Native Emoji and GIF Enhancements
Summary
Native Emoji offers a more expansive set of emoji for users to express themselves in messages and Reactions. Users will see Reactions and Emoji rendered based on their operating system or device, and have the ability to choose various skin tones using the Mattermost emoji picker.
We will also enhance the usability of GIFs enabling it by default for all users with more granular admin control.
Emoji Requirements
Move to native emoji for the webapp (already done on mobile)
Update emoji picker UI MM-25435
Alternate skin tone emojis. MM-11716
Skin tone selector in the emoji picker
Skin tone shown in emoji autocomplete matches the set skin tone in emoji picker
Remove existing doom default custom emoji and allow removal of default custom emoji MM-22759
Improve emoji picker performance MM-12752 MM-25436
Virtualized emoji list
Ability for admins to remove certain native emoji from the picker and autocomplete, and stop them from rendering in posts (ie middle finger, poop) MM-32845
Corner cases:
Consider what is displayed on older OS’s that may not support a certain emoji
Stretch Goal: Plugin hooks to add custom emoji “packs”
GIF Requirements
Admin configurability:
Enabled by default for all users. Admins can disable the picker and commands.
GIF provider options (Giphy, Gfycat, Tenor)
Content Rating (for the providers where it’s applicable)
Height
In-channel GIF enhancements
Allow GIFs to be collapsible in the channel (all GIFs should be inline markdown images that should be collapsible) MM-12290
Account setting for whether inline markdown GIFs and GIF link previews play automatically
Options: On (default) / Off
Gifs should stop auto looping after a certain number of repeats MM-26973
Pick a default GIF height for better consistency across GIFs (ie 200px)
GIF picker enhancements MM-32847
Post immediately when selected from the GIF picker (currently it adds the gif link to the input area). Picker should post GIFs as in-line markdown images. Consider if hover effect should indicate that it will post immediately.
Overhaul the gif picker UI to match the emoji picker and compass design guides MM-25435
Add searching loading indicator and no results found states
Add a GIF button to the post draft input area that opens the emoji/gif picker to the “GIF” tab
GIF slash command enhancements MM-32849
Instant search with selection UI. Users can tab or arrow through selections before picking one to post. See Discord example:
Currently the beta gyfcat option built in the product doesn’t support slash commands but there’s a plugin that offers it called “GIF Commands”. Propose converting the plugin to part of this core feature then removing the plugin from the marketplace so there isn’t conflicts.