We completed a major update to the entire set of account profile objects. The goal was not necessarily to add new properties (though we ended up adding some anyway), but rather to organize the objects into a more functional design. This architectural improvement sets the foundation for future scalability and feature development.

For example, we have a concept of 'Registered Email Addresses' for your account. The email verification tokens were moved so they now exist as a property on the registered email address object. Forgot password tokens and failed login attempts were moved to be properties of the credentials provider object. This pattern continues throughout the system, creating a more logical and maintainable structure.

We will see how the new design plays out over time, but we are happy with the results so far and will continue to build on these concepts. The improved organization makes it easier to add new features and maintain existing functionality.

“Good architecture is not about predicting the future, but about creating a foundation that can adapt to it.”
— David Davis

The initial development of My Messages was hastily done and, while it worked, it was not very extensible. This is an important concept in our vision, so it was crucial to get it right. We invested significant time to re-imagine this feature from the ground up.

The result is a new My Messages design that feels like real email messages but works seamlessly within the website. This feature is being rolled out in stages to ensure stability and user experience. The first stage only allows you to receive messages. These initial messages are sent by the system during notable events like creating your account or submitting Contact forms.

Stage 1: Receive system-generated messages (current)
Stage 2: Reply function for messaging the Site Admin
Stage 3: User discovery and direct messaging capabilities
Stage 4: My Contacts address book feature

We've already built 'Block User' and 'Report Message' features into the design to handle unwanted messengers. Eventually, this will evolve into a 'My Contacts' concept where you can maintain an address book for your connections. There's good stuff in the development pipeline already.

The Identity Providers section received extensive attention during this release. The back-end has been completed for this feature, but there are still a few UI elements that remain to be implemented. Currently, you can create your account using either credentials or single sign-on with Google. GitHub is temporarily unavailable and we're targeting bringing it back in the next few releases.

Once signed in, you can navigate to the My Identity Providers menu item and add other provider types. You can add multiple single sign-on providers with different email addresses. You can also change the password on your credentials provider from this interface. Future features will include the ability to change your primary email address and delete existing providers or your entire account.

The Contact forms (Contact Us, Feedback, and Technical Support Requests) have been updated to auto-populate user details if you're signed in. They now send an email to the Site Admin, add an activity log entry against your account, and send you an in-app message. This creates a complete communication loop and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

The About section has been expanded to include an optional interactive resume page. This provides us with the ability to offer a more professional look into our backgrounds. This enhancement will help lend more authenticity to the projects being delivered and build trust with our users.

Looking ahead, we're actively working on several exciting features for the next release. These include everyone's favorite: ads for our upcoming blog pages as well as some of the pure content pages. It's also overdue to give some love to the UI with visual improvements and enhanced user experience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to evolve the platform.