Question
What do you think of Slack's new WYSIWYG editor?
Last week, Slack announced some new features, including a WYSIWYG rich text editor.
Along with the addition of this feature, they changed the Markdown functionality to render formatting in-line.
Here's how the new editor works:
Here's the reasoning outlined in Slack's announcement post:
"In the past, you needed to type asterisks for bold text or underscores for italics. It was also difficult to tell what your messages would look like before you posted them. Well, that’s all changing with the new text formatting toolbar."
Curious. What does everyone think of this?
edit: thanks @awwstn for pointing out Ripcord. This looks like a decent workaround! Putting the link here for other folks: https://cancel.fm/ripcord/
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"makes common tasks much harder"
A few cases where the new editor makes common tasks much harder:
- I paste a multi-line code snippet and then want to make it a code block. Cannot wrap in ```.
- Bulleted list that I now want to quote. Cannot use >>>
- >• Type here then hit [Enter]. Does not create next bullet.
@slackhq Markdown behavior had really gotten to be amazing before this rich version was added. I understand that as the market of Slack broadens, this could be helpful for many, but it does hamper/remove existing and useful functionality. An option to disable would be great!
Great for non-tech team members
I think that the conversation around this is likely going to be skewed. If I search on Twitter for example, it's mostly people in tech angry because they already knew markdown. But when I hop into the Slack teams for my clients, it's all the other departments of a company saying they're happy they don't have to bring up the helper tool every time they want to format something.
"Can I turn it off?"
@SlackHQ Hey! Any plans of adding an option to turn off WYSIWYG? The fact that I could edit messages with Markdown at ease was legit my favourite thing about Slack. I appreciate this is probably a nice change for a lot of humans, but it’s very clunky if you’re Markdown-fluent.
Here's a workaround
Ripcord, a Mac/Windows client for Slack, still supports Markdown: https://cancel.fm/ripcord/
I played with it for a bit, but I really like Slack's interface, so i don't really want to switch...but, this update hasn't even landed on my Slack instance and I miss the old Markdown features already. 😭
"Markdown-like syntax is great, but not for everybody"
Just to (partially) take defence of @SlackHQ choice of adding a WYSIWYG: I've now a bunch of workspaces with Slack users, but non-technical. Markdown-like syntax is great, but not for everybody
"it's killing me"
The new text formatting in @slack is really killing me. I think adding some UI for formatting text is good for non-power users, but for those of us who do use Slack’s “Markdown,” I’d prefer if the field didn’t act like a WYSIWYG and left the text raw.
"I hate WYSIWYG editors!"
Oooh nooo, Slack now has a WYSIWYG editor for messages? Say goodbye to the smooth UX, now everybody will have to fight the editor... Why? Why do I perceive every new feature as a step back? Am I that old? I hate WYSIWYG editors! :-D
"A mess"
The new Slack WYSIWYG message interface turns the previously simple act of sending a code block into a confusing mess.
"I gave up on proper formatting"
Fighting Slack’s new WYSIWYG basically every other post I write these days... I pretty much gave up on trying to get proper formatting at this point.
Thankfully you can hide Slack's formatting toolbar by clicking the Aa button—but an option to switch back to the old text-driven formatting would be nice.
"Painful. Seriously painful."
I cant stress how poor it is now - it is painful. seriously painful.
I am wasting time every day messing with this rubbish UX.
Try wrapping ``` round a block of text in the middle of a slack message. Impossible Just let people type. Wysiwyg as you type does not work #SlackRuined
"What happened?"
Great gravy! What happened to message formatting on @SlackHQ? I'm finding it suddenly very difficult to use. Before, I could paste markdown in (or even "preformatted" slack annotated text and it would format it. Now, bupkus. Is this happening for anyone else?
"Joining the chorus"
I need to join the chorus of anti WYSIWYG. Specific gripe is editing previously sent messages, super gross behaviors if there's formatting.
I think I could argue WYSIWYGs show up when a product is about to start being awful; see AIM and dreamweaver. Other than that, <3 you Slack
"first Slack feature that is actively making my life more difficult."
This is the first Slack feature that is actively making my life more difficult. The fact that it removes the ` marks so you can't get back to regular text without using the editor is the worst.
Please give us the option to disable this
"It was simple done right. Now it's just as obnoxious as every other chat app."
FWIW the plaintext entry with markdown support was one of the primary, differentiating features that made Slack stand out compared to other chat apps, at least for technical users. It was simple done right. Now it's just as obnoxious as every other chat app.
"How do I go back?"
How do I opt-out of the new Slack WYSIWYG text box and go back to the Old Way™️ , or, even better, straight up Markdown (if it exists as an Easter egg 🙏🏼)?
"Thanks, I hate it."
Ah yes! The annoying WYSIWYG editor that you cannot disable and completely messes with my typing flow, especially when using code.
Thanks. I hate it.
"Wish I could turn it off"
Not to be a curmudgeon, but I really wish there was a way to turn off the new WYSIWYG formatting in #slack @SlackHQ. Sorry, I'm sure it's great for non-engineering teams maybe, but I want my formatting control back.
"Is there a way to disable it?"
Super unhappy with the #slack WYSIWYG update. @SlackHQ is there a way to disable this?
"Nobody is enjoying it"
Nobody in my line of sight is enjoying this new Slack WYSIWYG interface.
"I hate it."
@SlackHQ Thanks. I hate it. No seriously. How do I turn it off?
"Please let me turn it off"
Please let me turn the rich editor off. It’s great for typing the odd message, but as soon as I need to edit or paste code it becomes painful
"please allow disabling"
Please give us the option to disable the auto formatting. It is the worst! Especially for formatting code.
"bad update"
really think @SlackHQ needs to fix this wysiwyg disaster soon... after finding Slack-messed-up-their-ux-twitter I am glad I am not alone... seems like a ton of people hate their bad upgrade
"Help me turn it off"
Totally agree that rich text editor is very annoying. Many times I need to copy a markdown message from another place and paste it to Slack message editor. New Slack didn't format my message as expected even though the msg markdown syntax is correct. Please help me turn it off.
"Is there an option to disable?"
Does anybody know if there’s an option to disable the new WYSIWYG stuff in Slack? It’s creating usability problems for me (backspace has become a hellgate) but I can’t find an option to turn it off. (@slack?)
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Definitely a nice touch for less advanced users looking to visualize their text before sending - but Slack really botched this by not allowing users to hide/disable the feature.