User mentions

[Meow]

User mentions

Basic concept (minimal implementation)

Add @username / @[username with spaces] syntax (any shape of the bracket is acceptable for the final implementation, this is just a concept where I use the square ones due to suggestions I make later), which if added to any non-private communication (comment, post, image description) will issue a notification to the mentioned user. The username will be parsed as the link to the user profile, as if the poster wrote [@username](/profiles/username). This syntax will intentionally not work inside the link syntax ([title](uri)).

Possible expansions

• Ability to specify the URL the user mention should redirect to like @[username](/forums/paw-holding-topic?postid=123#postid_123) (similar to normal Markdown link syntax). Rationale: forum/comment replies
  • Possibly also display a "go to profile" button next to the mentioned username in this case
• Display the avatar of the mentioned user alongside the username. Rationale: just for fun, it's pretty, and some people have better visual memory than text memory
• Display some sort of symbol in front of the username denoting the user as a staff member if the mentioned user is staff, like a hammer if they're a moderator, similar to how DA/FA do this. Rationale: makes it clear when help of the staff member is requested
• Use user IDs instead of usernames to make mentions stick permanently. Requires some JS glue probably to convert a username mention into ID mention in the editor and vice-versa, with some sort of suggestion thing similar to tag editor suggestions. JS glue would translate @username to something like @[id:12345] directly in the editor, and then upon editing of the post would translate it back with an API request. Rationale: the mention will stay valid even if the user changes their username. Potential issue: GDPR