Hardcover Live Adam Fortuna & Stelian Dobrescu

Summary
The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to new technology in the book space, including hardware, open source development, and the implementation of bulk edit mode. The discussion also delves into the challenges and considerations of open sourcing a network like Hardcover. The conversation transitions from discussing new technology in the book space to the implementation of bulk edit mode in the Hardcover app. The conversation covers the design and implementation of a bulk edit feature for a book library app, focusing on the user interface and user experience. It also delves into the potential use cases and implications of bulk editing, as well as the technical considerations for implementing the feature. The discussion also touches on the importance of user feedback and the iterative development process.
Takeaways
Exploration of new technology in the book space, including hardware and open source developmentChallenges and considerations of open sourcing a network like HardcoverImplementation of bulk edit mode in the Hardcover app Bulk editing in a book library app requires thoughtful consideration of user interface and user experience.The implementation of bulk editing has implications for power readers and the ease of managing large book collections.Technical considerations, such as auto-saving and fuzzy dates, play a role in enhancing the bulk editing feature.User feedback and iterative development are crucial for refining and improving the bulk editing feature.
Chapters
00:00 Exploring New Technology in the Book Space03:14 Challenges and Considerations of Open Sourcing13:21 Implementing Bulk Edit Mode in Hardcover

Summary
Ross and Laura from Hardee's Books share their journey of turning their book-buying obsession into a thriving business. They discuss their passion for fantasy and sci-fi, their commitment to donating 20% of their profits to charity, and their dream of opening a physical bookshop. They also talk about their YouTube channel and the challenges and joys of being book influencers. The conversation touches on the future of book platforms and the influence of algorithms. In this conversation, Ross and Laura of Hardy's Books discuss their strong opinions on book platforms and social networks. They criticize the lack of innovation in popular book apps like Goodreads and emphasize the importance of human curation and sharing. They also discuss the potential backlash to AI and the need for ethical use and development. Ross recommends books like 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke and 'The Blade Itself' by Joe Abercrombie, while Laura enjoys reading in the bath and watching birds in her garden. They give shoutouts to other content creators and share their online platforms.
Takeaways
Turning a book-buying obsession into a business requires finding a model that works, such as selling secondhand books or focusing on independent new books.Bookshops have a unique appeal in the experience-based high street economy, offering a physical space with a vibe and a smell that online platforms can't replicate.Book influencers play a role in recommending upcoming books and creating buzz, but the influence of algorithms and the potential for misinformation is a concern.Authors and readers may have different expectations from book platforms, with readers seeking recommendations from influencers and authors desiring a platform that fosters a productive relationship with their audience.The future of book platforms may involve a combination of influencers, collaborative reviews, and personalized recommendations, but the challenge lies in maintaining authenticity and avoiding algorithmic manipulation. Popular book apps like Goodreads lack innovation and prioritize pleasing shareholders over improving the user experience.Human curation and sharing are important in book platforms, and there may be a backlash to AI in favor of more personalized recommendations.Books like 'Piranesi' and 'The Blade Itself' are highly recommended by Ross and Laura.Reading in a cozy environment, such as a shepherd's hut or in the bath, enhances the reading experience.Supporting and promoting other content creators in the book community is important.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background05:10 Starting Hardee's Books and the Dream of a Physical Bookshop09:03 The Role of Book Influencers and the Future of Book Platforms43:01 The Backlash to AI and the Importance of Human Curation46:27 Recommended Books: 'Piranesi' and 'The Blade Itself'48:34 Creating a Cozy Reading Environment52:37 Supporting and Promoting Content Creators in the Book Community

Summary
The conversation revolves around the revamping of the stats feature in Hardcover. The hosts discuss the need for a more flexible and customizable date range selection for the stats. They explore different options for implementing this, including a dropdown menu with predefined date ranges and a custom date range selector. They also consider the possibility of adding visual elements, such as illustrations or book covers, to make the stats page more engaging and shareable on social media. The conversation focused on redesigning the stats page for a book tracking app. They discussed adding visualizations, animations, and shareable elements to make the stats more engaging and shareable on social media. They explored ideas such as comparing stats to previous years, showcasing top authors, and generating images of individual stats for sharing. The conversation ended with a preview of next week's guest, Ross from Hardee's Books, who will discuss his experience as a book influencer and his thoughts on social book apps.
Takeaways
The stats feature in Hardcover is being revamped to provide a more flexible and customizable date range selection.Options for the date range selection include predefined ranges like 'all time', 'last year', and 'custom range'.Visual elements, such as illustrations or book covers, may be added to make the stats page more engaging and shareable on social media.The revamp aims to make the stats page visually appealing and easy to navigate, with a focus on user customization and personalization. Redesigning the stats page to make it more engaging and shareableAdding visualizations and animations to showcase statsExploring ideas such as comparing stats to previous years and showcasing top authorsGenerating images of individual stats for sharing on social media
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Discussion about Music Festival03:01 Surprising Increase in Users for Hardcover07:20 Reaching Milestones and Funding for Hardcover13:06 Debate and Feedback on AI in the Book Industry33:32 Designing the Date Range Selection for Stats36:15 Adding Visual Elements to the Stats Page37:22 Introduction and Recap39:15 Adding Visualizations and Animations45:46 Comparing Stats and Showcasing Top Authors49:49 Generating Shareable Images01:04:17 Preview of Next Week's Guest

Summary
Adam and Ste discuss their upcoming plans, including attending a music festival and watching Eurovision. They also talk about recent updates to Hardcover, such as the release of letter lists and the focus on server-side rendering. They discuss the company's priorities for the year, including reaching profitability, open sourcing the front end, and expanding Hardcover's mission. They also consider potential supporter features, such as revamping stats and the profile page. The conversation focuses on prioritizing features and improvements for the hardcover app. They discuss potential supporter features, such as modifying profile pages and accessing additional functionality on the dashboard. They also explore ways to increase user engagement and conversion rates, including inviting friends to join hardcover and improving the early user experience. The conversation highlights the importance of refining book data and advanced stats, as well as making it easier to share stats on social media. They also discuss the potential for open sourcing hardcover and allowing users to create their own dashboard widgets.
Takeaways
Adam and Ste are excited about attending a music festival and watching Eurovision.Hardcover recently released letter lists and implemented server-side rendering for faster performance.The company's priorities for the year include reaching profitability, open sourcing the front end, and expanding Hardcover's mission.They discuss potential supporter features, such as revamping stats and the profile page. Consider adding supporter features like modifying profile pages and accessing additional functionality on the dashboardFocus on improving the early user experience and increasing user engagement and conversion ratesRefine book data and advanced stats to provide a better user experienceMake it easier for users to share stats on social mediaExplore the possibility of open sourcing hardcover and allowing users to create their own dashboard widgets
Chapters
00:00 Music Festivals and Eurovision04:30 Recent Updates to Hardcover09:32 Priorities for the Year29:02 Enhancing the Supporter Experience33:43 Improving User Engagement and Conversion Rates41:47 Refining Book Data and Advanced Stats53:47 Making Stats Sharing Easier56:25 Open Sourcing Hardcover and Custom Dashboard Widgets

Summary
Adam and Ste discuss their recent activities and then dive into designing widgets for the Hardcover app's dashboard. They explore different options for displaying the 'currently reading' widget, including the possibility of a carousel-like feature. They also discuss the idea of customizable settings for each widget, such as the ability to track reading progress by day, week, or month. They consider the use of a universal control for widget sizes and the option to edit progress using input fields or a slider. They also discuss the design of the update button and the possibility of making the progress fields content editable. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss different ways to update progress and add actions to the currently reading widget. They explore options such as marking a book as read, leaving a review, changing the edition, and setting a custom page count. They also consider the possibility of resizing and reordering the widget based on the number of books being read. The conversation concludes with a discussion on using interactive inputs for page numbers and percentages. Overall, they aim to make updating progress and taking actions on the currently reading widget more intuitive and efficient.
Takeaways
The dashboard in the Hardcover app will serve as a customized portal to users' data and preferences.Widgets on the dashboard can be designed to work on both desktop and mobile, with some widgets having multiple size options.Customizable settings for each widget, such as tracking progress by day, week, or month, can enhance user experience.The 'currently reading' widget can display all books being read, with the option to scroll or adjust the widget size based on the number of books.The update button can trigger a drawer or window for editing progress, and progress fields can be made content editable for seamless editing. The currently reading widget can be enhanced by adding actions such as marking a book as read, leaving a review, and changing the edition.Consider implementing a custom page count or minute count option for books with different editions or formats.Resizing and reordering the currently reading widget based on the number of books being read can provide a better user experience.Using interactive inputs, such as draggable sliders, for page numbers and percentages can make updating progress more intuitive.Reuse design elements and styles from other cards, such as the letter books card, to maintain consistency across the application.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Recent Activities08:03 Designing Widgets for the Hardcover Dashboard27:06 Exploring Widget Design in Bento33:32 Exploring Actions on the Currently Reading Widget40:49 Marking as Read and Leaving a Review51:09 Customizing Progress Updates for Different Editions01:02:37 Intuitive Inputs for Page Numbers and Percentages

Summary
Adam and Ste discuss their recent trips to South Korea and Romania, respectively. They talk about their experiences, including hiking, exploring local markets, and enjoying the cherry blossoms. They also discuss updates to the card design for lists on Hardcover, specifically focusing on adding reasons for adding books to a list. They explore different options for displaying the reasons and gather feedback from Discord users. They also discuss the possibility of auto-saving the reasons and using avatars to indicate the list creator. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss the design of book cards and explore different elements and features that should be included. They discuss the placement and design of prompts, reasons, and upvoting functionality. They also consider the hierarchy of information and the sorting options for book cards. The conversation ends with a plan to implement and test the different card designs.
Takeaways
Travel experiences can be enhanced by immersing oneself in local culture and exploring specific aspects of the destination, such as folklore and cuisine.Involving users in the design process through platforms like Discord can lead to valuable feedback and iterative improvements.When designing features, it's important to consider user preferences and make the interface intuitive and easy to use.Auto-saving can provide a seamless user experience, but clear feedback is necessary to ensure users understand that their input has been saved.Using avatars can personalize the user experience and provide visual cues for differentiating between list creators and other users. Book cards should include prompts, reasons, and upvoting functionalityThe hierarchy of information on the card should be carefully consideredSorting options for book cards should include most recently added and most likedDifferent card designs should be implemented and tested
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Travel Experiences11:28 Designing the Card Layout for Adding Reasons to Lists29:56 Auto-Saving vs Manual Saving: Balancing User Experience36:35 Designing Book Cards: Prompts, Reasons, and Upvoting52:40 Implementing and Testing Different Card Designs