Handling phase discussions tab for drafted phases

[RishiRajSahu]

Do not make a welcome post to the phase discussion (Posts tab) before the phase is active.

continued from #2301

Aha! Link: https://topcoder.aha.io/features/TCCONNECT-450

[RishiRajSahu]

@vic-topcoder @acshields how should we handle UI in the above case ? as per me there are two options -
1.Keeping Discussions disabled with tool-tip saying 'Discussions will be available once phase is acitvated' OR 'Activate phase to enable discussions`
2.Hide Discussions tab for Drafted phase.

[vikasrohit]

@vic-topcoder @acshields I am not sure if this requirement. I think, copilots and managers need to discuss things before activating a phase, so where would they these discussions if implement this requirement?

[vikasrohit]

@RishiRajSahu @maxceem Please hold on this, until we get confirmation.

[vic-georgiev]

Discussions should always be active when the customer can see it. It makes sense to be able to compose a message and then switch the phase into Planned phase, but that's probably overdoing it.

I'd say - let's hide the discussion until a phase is in Planned or further state.

This ticket originally addressed a different issue - the automatic first post in the thread. We DON'T WANT an automatic first post ever on a discussion tab - it makes no sense. I want this to be replaced with a better designed empty state that would encourage the customer to post any questions about the phase. Does this make sense?

[vikasrohit]

@vic-topcoder @acshields I still not fully convinced with this feature requirement. It is very common to use the discussions in draft phase well because copilots and managers can discuss things before activating the phase for customers. If we hide the discussions in draft mode, we would encourage the copilots and managers to use other modes of communication (outside of Connect) to discuss things before activating a phase.

[vic-georgiev]

Exposing managers-only discussion to customers is not great either. I think this is a deeper discussion on how we build connect to be the default communication platform.

[vikasrohit]

Okay @vic-topcoder @acshields Let us know what is the final direction we should go for.

[acshields]

@vikasrohit - Let's make sure to discuss this issue tomorrow in our meeting (AFTER I have finished reviewing the product summit outcomes with everyone :)