Optional Simple Mode / Modular UI – Let users hide features they don't need

[neonmaus]

First of all, thank you for developing SoulSync. The amount of functionality is genuinely impressive, especially the music discovery, personalised recommendations, playlist automation, and downloading features.

However, as a relatively new user, I'm finding the interface increasingly overwhelming.

I mainly want to use SoulSync for music downloading, library management, artist monitoring, Discover, and automated playlists for Plexamp. There are many other features that I don't need, but they are still visible throughout the interface.

Could SoulSync get an optional Simple Mode with individual feature toggles?

For example, under Settings → Interface → Visible Features, users could choose which areas to display:

• Music Library, Search, Downloads, Watchlist, Discover, and Playlist Sync
• Video / Movies / TV
• Music Videos and YouTube video results within music search
• Podcasts and Audiobooks
• Chat and Arcade
• Built-in Music Player
• Advanced Tools, Automations, and Statistics

Ideally, disabled features would disappear from the sidebar, dashboard, widgets and related menus — not just be collapsed.

A Simple / Full preset would also be helpful, while still allowing individual customisation.

If feasible, fully disabled modules could also stop their unnecessary background processes. However, simply being able to hide unused functionality would already be a huge improvement.

The important part: No functionality needs to be removed, and the existing interface could remain the default for power users. This would only be an optional way to make SoulSync feel more focused.

I really want to keep using SoulSync, particularly because of its recommendation and discovery features. But right now, the sheer number of unrelated features makes the experience more frustrating than it needs to be.

I believe this would make SoulSync much more approachable for users who only need a subset of its capabilities.

Related issues: #312 and #1028.

[PapaBearDoes]

I was literally just thinking about this the other day as well.

[NateShenner]

This is bang on. And not the only app that runs into this problem. DroppedNeedle has the same thing. Tries to be too much. It becomes complicated for the end user and will turn them away.

[neonmaus]

Exactly! That's pretty much why I ended up switching to Octo.
SoulSync has a lot of features, but I found the interface a bit overwhelming. I don't want to lose any features, I'd just like the option to hide the ones I don't use.
Octo isn't perfect either, but its more focused approach is more suited to my needs. Especially being able to stream music without downloading it first has been a real game changer.
I still think SoulSync has a lot of potential. A customisable UI or optional simple mode could make a huge difference.

[Nezreka]

Working on this now

[Nezreka]

Great suggestion, this is in now. Customize at the bottom of the sidebar lets each profile pick Simple (music, Discover, playlists and import) or turn single parts off, like video, podcasts, audiobooks, chat or tools. Hidden parts leave the sidebar, the dashboard and the tabs that lead to them, and setup now hides what you didn't pick. They still run in the background for now, I'm working on letting those pause too. It's on dev and will be in the next release.