Optional read-only information area for text channels

[Neonsy]

Problem

Project and topic channels often need both conversation and a stable source of information, such as updates from a GitHub webhook

Currently, these updates must either be mixed into the chat, where they can get buried, or placed in a separate channel, which splits the context and clutters the channel list

Proposal

Allow text channels to optionally have a separate read-only information area, such as a tab or side panel

Members could continue chatting normally while bots, webhooks, or permitted roles publish updates to the information area

This could be an optional feature for text channels or a dedicated channel type

Notes

For example, a project channel could contain its regular discussion and a GitHub activity feed without requiring separate #project-chat and #github-feed channels

The exact presentation is flexible

The important part is keeping related information and conversation together without mixing both message streams.

#321 has a bunch of channel ideas, but I did not find an overlap

Checks

• I searched existing discussions.

[Float-as]

Maybe it could be implemented into threads (when they will get implemented). Basically channel threads could have webhooks. You could also set permission for a thread to only view message history? Kinda channel inside a channel.

[Neonsy]

It very much depends on how threads are going to be implemented, since what you are describing sounds like a different idea, if compared to how they work on Discord

[Float-as]

I'm thinking of a dedicated persistent thread for the functionality you are describing, because in theory sidebar works for desktop displays, but for mobile there would really be no space to display channel and the panel for updates, bots, etc

[Neonsy]

For mobile it would have to be like server members or something, where you have a dedicated button or whatever to open that view

That would solve that problem with ease

While it can be a part of threads, I think it would also benefit the normal channel type, cause you don't always want to have a thread for a single topic