ONYX v1.5-beta - A Different Way to Navigate Conversations
from wardcore@lemmy.world to selfhosted@lemmy.world on 12 May 18:18
https://lemmy.world/post/46759613

ONYX v1.5-beta

It is one of the biggest ONYX updates so far.

This update focuses on interaction, privacy and improving the overall feeling of using the messenger. Some parts of the interface were completely rethought from scratch, while others were redesigned to become more practical and flexible.

Account Graph

One of the biggest additions in open-beta 1.5 is the new Account Graph system.

Instead of navigating chats through a traditional static list, ONYX can now display your conversations as a dynamic orbital system.

Chats, groups and categories become connected nodes orbiting around your account like a living network. Online users are highlighted through presence glow, orbit speed can be customized, animations can be paused entirely, and the graph position can persist between sessions.

Surprisingly, this ended up becoming much more useful than we initially expected during development. It changes the way navigation feels and creates a completely different perspective on your conversations.

The entire system is optional and can be disabled at any time.

Emergency PIN & Decoy Environment

beta 1.5 introduces Emergency PIN support.

A secondary PIN can now open a completely separate decoy environment instead of your real account.

This environment can contain custom chats, avatars, names and manually configured content in order to appear believable and natural. The Emergency PIN can be changed at any time and always remains separated from the main unlock PIN.

This feature is designed for users who want an additional layer of privacy and control over access to their messenger.

Redesigned Media Cache Manager

The media cache management system has been completely redesigned.

Instead of separate buttons for local and server cache cleanup, ONYX now provides a unified “Manage Media Cache” interface with dedicated Local and Server tabs.

Users can:

• inspect locally stored files
• selectively remove specific media
• view categorized storage usage
• manage server-side files
• monitor storage quota usage through a visual progress bar

This makes cache management significantly cleaner and more practical compared to previous versions.

Redesigned Message Input

The message input field was rebuilt with a stronger focus on animations and interaction feel.

The new design introduces:

• smoother focus transitions
• animated voice recording buttons
• updated attachment button animations

While relatively small on paper, this is one of the most frequently used parts of any messenger, and improving it noticeably changes the overall experience of using the application.

Privacy & Security Improvements

Update also adds several new privacy and security related features.

Users can now:

• hide their account from global search
• manually lock the application through a dedicated Lock button
• receive explicit session expiration warnings when re-authentication is required

Interface & UX Improvements

Additional improvements in this update include:

• improved loading performance across multiple interface elements
• fixed opacity behavior for opponent messages
• ability to hide username/display name inside the account panel
• updated “Add Chat” button placement in Favorites and Groups tabs
• moved group/channel token actions into the overflow menu

Github - github.com/wardcore-dev/onyx/…/v1.5-beta

Always open to feedback!

#selfhosted