Remove the template type selector dropdown in the Web Editor
Insight
Novice users are often confused by the template dropdown in the editor when creating a file, and we offer no contextual information as to how or when to use it.
Supporting evidence
In the Q1FY23 Create stage benchmarking, several users struggled with the template dropdown in the 'add file to branch' task. Some users looked for a template that matched the language they were coding in, while others thought the template field was required, and had no idea what to choose.
This [JavaScript file] doesn’t match any of these templates...so that’s a bit confusing. – S-15
Action
- By default, hide the template selector
- If the file name (either the name of the existing file, or the name added to a new file) matches one of the supported file types, show the template selector
- Display the templates relevant to the file type.
Note: This only applies to the Web Editor (single file editor) and not the Web IDE
Resources
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🕊 Dovetail project -
🔍 Research issue -
👣 Follow-up issue or epic
Tasks
-
Assign this issue to the appropriate Product Manager, Product Designer, or UX Researcher. -
Add the appropriate Group
(such as\~"group::source code"
) label to the issue. This helps identify and track actionable insights at the group level. -
Link this issue back to the original research issue in the GitLab UX Research project and the Dovetail project. -
Adjust confidentiality of this issue if applicable
Edited by Eric Schurter