Components
OpenHub is an open source client for GitHub. It is faster and concise, supports multi themes, accent color, language switch, with cool syntax highlighting, It also supports use of multiple accounts. It however misses on some important features which can be added to the application. I am sure there can be many alterations and additions, I am proposing some of them in the proposal section.
Proposal
In this proposal I am suggesting some features which can be added to the application. The features are written and explained briefly in this section.
1. GISTS
A Gist is a database of the Git Repository which can be cloned or even forked. There is no option to create, edit gists in this app. The feature should be in the app just to have the provision of adding or editing the Git Repository.
2. OFFLINE MODE
The use of the GitHub in the offline mode can be real bonus, Atleast the access to the exisiting Repositories can be possible, and the changes can be made which can be later updated with the availability of the data. This mode should be included very soon.
3. PULL REQUEST
To know about the changes that are made to the repository by others or for others to know the changes that are made by us we need this option for the repositories user is associated with. This is an important feature to review the changes made and the discussions for modifications can be held.
4. SORTING
We do some sorting in this application for repositories but only on the basis of names, update time and Creation. This is however not enough and more advanced sorting techniques can be added. Features for sorting on the basis of Code, Commits, Issues, Wikis, Users can be very helpful for searching the repositories.
a) CODE
The search of the Repositories can br sorted according to the type of the coding and this can in itself be sorted again, depending upon which repository is indexed recently or the opposite can be the other option. It is also shown below.
b) COMMITS
Repositories can be sorted on the based of the commits which are usually formulated by the owners of Repositories. The sorting of the commits can be done depending upon which repository is recently committed or authored or the least committed or authored. This is shown below.
c) ISSUES
Repositories can be sorted based on the Issues which are present, this leads to comments or updates, So this sorting will be based on the recent comments or the updates of the Repositories. This is also shown below.
d) WIKIS
The sorting of the repositories which can be based on the databases, Repositories can be linked to similar database, and the sorting can be done on the basis of the recent updates of the databases. Also shown below.
e) USERS
The search of the repositories based on the users associated with the GitHub, this will mean we can sort based on the when the user has joined and the number of his/her followers. This is shown below.
Mockups / Examples
Here are the examples of the additional features that can be added.
Picture showing Offline Mode and Gists
Picture showing pull request feature
Picture showing Sort features
Benefits
Addition of these features will improve the functionality of the app. The need for creating, editing of gists is there as users need an interface to work for it. Offline Mode is something GitHub Users will always want to get, but the application of this part is still on the difficult side. PR or Pull Request is used to request the changes that are made within the repository. It is visible to its owner or the manager and the further potential considerations are put into use. Sorting which is done only on the basis of date, time, upgration of the repository only is not complete. This must be done in Code, Commits, Issues, Users and Wikis related to the Repository too. So proper modifications are possible and reachable in the coming future.
Posted on Utopian.io - Rewarding Open Source Contributors