Backspace 1.9.0

Backspace 1.9.0

Backspace is now available in Brazilian Portuguese. Spaces and channels have notification settings: every message, mentions only or nothing, with a mute for a set time, and the bell in the channel header opens them. In a group conversation, a call keeps running when one member hangs up, and a member who calls while a call is running joins it. Channel topics can be edited and read in full, a reaction counts once per person, and a reply no longer follows you into another conversation.

Upgrading

• The first start removes repeated reactions, keeping the earliest one, so that each person can add an emoji to a message only once (#393).
• Accounts whose home instance was reset (detached accounts) get a new identity on this instance at the first start, so their status reaches other instances again. The server takes a database snapshot before it rewrites them (#310).
• Group calls with instances that still run 1.8.0: a call hosted on a 1.8.0 instance keeps the 1.8.0 rules. A member on a 1.8.0 instance can join a call hosted on 1.9.0, and when they hang up or decline, the call ends only once nobody is left.

Language

• Brazilian Portuguese is a released language (#426, translation by @anatrone).

Notifications

• Each space and each channel can be set to every message, mentions only or nothing, and muted for 1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours or until you unmute it. A channel follows its space unless you set it on its own. A space starts at mentions only, which is how Backspace behaved before. Direct messages always notify (#394).
• The bell in the channel header opens the channel's settings. The space menu and the mobile channel menu open the space's settings. Muted channels show a crossed-out bell (#394).
• The message sound and the desktop notification follow the same settings. "Play sound for every message" does not override a channel set to nothing or muted (#394).
• On Windows, clicking a desktop notification opens the channel again, also from the Action Center (#394).

Calls

• In a group conversation, starting a call while one is running or ringing joins that call. The conversation header shows a join button while a call is running (#415).
• Hanging up or cancelling removes only you from a group call, and declining removes only the person who declined. The call ends when the last person leaves, or when the ring times out with nobody in it (#415).
• A member from another instance who closes the tab or loses the connection leaves the call after 60 seconds, so the call can still end (#415).
• When the server refuses a call start or an accept, the app stops ringing and says why. Accepting a call no longer pulls you out of another call or a voice channel (#415).

Messages and channels

• Pressing Enter several times sends a message once. Text you type while a message is being sent is kept, and when a send fails, the message box keeps the text and says why (#427, thanks @Cirzear).
• A reply belongs to its conversation. Switching to another conversation no longer carries the reply along, and the message you send there no longer disappears. A failed send gives the reply back (#390).
• Each person can add an emoji to a message once. A double tap no longer adds it twice, a quick reaction closes the message menu, and on mobile the emoji picker opens as a sheet from the bottom (#393).
• Channel topics can be edited in the channel settings. The header shows the whole topic on hover, and a click opens it in full. Topics are limited to 1024 characters; longer topics from before stay as they are (#383, #387).
• Invite links copied from the space menu work again. They point at the space's own instance (#428, thanks @Cirzear).

Direct messages

• When the server refuses to edit or delete a message, the app says why. Deleting a message that is already gone no longer brings it back.
• Apps that send direct messages over the live connection follow the same rules as the web app: no new messages to someone who deleted their account, edits and deletes only by members of the conversation, and the same send rate limit.

Friends and people on other instances

• Two friends from different instances who have the same user number both show in the friends list. The same person listed by two instances shows once (#438).
• Friend requests are sent from your home instance, also when you use Backspace through another instance (#438).
• With a federated account, adding friends from your home instance to a group conversation and inviting them to a space works again, and the invite shows in your own copy of the conversation (#391).
• A detached account's status reaches other instances again (#310).

Roles and permissions

• When two people edit the same role or channel permissions at once, the later save is refused, and the editor reloads with a notice instead of overwriting the other change (#365).
• The channel list, the settings badges and the server now agree on which channels are private. Members who gain or lose access to a voice channel see its participants appear or disappear right away (#365).
• As in Discord, your place in the role list decides which roles you can edit, also when a more senior member holds that role (#365).
• After an ownership transfer, or when an instance admin is added or removed, the Roles tab updates without a reload.

Accounts

• The registration page asks for the same 8 character minimum the server checks. Before, it accepted 6 characters and then failed at the next step (#397).

Downloads

Platform	Download
Windows x64	Backspace-1.9.0-win-x64.exe
Windows arm64	Backspace-1.9.0-win-arm64.exe
Linux AppImage x86_64	Backspace-1.9.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage
Linux AppImage arm64	Backspace-1.9.0-linux-arm64.AppImage
Linux deb amd64	Backspace-1.9.0-linux-amd64.deb
Linux deb arm64	Backspace-1.9.0-linux-arm64.deb
macOS Apple Silicon	Backspace-1.9.0-mac-arm64.dmg
macOS Intel	Backspace-1.9.0-mac-x64.dmg

The .blockmap and latest*.yml files are read by the auto-updater and are not meant to be downloaded by hand.