collection from opened Object
  • Turn Sets into a Collection (not possible to revert!)
  • Drag-and-drop reordering possible
• “Widgets on Mobile” is completed
  • Add and remove Widgets from the home screen
  • Drag-and-drop reordering of Widgets
  • Several built-in Widgets are bundled with Anytype for Mobile (note: Library and Bin are always at the bottom of the home screen)
    • Favorites
    • Recents
    • Library
    • Bin
  • You can add your own Widgets by selecting a source (Collection, Set, or Object) and View
    • Tree view: hierarchical structure of (linked) Objects
    • List view: list of Set or Collection Object
  • Collapse/expand status is saved across app restarts
• The status bar was updated to contain buttons for Search, New Object, and Spaces

In progress

Middleware

• File migration from old to new infrastructure
• Logic to add nodes is being worked on (import for self-hosting)
• Final changes are being made to analytics to still have relevant data when many users opt out from analytics (and still be GDPR compliant )

Desktop

• Migration flow and onboarding to new infrastructure
  Migration to the new infrastructure will require a new Desktop app and new Mobile apps to be installed. Migration can only be done from the Desktop app, but the onboarding flow on Mobile will guide users to follow the right steps.
• The (self-)onboarding flow to welcome new Anytypers without the hassle of invite codes is in progress

Mobile

• Migration flow and onboarding to new infrastructure

Next up

Desktop

• Web clipper
• Design review
• Integrate with new analytics

Mobile

• iOS Library
• Design review
• Integrate with new analytics

Community Updates

The next Town hall is tentatively planned on 27th of April for Q&A about the release of the new Anytype version.

Original post

Coming Thursday there will be another sprint review meeting that I’m eager for to attend. Due to a lack of time from my side I will combine my notes from previous sprint review meeting (56) and the upcoming meeting (57). I’ll update this post with my notes when ready .

Now that I have your attention, I would like to bring this post by @Angelo to your attention. The Anytype team will soon start testing the new infrastructure with a select group of Alpha users: the Nightly Ops testers. You can become part of this group if you want to get early access to the new infrastructure (and in the meantime help the team identify bugs in the migration process and new infra itself).

@Angelo

[…]

We are re-opening enrollment for the Nightly Ops program for those interested, feel free to DM me with the info outlined in that topic. Not for the faint of heart. It will involve rigorous testing of the migration, so unless you’re ready to get your hands dirty, I highly suggest you wait for the stable release.

(We’ll make an official announcement about this with more details ASAP)

That’s it for now, more at the end of this week!

[4thHydro]

I was hoping there would be a new version

[kerbless]

I can’t wait to test out the new infra too!

[SilSS]

really looking forward to having the calendar view

[Jed]

Are we getting any update this month. Nothing since the last town hall meeting. Will the public beta still be released in May.

[Tamalika]

Wow! This is awesome. Than you team for the hard work. Eagerly waiting for the next release.
I read that the “collections” in the mobile app are “not possible to revert”.

@sambouwer

“Collection on Mobile” is completed

• Create new Object directly in Collection
• Add Object to Collection from opened Object
• Turn Sets into a Collection (not possible to revert!)
• Drag-and-drop reordering possible

Can you please give a little bit more detail about this? Like, will they become revertable in the future. And can the collections be reverted in the desktop?

Thanks. I wish everyone a happy and healthy day.

[sambouwer]

A collection can be any combination of Objects no matter its Type or linked Relations, but a Set can only be based on a single Type or single Relation.

[Tamalika]

Yes. I underetand that part. Here is a scenario to, hopefully, make my question clearer.
Lets say, I make a collection called: “Basic medical sciences” with Anatomy set, biochemistry set and physiology set.
Then, later I want to add embryology set to this collection. Will that be possible? Or will a collection, once made, will always remain static?
Thanks😊

[sambouwer]

The Collection is static, so turning a Set into a Collection makes it static. You should be able to select all Objects in your new Set and bulk-link to the Collection (disclaimer: I have not tested this!). New items in your Set will not reflect in your Collection.

[Tamalika]

Ok. Thanks. I can’t wait to try out the new infrastructure. Godday

[sambouwer]

@Tamalika you can sign up for the Nightly Ops group to get early access:

Nightly Ops Enrollment is currently closed -- Help Us Test our Alpha to Beta Account Migration!

[Screenshot 2023-04-25 at 10.17.09] Update: Enrollment is currently closed. We will open it again at a later time. Enrollment for Nightly Ops We want to make sure the transition to the new software goes as smoothly as possible for everyone, so we're seeking members of the Community to assist us with testing account migration from our Alpha (Legacy) software to what will become our Beta software. The role of Nightly Types is crucial in detecting any potential bugs that may arise during t…

It is most helpful if you share as much feedback about the migration process as possible to help the team improve the process, to in turn make it easier for other users to migrate.

[Tamalika]

Yes. That is true. But I am hesitating because I might not be able to dedicate enough time on the testing to actually be helpful. I am aware of the open " nightly tester" enrollment. And I hope to join as soon as I can make some time ( if it is still open). I hope I can help. Thanks.