Allow JSON evidence collection files to open up within a separate tab of a users’ web browser

Insight

• When users clicked the release evidence, they were surprised to have to download the file and open it up in another application outside of their browser.

Supporting evidence

• "The JSON didn’t open up in a window that I can see. [The file] opens up separately… I want to actually see like a preview of the contents before I actually download it." -P4
• Highlight reel in Dovetail of users performing the task of creating a new production release in GitLab

Action

• Allow JSON evidence collection files to open up within a separate tab of a users’ web browser.
• Add a tooltip that explains the link will open in a new tab.
• Add icon indicating link will open in new tab

Example

Resources

• 🕊 Dovetail project
• 👣 Research epic

Technical proposal

The release evidences are rendered by app/assets/javascripts/releases/components/evidence_block.vue component. we need to change the link component parameters to open the link in a new tab, add an external-link icon to the link (see app/assets/javascripts/releases/components/release_block_assets.vue:123 ) and change a tooltip text accordingly

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