yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Introductions] brrrknee2020:
There are many interactions requiring android ADB while users start dipping their toes into unlocking, adding TWRP and trying new builds. A category / sub-forum for these google tools use and gotchas might get users here to one place focused on the ADB related concerns. ADB backup and restore have plenty of pitfalls.
[Introductions] Constellar:
I take it this question is a joke?
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
Please, elaborate! If you believe it would be better to do that privately, feel free to drop me a PM here.
[Introductions] YashxOS:
a new website ui and app
[Introductions] rakleed:
Could you please make a dark scroll bar in the dark site theme for Chromium-based browsers? To do this, all you need to do is add this rule to the CSS file for the dark theme:

:root {
color-scheme: dark;
}

And now the scroll bar is light in color with a dark site theme, which looks bad.
[Introductions] emily430153:
There are a few ways to potentially improve the XDA forums:

Encourage more active moderation to keep discussions on topic and to remove spam or offensive posts.

Consider implementing a system for a rating or flagging posts to make it easier for users to identify high-quality content.

Increase user engagement by encouraging users to participate in community-building activities, such as hackathons or coding competitions.

Introduce new features and functionalities, such as a mobile app or integration with other platforms, to make it easier for users to access and participate in discussions.

Consider creating a more personalized user experience by implementing a system that suggests content based on the user's interests.

Make sure that the forum is easy to navigate, search and understand.

Create a clear and detailed guideline on how to post and engage in the forum.
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
Hey Emily!

Thank you. Some great ideas there! Despite the title, I don't have much say in the direction our XDA ship is sailing but from experience I can provide a little feedback.

We're currently a strong team of amazing people (here's a list) I have the honour of working with to keep this forum clean. You can't imagine the number of spam and such that doesn't even reach public view. Every single day our team makes vast efforts for the love of community. Of course, we can always use an extra hand. By all means, people, become a moderator!

Some things are already in place. On the homepage there's the Top Forums, which is perhaps a bit too general. There's also a What's New to see what's currently going on. When viewing a thread, there's a 'TOP LIKED POSTS' on the right side that gives you a general idea of the most relevant posts in that thread. An interesting page is Notable Members, which gives you an overview of the most popular contributors. The current like-system should already give an indication of content quality.

Very much a fan of this! Hear her out, XDA! 😃

The XDA app is a whole other category... I think there's currently a pretty low threshold to participate in discussions but ideas are always welcome!

Not a fan of this myself. Do we want to become another social media platform? I'm not sure people want to be subjected to yet another algorithm. It would also defeat the purpose of many privacy focused projects here.

We've already transitioned to a newer system that can better handle the mountains of data that XDA holds. It's still just a crazy amount so keeping a clean overview is a massive task. I personally think it's not too bad but there's always room for improvement. Search could be much better indeed.

You may have spotted this gem on the Notable Members page, @sd_shadow has your back! Make sure to check out the [Index] XDA 2021: How to Navigate the New Site Layout thread, a masterful guide of all things XDA. Oh and don't forget the Forum Rules! :cowboy:

I hope this has been somewhat helpful to you and I'm sure your ideas won't go unnoticed :)
[Introductions] JimReid:
There needs to be a newbe section for every group. Having been in the technical field for over 50 years from mainframes to pc's to android phones I still need the newbe group to explain basics from best apps to how to root a phone without 'bricking' it. In the newbe sections the phones that require different efforts to do different things should be divided by the version. I believe these changes would make it much easier for new people to get into the different options they can do without loosing them in jargon. I learned this years ago when teaching COBOL to future mainframe developers that it had to be in their language and not computerese. Just my opinion.
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
A lot of sections have a help thread that is marked "Noob friendly". They are usually started by recognised contributors but they don't have to be. XDA merely facilitates the tools, the community (i.e. you) decides on its content and expertise level.

If you meant to have an extra "Newbie" tag added to the ones we already have (General, Question, How To Guide, Development, Themes / Apps / Mods & Accessories) then I don't think it would be very useful. Where does the newbie end and where does the expert begin? Such massive gray area. Not to mention the differences in fields. One might be an expert at rooting but know very little about kernels.

We should also ask: does it have to be easier for new people? OS modding – the largest topic on XDA – requires a lot of research and messing things up. Bricking a device is essential in learning the relevant skills. If we don't experience that 'TWRP Error 7' for ourselves, we'll never learn the essence of it. If I'd had to sum it up, this would be the order of an average member's path:

Finding XDA via a techy search a few times

Sporadically lurking around the forum for a while

Signing up for a profile: "Ooh, developer stuff!"

Trying to mess with a device, asking questions that have been answered before

Bricking a device, post in panic mode: "HALP!!"

Do more research and ask the right questions, begin to understand the basics

Help someone else out for a change: "I got this!"

Beginning to develop an advanced understanding of a device and its inner workings

See the world around you in code.. No wait, that's fiction. Or is it? :cool:

Anyway, a lot of variations and shortcuts are possible. Sometimes it's just:

XDA is stupid, I don't care *remains on stock*

Please correct me if I misinterpreted your intention and I may be overthinking all of this... I'll stop talking now 😬
[Introductions] JimReid:
I'm just thinking that there should be an easier way to find answers for a person who doesn't know ALL the jargon. My self I'd like to ROOT my phone but am scared of 'Bricking" it. I also don't know what I would loose in functionality if I root my phone (pros and cons) and finally is it specifically for a S9+ or is there a difference between different S9+'s like there is between S22 (US or overseas versions) These are all questions that could be in a newbe section for the S9/S9+ and that is what I was suggesting. As for when is a newbe not a newbe I think that is a question for the user. If he is getting bored with reading what he already knows then I gues 'he/she' would decide not to be a newbe anylonger.
[Introductions] wenyendev:
Keep moving.

Rules of the forum could be more explicit and detailed.

Hopefully, there would not be any changes as for the ownership of XDA...
[Introductions] sd_shadow:
The rules are written in plain English, clear and concise.

Search before asking, don’t get us in trouble.
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
What's unclear about the Forum Rules? I'd love to hear constructive feedback.
[Introductions] sd_shadow:
Never going to happen, there isn't enough staff to even start something like that.

There have been several initiatives to start Indexes, help threads, and FaQs...

They always run out of steam after a few months.

But I could be wrong, write something up, and try to get some people involved.
[Introductions] wenyendev:
I have discussed amicably about that with Oswald Boelcke.
[Introductions] wenyendev:
Well, if the title of this thread is "How can we make the XDA forums better?".

Please kindly refer to 2 threads below:

https://xdaforums.com/t/question-fastboot-oem-unlock-failed-to-unlock-bootloader.4531349/page-3

https://xdaforums.com/t/discussion-...orum-moderation-on-xda.4538225/#post-87961175

If the rules of the forum were not made more explicit, frictions like this could only prevail on the forum...
[Introductions] Oswald Boelcke:
I'm sorry. Because I couldn't remember any discussion with you about forum rules, I've checked my conversations. We had two of those, both brief and initiated by you. One you started on 2022-09-18, the other one on 2023-01-21.

None of them had forum rules as topic or as a side note. We've never discuss forum rules!
[Introductions] wenyendev:
The discussion was referred to the aforementioned thread:

https://xdaforums.com/t/discussion-...orum-moderation-on-xda.4538225/#post-87961175

By posting here, I believed that we might be able to make this forum better.
[Introductions] Oswald Boelcke:
Thanks a lot for pointing me to the post/thread. I've to admit I don't really have oversight over my posts. And memory in my age...???
[Introductions] Fytdyh:
i loved what xda labs used to be, news and appstore. i would love to see an xda app market for newly developed apps by xda users, either as a webpage or an android app
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
I've thoroughly reviewed the above and it looks like you want us to revise the forum rules because according to you there has been an "arbitrary" intervention by one of our moderators concerning two of your threads. You've complained publicly about it a few times already, even created 2 dedicated threads about just this (in which you disclosed private communication of a moderator), and it's essentially about merging two threads, which arguably are about the same thing (while you had already created 50+ question threads in the past 5 months). I fail to see how changing the rules to serve you better personally would "make this forum better" for everyone. We will always have "frictions like this", even if we'd add 36 paragraphs to those rules. Above all, you didn't provide any conscience suggestion related to the topic, except for a vague "could be more explicit and detailed.". We are more than willing to engage a wider discussion on a certain rule if it can be improved but as I stated before: it needs to be constructive. Further unconstructive chatter is also welcome but only in my/our PM box :)
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
Ah yes, the good old Labs, those were the days! Hey, a little birdie told me that the portal should be getting some more dev love in the near future so we'll see how that goes...
[Introductions] wenyendev:
Thanks for your reply.

I am not a part of committee responsible of reviewing and changing the rules.

I am a member who related my experiences in the forum.

One private message I had sent to Oswald Boelcke was to signal a thread which contained a potential fishing link that demanded members' user name and password, which he subsequently closed.

I do not see how it would "serve me personally better".

I am disappointed by the reactions in this thread.
[Introductions] sd_shadow:
It appears all decisions from moderators came from Rule 5.

You don't need to create a new thread for every question.

"You're free to edit your message as you like" (and thread title).
[Introductions] wenyendev:
Apparently, we have divergent opinions on the definition of "duplicate messages".

If the committee were not willing to review and potentially change rules, any further discussion here would be a waste of time.
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
While you still haven't suggested anything solid, you conclude that we're "not willing". This seems defamatory, please only make constructive suggestions here instead of just dismissing the way this forum has been running for the past two decades.
[Introductions] wenyendev:
Alas, my reply to https://xdaforums.com/t/how-can-we-make-the-xda-forums-better.4248103/post-88075971 was deleted without my consent.

This would probably my third suggestion related to the rules of the forum - in which circumstances a moderator has the right to delete or edit a message without the consent of the originator of the post.
[Introductions] sd_shadow:
Moderators can still see deleted posts, they’re just hidden from regular members.
[Introductions] wenyendev:
Following the deletion of my reply, Timmmmaaahh! sent me a private message in which he stated "I was granting you the favour of replying in public, in the spirit of transparency".

I feel it would be better to get known of this arrogance.

It seems that members' rights of posting in public should be granted by moderator's favour.
[Introductions] V0latyle:
Your duplicate posts were in violation of the rules. Plain and simple. It was explained to you why they were removed. Regardless of whether or not you agree with the rules, you, like all members of XDA, are required to follow them. You are not allowed to post whatever you want on XDA - your posts must fall within the rules. If they do not, they are subject to removal. This includes disrespectful and disparaging remarks to the moderator staff, or other reasons such as the allusion to things having been said in a private conversation.

The bottom line is, the rules as they stand have been decided on over many years by the forum admins as well as site owners. They aren't about to change because a few people don't want to comply. Indeed, when registering an account, one is required to agree to follow the Forum Rules as the terms of use of this site.

While constructive suggestions are welcome, insisting that the rules must be changed to accommodate you is not.
[Introductions] wenyendev:
Then, it would be better to state in the rules

what can not be posted

in the forum.

My posts, including the deleted one, concerned neither porno, nor terrorism or anything near that.

How could the deletion be legitimized?
[Introductions] woodman:
Hello,

Please continue this topic through private messages with Timmmmaaahh as initiated by him earlier. This thread is not meant to fix conflicts.

You'll have better results privately if you have something to clear up with this moderator.

Thank you.
[Introductions] wenyendev:
- To avoid repeat ourselves;

- since rules are not to be changed;

please send any further, potential comments as private messages to my inbox.
[Introductions] Oswald Boelcke:
It looks to me we need to clarify something, which I'm happy to discuss with you by private message or a conversation that also includes @Timmmmaaahh!, @V0latyle or @woodman, but I ask you to immediately stop your kind of posts!

This is a private and privately owned website and I don't recognise what constitutes any rights owned by you to post on this website. If you like to post whatever you want, please contact XDA's advertisement department:

Contact Us | XDA

Looking after everything Android

www.xda-developers.com
[Introductions] wenyendev:
Now that there are rules for members, are there any rules for moderators?

I am a Vipassana meditator.

I used to attend the course both as a student and as a server (the later worked on voluntary basis as well), and there are rules respectively for students and servers.
[Introductions] blackhawk:
Lose the AMOLED burning bright white XDA, orange and red was a better logo😖

Blue is one of the worse colors for reading, it sucks😖

Degraded the site, didn't improved it... in my opinion and backed by science. Green is the most visible color per lumen to the human eye.

blackhawk rating score: ICK!
[Introductions] ipdev:
I was looking for a different thread (the one with a list of issues, fixed issues and nice to have) but, I think this thread is appropriate.

Would it be possible to also include the page indicator/selection on the top of the "Alerts" page?

Currently it is only on the bottom of the "Alerts" page.

Including it on the top of the "Alerts" page, would make it alot easier for catching up on posts and threads. 🤪

Cheers. :cowboy:
[Introductions] sd_shadow:
Official Bugs List

Official Requests List
[Introductions] ipdev:
I still do not know how you keep track of this forum and everything in it. 🤯

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"

Cheers. :cowboy:
[Introductions] sd_shadow:
I'm a bot
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
ChatGPT, is that you?!
[Introductions] VelosterM14:
fix the search topic so it actually works
[Introductions] woodman:
Did you try to ask ChatGPT if they know sd_shadow?

Hi,

What is broken exactly and how to reproduce?
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
I believe this says it all:

Spoiler content hidden.
[Introductions] woodman:
Probably a stack overflow proportional to the quality and frequency of help given by sd_shadow :)
[Introductions] varcor:
Dial back all the pop up ads, it's overkill which makes it very annoying to even read a post.
[Introductions] m3vuv:
Firstly clean up all the dead links for roms etc on here,also at least put the device sections in an alphabetical order,as is they are all over the place,its just a mess!.
[Introductions] Anton TNT:
I would like ...

- to be able to track down problems with devices much faster rather than scrolling whole forum, search box isn't working well and with errors

- to see so many devices sorted in their own groups like mobile phones - particularly android auto and head units sections they are a mess, since we have now mediatek and snapdragon , arduino development and testing is hot in this times too... especially for car network and canbuses

- to see all content to be translated to their native country language when they open this website, and answering those users will be more easier

- to remove old posts and threads (2010-2018) and place them in other places/servers with old databases
[Introductions] sd_shadow:
First, rom threads from 2014 are going to have bad links. Do you have any idea how many file-hosting sites that have gone down since then? Whom do you propose to clean up the links? Maybe you should apply to be a Mod so you can do it.

Currently, device forums are listed with the newest ones first because those are the most popular.

Edit: Perhaps a warning could pop-up if you go to a thread that has not be updated in over a year, that the info/links maybe incorrect/outdated/obsolete.
[Introductions] SigmundDroid:
Sometimes i get somewhat lost, not knowing where I am and why - it even applies to XDA :giggle:

Seriously, I open a thread from notifications like this one:

Can you tell me which thread that is? Or where it is located? Nope.

It only is visible when you scroll to the very top (marked in red):

That should be fixed - XDA is such wonderful big ocean of things but hiding this little compass is pointless. Come on, it doesn't even show the thread's name!

Where am I? What am doing here? o_O

Make the thread and its tree permanently visible. Pleeeze! 🥺
[Introductions] Timmmmaaahh!:
I second that. Despite having tons of experience with the forum, I also get frustrated with navigation sometimes. On the app it's even much, much worse. Sticky breadcrumbs everywhere is actually a great idea! It may get in the way on smaller screens, though. Perhaps it could be switched with this currently sticky topic menu:
[Introductions] SigmundDroid:
Thanks! I knew there was a term for it but my tiny brain just couldn't find its sticky :D

As for the current sticky topic bar:

New posts

Manufacturers

What's new

Find threads

Watched

Search forums

Members

Help Answer Questions

I crossed out what I never use but I can see that some might be relevant to others, of course. Actually, I wouldn't mind a second line for the breadcrumbs. Or one line where one can chose from. Also, Manufacturers and Search forums seem quite duplicate?
[Introductions] blackhawk:
My inclination is to leave everything as is. Use what's provided and find work arounds.

Gookill constantly screws up UI's, apps, firmware, etc that were near perfect claiming they've been improved. Some were so improved they prove to be useless.

One of the more recent changes here I loathe...
[Introductions] SigmundDroid:
Who is Gookill? :love: This particular description sounds much like my wife/boss talking about me :giggle:

edit: Oh wait, you mean google?
[Introductions] cmfCyangenModteam:
Welp, you should make posting on mobile easier, ( Im talking about Android apps/etc section, they always confuse me *!_!*
[Introductions] ethical_haquer:
Totally make searching easier!

Currently, it's...pathetic. If I search for "how can we make the xda forums better" then this thread is the top result. Now, if I search the above string and continue removing the first word, for example: "can we make the xda forums better", "we make the xda forums better", etc; then this thread remains the top search result. That is, until I search "xda forums better", then this thread isn't even on the first page of results, which essentially means nobody will see it, because if you aren't on the first page, you might as well be on the last page. Also, searching "make xda forums better" (that is, removing "the" from the middle of a section of the string) makes this thread come in second to a sub-forum called "Huawei Developers". The funny thing is, the sentence on the sub-forum's description that caused it to be the first result was: "Thank you to Huawei for making this forum possible on XDA!", even though the title of this thread was: "How can we make the XDA forums better?" (The bold words in this sentence are words that were in the search string). As you can see, the logical first result was this thread, not a "Huawei Developers" sub-forum. Ordinary search engines (DuckDuckGo, Google, etc.) seem to know this, and searching "make xda forums better site:xdaforums.com" makes this thread the first search result. Another issue with searching is the pop-up "suggestion" list that shows up whenever you start typing something in the search box. If I type in "Lineage OS A52 4G" the first "suggestion" is the "Samsung Galaxy A53 5G" sub-forum, the second is the thread: "[ROM][13][ENCRYPTION][Official] Pixel Experience for A52 4G and A72", and the last three suggestions were related to Lineage OS but weren't related to the A52 4G. For whatever reason, the thread: "[ROM][13.0][ENCRYPTION] Official LineageOS 20 for A52 4G and A7" was not included in the list of "suggestions". Also if you forget to click the "x" (or if you accidentally click the top "suggestion" instead of the "x" on a phone) before hitting the "Enter" key, you are brought to the top "suggestion" instead of the search page. Having a pop-up suggestion list as something you can enable in Preferences is fine, but having a non-functional pop-up "suggestion" list that you can't disable is silly. Searching a thread Is worse. If I search this thread for "forums here at XDA" it says: "No results found.". However, when you look at the second post in this thread you will see that the very first sentence ends with "...forums here at XDA.". Clearly it doesn't work. That's why I have resorted to searching each page on a thread individually with "Ctrl + F" to find a string of words.

As you can see, many search functions on XDA either partially work, or, in the case of pop-up suggestions, don't work at all. With the ability to search being one of the best capabilities of the internet, this should have been fixed a long time ago.

Best regards,

@ethical_haquer