Episodit

  • Summary

    The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to new technology in the book space, including hardware, open source development, and the implementation of bulk edit mode. The discussion also delves into the challenges and considerations of open sourcing a network like Hardcover. The conversation transitions from discussing new technology in the book space to the implementation of bulk edit mode in the Hardcover app. The conversation covers the design and implementation of a bulk edit feature for a book library app, focusing on the user interface and user experience. It also delves into the potential use cases and implications of bulk editing, as well as the technical considerations for implementing the feature. The discussion also touches on the importance of user feedback and the iterative development process.

    Takeaways

    Exploration of new technology in the book space, including hardware and open source development
    Challenges and considerations of open sourcing a network like Hardcover
    Implementation of bulk edit mode in the Hardcover app Bulk editing in a book library app requires thoughtful consideration of user interface and user experience.
    The implementation of bulk editing has implications for power readers and the ease of managing large book collections.
    Technical considerations, such as auto-saving and fuzzy dates, play a role in enhancing the bulk editing feature.
    User feedback and iterative development are crucial for refining and improving the bulk editing feature.

    Chapters

    00:00 Exploring New Technology in the Book Space
    03:14 Challenges and Considerations of Open Sourcing
    13:21 Implementing Bulk Edit Mode in Hardcover

  • Summary

    Ross and Laura from Hardee's Books share their journey of turning their book-buying obsession into a thriving business. They discuss their passion for fantasy and sci-fi, their commitment to donating 20% of their profits to charity, and their dream of opening a physical bookshop. They also talk about their YouTube channel and the challenges and joys of being book influencers. The conversation touches on the future of book platforms and the influence of algorithms. In this conversation, Ross and Laura of Hardy's Books discuss their strong opinions on book platforms and social networks. They criticize the lack of innovation in popular book apps like Goodreads and emphasize the importance of human curation and sharing. They also discuss the potential backlash to AI and the need for ethical use and development. Ross recommends books like 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke and 'The Blade Itself' by Joe Abercrombie, while Laura enjoys reading in the bath and watching birds in her garden. They give shoutouts to other content creators and share their online platforms.

    Takeaways

    Turning a book-buying obsession into a business requires finding a model that works, such as selling secondhand books or focusing on independent new books.
    Bookshops have a unique appeal in the experience-based high street economy, offering a physical space with a vibe and a smell that online platforms can't replicate.
    Book influencers play a role in recommending upcoming books and creating buzz, but the influence of algorithms and the potential for misinformation is a concern.
    Authors and readers may have different expectations from book platforms, with readers seeking recommendations from influencers and authors desiring a platform that fosters a productive relationship with their audience.
    The future of book platforms may involve a combination of influencers, collaborative reviews, and personalized recommendations, but the challenge lies in maintaining authenticity and avoiding algorithmic manipulation. Popular book apps like Goodreads lack innovation and prioritize pleasing shareholders over improving the user experience.
    Human curation and sharing are important in book platforms, and there may be a backlash to AI in favor of more personalized recommendations.
    Books like 'Piranesi' and 'The Blade Itself' are highly recommended by Ross and Laura.
    Reading in a cozy environment, such as a shepherd's hut or in the bath, enhances the reading experience.
    Supporting and promoting other content creators in the book community is important.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background
    05:10 Starting Hardee's Books and the Dream of a Physical Bookshop
    09:03 The Role of Book Influencers and the Future of Book Platforms
    43:01 The Backlash to AI and the Importance of Human Curation
    46:27 Recommended Books: 'Piranesi' and 'The Blade Itself'
    48:34 Creating a Cozy Reading Environment
    52:37 Supporting and Promoting Content Creators in the Book Community

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  • Summary

    The conversation revolves around the revamping of the stats feature in Hardcover. The hosts discuss the need for a more flexible and customizable date range selection for the stats. They explore different options for implementing this, including a dropdown menu with predefined date ranges and a custom date range selector. They also consider the possibility of adding visual elements, such as illustrations or book covers, to make the stats page more engaging and shareable on social media. The conversation focused on redesigning the stats page for a book tracking app. They discussed adding visualizations, animations, and shareable elements to make the stats more engaging and shareable on social media. They explored ideas such as comparing stats to previous years, showcasing top authors, and generating images of individual stats for sharing. The conversation ended with a preview of next week's guest, Ross from Hardee's Books, who will discuss his experience as a book influencer and his thoughts on social book apps.

    Takeaways

    The stats feature in Hardcover is being revamped to provide a more flexible and customizable date range selection.
    Options for the date range selection include predefined ranges like 'all time', 'last year', and 'custom range'.
    Visual elements, such as illustrations or book covers, may be added to make the stats page more engaging and shareable on social media.
    The revamp aims to make the stats page visually appealing and easy to navigate, with a focus on user customization and personalization. Redesigning the stats page to make it more engaging and shareable
    Adding visualizations and animations to showcase stats
    Exploring ideas such as comparing stats to previous years and showcasing top authors
    Generating images of individual stats for sharing on social media

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Discussion about Music Festival
    03:01 Surprising Increase in Users for Hardcover
    07:20 Reaching Milestones and Funding for Hardcover
    13:06 Debate and Feedback on AI in the Book Industry
    33:32 Designing the Date Range Selection for Stats
    36:15 Adding Visual Elements to the Stats Page
    37:22 Introduction and Recap
    39:15 Adding Visualizations and Animations
    45:46 Comparing Stats and Showcasing Top Authors
    49:49 Generating Shareable Images
    01:04:17 Preview of Next Week's Guest

  • Summary

    Adam and Ste discuss their upcoming plans, including attending a music festival and watching Eurovision. They also talk about recent updates to Hardcover, such as the release of letter lists and the focus on server-side rendering. They discuss the company's priorities for the year, including reaching profitability, open sourcing the front end, and expanding Hardcover's mission. They also consider potential supporter features, such as revamping stats and the profile page. The conversation focuses on prioritizing features and improvements for the hardcover app. They discuss potential supporter features, such as modifying profile pages and accessing additional functionality on the dashboard. They also explore ways to increase user engagement and conversion rates, including inviting friends to join hardcover and improving the early user experience. The conversation highlights the importance of refining book data and advanced stats, as well as making it easier to share stats on social media. They also discuss the potential for open sourcing hardcover and allowing users to create their own dashboard widgets.

    Takeaways

    Adam and Ste are excited about attending a music festival and watching Eurovision.
    Hardcover recently released letter lists and implemented server-side rendering for faster performance.
    The company's priorities for the year include reaching profitability, open sourcing the front end, and expanding Hardcover's mission.
    They discuss potential supporter features, such as revamping stats and the profile page. Consider adding supporter features like modifying profile pages and accessing additional functionality on the dashboard
    Focus on improving the early user experience and increasing user engagement and conversion rates
    Refine book data and advanced stats to provide a better user experience
    Make it easier for users to share stats on social media
    Explore the possibility of open sourcing hardcover and allowing users to create their own dashboard widgets


    Chapters

    00:00 Music Festivals and Eurovision
    04:30 Recent Updates to Hardcover
    09:32 Priorities for the Year
    29:02 Enhancing the Supporter Experience
    33:43 Improving User Engagement and Conversion Rates
    41:47 Refining Book Data and Advanced Stats
    53:47 Making Stats Sharing Easier
    56:25 Open Sourcing Hardcover and Custom Dashboard Widgets

  • Summary

    Adam and Ste discuss their recent activities and then dive into designing widgets for the Hardcover app's dashboard. They explore different options for displaying the 'currently reading' widget, including the possibility of a carousel-like feature. They also discuss the idea of customizable settings for each widget, such as the ability to track reading progress by day, week, or month. They consider the use of a universal control for widget sizes and the option to edit progress using input fields or a slider. They also discuss the design of the update button and the possibility of making the progress fields content editable. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss different ways to update progress and add actions to the currently reading widget. They explore options such as marking a book as read, leaving a review, changing the edition, and setting a custom page count. They also consider the possibility of resizing and reordering the widget based on the number of books being read. The conversation concludes with a discussion on using interactive inputs for page numbers and percentages. Overall, they aim to make updating progress and taking actions on the currently reading widget more intuitive and efficient.

    Takeaways

    The dashboard in the Hardcover app will serve as a customized portal to users' data and preferences.
    Widgets on the dashboard can be designed to work on both desktop and mobile, with some widgets having multiple size options.
    Customizable settings for each widget, such as tracking progress by day, week, or month, can enhance user experience.
    The 'currently reading' widget can display all books being read, with the option to scroll or adjust the widget size based on the number of books.
    The update button can trigger a drawer or window for editing progress, and progress fields can be made content editable for seamless editing. The currently reading widget can be enhanced by adding actions such as marking a book as read, leaving a review, and changing the edition.
    Consider implementing a custom page count or minute count option for books with different editions or formats.
    Resizing and reordering the currently reading widget based on the number of books being read can provide a better user experience.
    Using interactive inputs, such as draggable sliders, for page numbers and percentages can make updating progress more intuitive.
    Reuse design elements and styles from other cards, such as the letter books card, to maintain consistency across the application.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Recent Activities
    08:03 Designing Widgets for the Hardcover Dashboard
    27:06 Exploring Widget Design in Bento
    33:32 Exploring Actions on the Currently Reading Widget
    40:49 Marking as Read and Leaving a Review
    51:09 Customizing Progress Updates for Different Editions
    01:02:37 Intuitive Inputs for Page Numbers and Percentages

  • Summary

    Adam and Ste discuss their recent trips to South Korea and Romania, respectively. They talk about their experiences, including hiking, exploring local markets, and enjoying the cherry blossoms. They also discuss updates to the card design for lists on Hardcover, specifically focusing on adding reasons for adding books to a list. They explore different options for displaying the reasons and gather feedback from Discord users. They also discuss the possibility of auto-saving the reasons and using avatars to indicate the list creator. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss the design of book cards and explore different elements and features that should be included. They discuss the placement and design of prompts, reasons, and upvoting functionality. They also consider the hierarchy of information and the sorting options for book cards. The conversation ends with a plan to implement and test the different card designs.

    Takeaways

    Travel experiences can be enhanced by immersing oneself in local culture and exploring specific aspects of the destination, such as folklore and cuisine.
    Involving users in the design process through platforms like Discord can lead to valuable feedback and iterative improvements.
    When designing features, it's important to consider user preferences and make the interface intuitive and easy to use.
    Auto-saving can provide a seamless user experience, but clear feedback is necessary to ensure users understand that their input has been saved.
    Using avatars can personalize the user experience and provide visual cues for differentiating between list creators and other users. Book cards should include prompts, reasons, and upvoting functionality
    The hierarchy of information on the card should be carefully considered
    Sorting options for book cards should include most recently added and most liked
    Different card designs should be implemented and tested

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Travel Experiences
    11:28 Designing the Card Layout for Adding Reasons to Lists
    29:56 Auto-Saving vs Manual Saving: Balancing User Experience
    36:35 Designing Book Cards: Prompts, Reasons, and Upvoting
    52:40 Implementing and Testing Different Card Designs

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss various topics including their upcoming trip to Korea, the progress of open sourcing Hardcover, and the new design for the list page. They also talk about bulk editing and filters, as well as sorting and pagination options. Overall, they are excited about the future developments of Hardcover and the improvements it will bring to the user experience. In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss various design decisions for the hardcover app. They debate between pagination and infinite scrolling, ultimately deciding to go with infinite scrolling for a smoother user experience. They also discuss the idea of different views for different list types and the possibility of animating the transition between views. They consider the option of uniform cover sizes and the potential of making the match percentage feature a supporter-only feature. Finally, they plan to design the card view and gather feedback from the community.

    Takeaways

    Infinite scrolling is preferred over pagination for a smoother user experience.
    Different list types may require different views to display relevant information.
    Animating the transition between views can enhance the user experience.
    Consider making certain features supporter-only to manage resource usage.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Ice Cream
    03:02 Upcoming Trip to Korea
    06:37 Open Sourcing Hardcover
    09:49 New List Page Design
    12:18 Bulk Editing and Filters
    14:44 Development Progress
    35:10 Pagination vs Infinite Scrolling
    40:37 Different Views for Different List Types
    46:05 Transitioning between Views
    50:42 Uniform Cover Sizes
    51:22 Making Match Percentage a Supporter Feature
    58:02 Designing the Card View
    01:03:07 Customizing Card Views for Different List Types

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss recent events in their neighborhood, including a shooting and stabbing incident. They then move on to discuss updates on Car Cover, including the ability to edit authors and set author avatars. They also discuss the upcoming list page updates, including the table view and column customization. They explore the possibility of adding a popularity chart to show the popularity of books over time. The conversation methodically discussed and designed the charting functionality, explored the concept of popularity charts, and brainstormed the bulk editing functionality. The team also discussed and refined the design of the bulk editing interface, including the placement of buttons and the selection process. They further discussed the rating bulk editing and finalized the design of the table view. The conversation concluded with considerations for the card view design.

    Takeaways

    Charting functionality can be implemented to show the popularity of books over time.
    Bulk editing functionality should allow users to select multiple books and edit various attributes such as rating, status, and tags.
    The bulk editing interface can include checkboxes for selection and dropdown menus for different editing options.
    The table view design should provide a clear and user-friendly way to perform bulk editing.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Unexpected Event
    05:04 Updates on Car Cover
    11:44 List Page Updates
    15:12 Table View and Column Customization
    33:45 Discussion on charting functionality
    36:02 Exploring the concept of popularity charts
    38:24 Bulk editing functionality
    44:29 Designing the bulk editing interface
    52:04 Refining the bulk editing interface
    58:02 Discussion on rating bulk editing
    01:03:38 Finalizing the table view design
    01:05:10 Considerations for the card view design

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss personal updates, including playing a new board game and watching the movie Dune. They also share work updates, such as new team members joining and designing new features. The conversation then shifts to implementing a banned users feature and the challenges of book discovery on the platform. They explore ideas for restructuring the navigation and information architecture to support new features. They also discuss lab experiments and prototyping, as well as icon design and color themes for the discovery tools. The conversation focused on making changes to the color palette and accent colors, improving book discovery and browsing, refining the profile dropdown and navigation, discussing the feed and dashboard, and considering mobile navigation and future considerations.

    Takeaways

    Personal updates and casual conversations can help build rapport and strengthen relationships in a team.
    Implementing features like banned users requires considering various aspects, such as API access and data visibility.
    Book discovery is a complex challenge that requires thoughtful navigation and information architecture.
    Prototyping and experimenting with new features can help gather feedback and improve the user experience. Consider the contrast and compatibility of colors in the design.
    Allow users to customize accent colors to suit their preferences.
    Create clear sections for book discovery and browsing.
    Ensure easy access to important features in the profile dropdown and navigation.
    Highlight upcoming features and changes with labels or badges.
    Consider the mobile experience and adapt navigation accordingly.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
    03:00 Movie Discussions: Dune and Theaters
    05:56 Work Updates: New Team Members and Feature Designs
    08:05 Implementing Banned Users Feature
    11:58 Book Discovery Challenges
    12:52 Restructuring Navigation and Information Architecture
    15:55 Exploring New Book Discovery Features
    22:07 Emphasizing Book Discovery in Navigation
    26:02 Icon Design for Discovery Tools
    29:58 Color Themes and Accent Colors
    33:13 Color Palette and Accent Colors
    39:00 Book Discovery and Browsing
    42:20 Profile Dropdown and Navigation
    49:02 Feed and Dashboard
    52:31 Mobile Navigation
    59:36 Navigation Changes and Future Considerations

  • Summary

    The conversation focuses on improving the list page on Hardcover. The hosts discuss the results from the State of Hardcover survey and identify easy wins based on user feedback. They emphasize the importance of the list page and its presence throughout the site. The conversation explores different views for lists and the options for sorting and filtering. The hosts review the current design in Figma and discuss the reuse of list design across the site. They consider a collapsible sidebar for filters and sorting, as well as options for columns in table view. The conversation concludes with a discussion on draggable columns and adding/removing columns. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss various improvements to the user interface of the list feature on Hardcover. They explore options for reordering columns, adding reasons for book additions, and setting a default view for shared lists. They also plan to create a better table view and refactor the existing table view code. The conversation concludes with a target release date for the new features.

    Takeaways

    The list page is a crucial feature on Hardcover and needs improvement based on user feedback.
    Easy wins identified from the State of Hardcover survey can be implemented to enhance the user experience.
    Different views, such as shelf view, card view, and table view, should be considered for displaying lists.
    Filters and sorting options should be integrated into the list page design, with a collapsible sidebar as a potential solution.
    Customizable columns in table view can provide users with flexibility and control over their reading lists. Direct controls should be added to improve the user interface of the list feature.
    Reordering columns and adding reasons for book additions are important functionalities to consider.
    A default view for shared lists can enhance the user experience.
    Refactoring the table view and creating a better table view will improve the overall design and functionality of the feature.


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Current Projects
    01:03 Results from the State of Hardcover Survey
    03:22 The Importance of the List Page
    04:18 Lists Throughout the Site
    05:11 Reimagining the List Page
    06:14 Bulk Editing and Filtering Lists
    08:22 Different Views for Lists
    09:14 Options for Sorting and Filtering
    10:26 Considerations for Different Views
    11:27 Exploring Different List Views
    12:24 Simplifying the View Options
    13:43 Reviewing the Current Design in Figma
    14:58 Reuse of List Design Across the Site
    15:43 Integration of Filters and Sorting
    18:09 Collapsible Sidebar for Filters and Sorting
    20:26 Considerations for Columns in Table View
    22:03 Collapsible Sidebar for Columns
    23:28 Reordering and Customizing Columns
    25:18 Simplifying Column Options
    26:28 Bulk Editing and Customizing Columns
    29:02 Draggable Columns and Adding/Removing Columns
    30:56 Improving the User Interface
    33:03 Reordering Columns
    36:23 Adding Reasons for Book Additions
    38:08 Default View for Shared Lists
    42:07 Creating a Better Table View
    46:11 Refactoring the Table View
    50:07 Setting Default View for Lists
    53:39 Designing the Default View
    55:02 Finalizing the Feature
    56:08 Target Release Date

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss their personal updates, including recent trips and work progress. They talk about the challenges of being sick while traveling and the excitement of upcoming trips. They also discuss bug fixes and time management in their work on Hardcover. The conversation then shifts to the integration with Discord and the potential for automations. They review the results of the State of Hardcover survey, focusing on the importance of personalized recommendations and decision-making in choosing the next book to read. Finally, they discuss future features, including the possibility of a dashboard on Hardcover. The conversation covers various topics related to the state of Hardcover, including the dashboard and user feedback, better book recommendations, being notified of upcoming book releases, advanced stats and graphs, smart lists based on saved filters, user interface improvements, bugs and issues, a native iOS app, and more community-focused features. The main focus is on improving the user experience, enhancing book discovery, and addressing user feedback and requests.

    Takeaways

    Being sick while traveling can be challenging and prevent relaxation.
    Automations can improve user experience and save time in managing a community.
    Personalized recommendations and decision-making are important factors in choosing the next book to read.
    A dashboard feature on Hardcover could provide better access to desired parts of the site and a sense of control over data. Hardcover is considering adding a dashboard and is seeking user feedback to determine what should be included.
    Improving book recommendations, including genre-specific recommendations, is a priority for Hardcover.
    Users are interested in being notified of upcoming book releases, and Hardcover is exploring ways to provide accurate and timely release information.
    Advanced stats and graphs are being considered to provide users with more detailed insights into their reading habits.
    Smart lists based on saved filters would allow users to easily discover books that match specific criteria.
    User interface improvements, bug fixes, and a native iOS app are in the works to enhance the overall user experience.
    Hardcover is exploring the possibility of adding more community-focused features, such as discussions and comments.
    Book discovery is a key area of focus, with plans to improve recommendations, similar books, and social book features.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
    02:29 Traveling and Trip Experiences
    06:19 Work Updates and Future Plans
    08:23 Bug Fixes and Time Management
    11:33 Integration with Discord
    15:08 Review of the State of Hardcover Survey
    25:36 Discussion on Future Features
    29:45 Dashboard and User Feedback
    31:01 Better Book Recommendations
    32:00 Be Notified of Upcoming Book Releases
    38:22 Advanced Stats and Graphs
    40:38 Smart Lists Based on Saved Filters
    49:29 User Interface Improvements
    51:29 Bugs and Issues
    54:45 Native iOS App
    57:14 More Community-Focused Features
    58:08 Book Discovery

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss their initial impressions of the Apple Vision Pro and its potential use cases. They explore the challenges of typing and using the keyboard in a virtual reality environment. They also discuss the comfort and health considerations of using the device for extended periods. The conversation then shifts to building a reading journal feature within the app and designing the reading journal page. They also discuss additional functionality for the reading journal, such as copying entries and flagging content. In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss various design elements for their note-taking app. They explore the idea of adding mentions for characters and things, including different avatars for characters based on gender. They also discuss privacy settings for journals and the possibility of deleting entire journals. The conversation then moves on to adding quotes, with a discussion on how to style and reference them. They conclude by discussing next steps and iteration, as well as adding book indicators and tabs, and showing the latest and most liked updates.

    Takeaways

    Consider adding mentions for characters and things in your note-taking app, with different avatars for characters based on gender.
    Implement privacy settings for journals, allowing users to control the visibility of their notes.
    Provide the option to add quotes in notes, with the ability to style and reference them.
    Plan for next steps and iteration in the design process, focusing on adding book indicators and tabs, as well as showing the latest and most liked updates.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Initial Impressions
    03:00 Challenges with Typing and Keyboard
    06:00 Comfort and Health Considerations
    09:00 Potential Use Cases and Future Developments
    17:00 Building a Reading Journal Feature
    20:00 Designing the Reading Journal Page
    36:00 Adding Updates to the Reading Journal
    43:00 Additional Functionality for the Reading Journal
    45:17 Mentions for Characters and Things
    48:20 Privacy Settings
    51:12 Adding Quotes
    55:06 Styling Quotes
    57:34 References for Quotes
    01:03:32 Next Steps and Iteration
    01:04:20 Book Indicators and Tabs
    01:06:06 Latest and Most Liked Updates

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss their experiences at the Sundance Film Festival and share their thoughts on the TV series Fargo. They also talk about the Hardcover survey and the upcoming Reading Journey feature. They brainstorm different post types for the reading journal, including notes, quotes, and location. They discuss privacy settings and the possibility of making the reading journal social. Finally, they explore the organization and discovery of reading journals. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss the implementation of journals on book pages in the Hardcover app. They explore the idea of replacing the activity tab on book pages with journals and discuss the sorting and filtering options for journals. They also consider linking journals to book pages and implementing universal filters for journals. The conversation covers the addition of context and additional information in journals, as well as the efficient logging of reading notes. They also touch on OCR text from physical books, reposting journal entries to the activity feed, and the importance of validation and prototyping. Finally, they discuss the attribution of quotes in journals.

    Takeaways

    The Sundance Film Festival is a popular event for independent filmmakers and movie enthusiasts.
    The Hardcover survey is an important tool for gathering feedback and insights from users.
    The Reading Journey feature in Hardcover will allow users to track their progress, take notes, and share their thoughts on books.
    Privacy settings will be available for the reading journal, allowing users to control who can see their entries.
    The reading journal can be a social feature, allowing users to share their thoughts and quotes with others. Replace the activity tab on book pages with journals to provide a space for readers to share their thoughts and opinions on books.
    Implement sorting and filtering options for journals, such as sorting by date or likes count, to enhance the user experience.
    Link journals to book pages to allow readers to access and read other people's journals for the same book.
    Consider implementing universal filters for journals, such as filters for tags, spoilers, and reading progress, to provide users with more control over their journal entries.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Sundance Film Festival
    03:00 Discussion on Fargo and TV Series
    07:51 Overview of the Hardcover Survey
    09:20 Brainstorming the Reading Journey Feature
    19:55 Different Post Types for the Reading Journal
    29:52 Privacy Settings and Account-Level Privacy
    38:22 Making the Reading Journal Social
    43:08 Discovery and Organization of Reading Journals
    45:42 Introducing Journals on Book Pages
    46:20 Sorting and Filtering Journals
    47:27 Linking Journals to Book Pages
    48:18 Universal Filters for Journals
    49:05 Adding Context to Journal Entries
    50:46 Additional Information in Journals
    51:10 Quickly Accessing Reading Journals
    52:21 Streamlining Access to Reading Journals
    53:24 Efficient Logging of Reading Notes
    56:13 OCR Text from Physical Books
    57:34 Reposting Journal Entries to Activity Feed
    59:20 Validation and Prototyping
    01:00:29 Attributing Quotes in Journals

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss the upcoming State of the Hardcover survey and how to prioritize new features based on user feedback. They review the results of previous surveys and identify the most important features requested by users, such as improved book discovery, stats and graphs about reading history, a mobile app, and book discussions. They also discuss the challenges of framing questions to gather meaningful feedback and the importance of understanding user preferences. Additionally, they consider the inclusion of features like more metadata about books, a text-based discussion forum, and a customizable dashboard. The conversation discusses the design of a dashboard for Hardcover and potential features to include. It explores the idea of a dashboard as a jumping off point to other parts of the platform and the option to set it as the homepage. The conversation also highlights the importance of building features that users want, such as discussions and a reading log. The hosts express excitement about putting out a survey to gather feedback and determine the next steps for development.

    Takeaways

    User feedback is crucial for prioritizing new features and improving the user experience.
    Surveys can help identify the most important features requested by users.
    Framing questions effectively is important to gather meaningful feedback.
    Understanding user preferences and expectations is key to developing successful features. Consider designing a dashboard as a central hub for users to access different parts of the platform.
    Provide options for users to choose their homepage, allowing them to customize their experience.
    Focus on building features that users want, such as discussions and a reading log.
    Use surveys and feedback to gather data and make informed decisions about future features.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Sundance Movies
    08:26 State of the Hardcover Survey
    25:34 Unsolved Book-Related Problems
    30:01 Connecting with Other Readers
    31:41 Ranking Features
    41:21 Dashboard and Widgets
    46:11 Dashboard Design
    47:16 Jumping Off Points
    48:21 Choosing Homepage
    50:00 Desired Features
    52:06 Discussions
    54:13 Reading Log
    56:28 Survey and Future Features
    58:45 Conclusion

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Adam and Jeff discuss Jeff's reading habits, including his use of audiobooks and Kindle text-to-speech. They also talk about the challenges of reviewing advanced reader copies and avoiding spoilers. Jeff shares his insights on librarian tools and the importance of adding genres and other book data. They discuss the potential for scaling up librarian roles and the impact on authors and publishers. The conversation concludes with a rapid-fire question segment. In this conversation, Jeff discusses his book recommendations and his ideal reading atmosphere.

    Takeaways

    Using audiobooks and Kindle text-to-speech can be a convenient way to read while doing other activities.
    Reviewing advanced reader copies requires careful consideration of spoilers and the responsibility to add missing book data.
    Librarian tools play a crucial role in managing book data and ensuring accuracy.
    Adding genres, moods, and tags to books is an important task for librarians to improve book data.
    Authors and publishers can have a significant impact on book data by providing accurate information and claiming their profiles. Jeff doesn't have a set book recommendation, but he often recommends author Jeremy Robinson for sci-fi readers.
    The Hunger trilogy by Jeremy Robinson is a good entry point for sci-fi readers.
    Jeff's ideal reading atmosphere would be on an island in the South Pacific, near the Pacific Ocean.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Introducing Jeff
    01:08 Jeff's Reading Habits
    03:00 Listening to Audiobooks
    04:21 Speed of Audiobook Narration
    05:48 Using Kindle Text-to-Speech
    07:04 Reading Advanced Reader Copies
    09:28 Publishing ARCs and Spoilers
    11:50 Avoiding Spoilers in Reviews
    13:37 Reviewing Books at Different Speeds
    16:21 Librarian Tools and Adding Books
    20:59 Librarian Roles and Verifying User-Added Books
    23:57 Challenges of User-Added Books and Duplicate Data
    26:13 Scaling Up Librarian Tools
    28:18 Managing Merging and Splitting Books
    30:04 Improving Book Data and Adding Genres
    36:27 Impacting Authors and Publishers
    39:05 Urgent Needs in Librarian Tools
    43:55 Improving Genres, Moods, and Tags
    47:08 Authors and Publishers Impacting Book Data
    50:44 Rapid Fire Questions
    51:53 Book Recommendations
    52:49 Recommended Jeremy Robinson Book
    54:02 Ideal Reading Atmosphere

  • Summary

    In this episode, Adam and Ste catch up after the holidays and discuss the recent launch of Year in Books. They also brainstorm ideas for the future of Hardcover Live, including bringing on guests from the book community and exploring different formats. They consider the length of each episode and the possibility of having community members join the show. Overall, they aim to make Hardcover Live a platform for insightful discussions about the book industry and a way to connect with authors, book bloggers, and book influencers. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss various topics related to the future plans and possibilities for Hardcover. They explore the idea of facilitating author Q&A sessions, targeting different personas in the book industry, engaging with peers in similar projects, and the diverse formats that Hardcover can offer. They also discuss the importance of open source collaboration and the potential challenges of open sourcing data. Additionally, they consider the possibility of creating a blockchain public database for book data and syncing data with OpenLibrary.

    Takeaways

    The Year in Books launch was a success, with a significant increase in signups and positive feedback from users.
    Hardcover Live has the potential to become a platform for insightful discussions about the book industry, connecting with authors, book bloggers, and book influencers.
    The format of Hardcover Live can be expanded to include guests from the book community, allowing for deeper conversations and learning from their expertise.
    The length of each episode should be around one hour, with a focus on concise and engaging discussions. Hardcover can facilitate author Q&A sessions to engage with readers and provide a platform for interaction.
    Targeting different personas in the book industry, such as authors, book influencers, editors, and librarians, can help broaden Hardcover's reach and impact.
    Engaging with peers in similar projects can provide valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration.
    Open source collaboration is important for Hardcover's growth and development, allowing for community contributions and improvements.
    Creating a blockchain public database for book data and syncing data with OpenLibrary can enhance the availability and accessibility of book information.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Holiday Recap
    07:37 Year in Books Launch
    17:18 Discussion about Hardcover Live
    27:06 New Format Ideas
    40:06 Episode Length and Guest Ideas
    46:01 Facilitating Author Q&A
    46:38 Target Personas
    47:20 Engaging with Peers
    48:04 Diverse Formats for Hardcover
    49:23 Open Source Collaboration
    50:51 The Value of Open Source
    51:28 Challenges of Open Sourcing Data
    52:28 Blockchain Public Database
    53:28 Open API and Contribution
    55:00 Collaborating with OpenLibrary
    56:55 Syncing Data with Open Library

  • Summary

    The conversation focuses on improving the navigation and user experience of the list feature on Hardcover. They discuss options for navigation, including using drop-down menus and tabs. They also explore the possibility of adding discussions to the list feature. The conversation then moves on to filtering and sorting options for lists, considering different approaches such as popovers and side drawers. Finally, they discuss the idea of adding stats and custom covers to the list feature, making it more visually appealing and customizable.

    Chapters

    00:00 Navigation and Bookmarks
    46:16 Tabs and Discussions
    51:23 Filtering and Sorting
    56:10 Stats and Custom Covers

  • Summary

    The conversation covers topics such as Thanksgiving leftovers, the Dragonsteel conference, book release dates, feed customization, the Brandon Sanderson convention, curiosity about book releases, fastest readers and badges, customizing the feed, and reviewing the 2023 year in books. In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss finalizing the book images and making them mobile-friendly. They also talk about validating the images to ensure they accurately depict scenes from the books. The conversation then moves on to discussing layout changes and addressing design challenges. They explore different options for centering the layout and adding gradients and shadows. They also discuss fixing loading and layout issues, as well as adding additional sections and share buttons. The conversation concludes with anticipation for user experience and reactions to the website.

    Takeaways

    The Dragonsteel conference is a gathering of dedicated fans of Brandon Sanderson's books.
    Book release dates are typically on Tuesdays in the US to take advantage of an entire week of sales and media coverage.
    The feed on the platform could be customized to include recommendations and notifications about newly launched books.
    The fastest readers could be recognized with badges or stats on their profile.
    The 2023 year in books could be reviewed to identify trends and popular titles. Finalize book images and make them mobile-friendly
    Validate images to ensure accurate depiction of book scenes
    Experiment with layout changes and address design challenges
    Add gradients, shadows, and interactive book covers
    Fix loading and layout issues and add additional sections
    Include share buttons for easy sharing of content
    Anticipate user experience and reactions to the website

    Chapters

    00:00 Thanksgiving leftovers and snow
    03:02 Dragonsteel conference
    05:08 Spoilers and dedicated fans
    08:16 Book release dates and feed customization
    10:25 Brandon Sanderson convention
    19:29 Curiosity about book releases
    22:40 Fastest readers and badges
    26:16 Customizing the feed
    28:56 Reviewing the 2023 year in books
    41:31 Finalizing the Book Images
    42:22 Validating the Book Images
    43:32 Working on Variations for Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
    44:04 Ensuring Accurate Character Representations
    44:32 Addressing Design Challenges
    45:35 Describing Clothing Based on Fan Art
    46:00 Discussing Layout Changes
    46:51 Exploring Centered Layouts
    47:21 Using Background Images with Padding
    48:42 Creating a Slide-like Effect
    49:19 Adjusting Container Width for Review and Title
    50:19 Balancing Space and Layout
    51:26 Styling Sections with Left-Right Layout
    52:53 Addressing Styling Issues
    55:23 Adding Gradients and Shadows
    58:11 Fixing Loading and Layout Issues
    59:03 Identifying Unknown Div Issue
    01:00:14 Improving Section Layouts
    01:01:10 Resolving Loading and Flickering Issues
    01:03:08 Investigating Sidebar and Flickering Issues
    01:04:15 Adding Additional Sections
    01:05:32 Adding Links and Share Buttons
    01:08:00 Deciding on Linking to Specific Sections
    01:09:25 Appreciating Interactive Book Covers
    01:10:42 Finalizing Sections and Sharing with Librarians
    01:11:55 Anticipating User Experience and Reactions

  • Summary

    In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss the design of the book review page for Hardcover. They explore different layouts and arrangements for showcasing the most read books of the year, as well as the top rated books. They also discuss the possibility of featuring a single book at a time to give it more prominence. The conversation concludes with plans for implementing the design and gathering community submissions.

    Takeaways

    Consider different layouts and arrangements to showcase books effectively.
    Highlight the most read books of each month to capture the dynamic nature of book popularity.
    Feature a single book at a time to give it more prominence and celebrate its significance.
    Engage the community by gathering submissions and feedback for the book review page.

    Chapters

    00:00 Designing the Book Review Page
    49:05 Highlighting Books of Each Month
    52:36 Showcasing Top Rated Books
    59:12 Finalizing the Design
    01:00:11 Planning for Implementation