Quick summary: The Couchers.org mobile app is now live on iOS and Android. Plus: a redesigned dashboard, messaging overhaul, better events, and 40+ improvements in one of our biggest releases yet.

Table of Contents

• Mobile App is out for Android and iOS!
• Donate devices for mobile testing
• New Features in the Spring Release (v1.3)
  • Dashboard 2.0
  • Messages Overhaul
  • Events
  • Profiles
  • Communities
  • UI and Platform Improvements
  • Localization
  • Bug Fixes
  • Preparation for future features
  • Backend Improvements
  • Moderation
  • Donations
• Translations
• CouchOps Team Updates
• Current Volunteer Needs at Couchers

We've been very productive at Couchers since the winter release! Not only is the mobile app out on iOS and Android, but we're improving the dashboard to help you find and better interact with your communities

Mobile App is out for Android and iOS!

We've been working on this since last July and it's out now on Android and iOS. Give it a download via the links below and please give us a good rating in the stores if you like it and tell your friends!

• Android App on Google Play store
• iOS App on Apple App Store

Credit to George who created the app demo images.

• Added App Store and Google Play download buttons to the landing page and footer so it’s easier to find and install the Couchers mobile app by Nicole with assistance from Jesse [#8634]
• Improved the mobile app with profile previews that open without losing your place, faster language switching across tabs, Samsung interaction fixes, and a fix for editing community info on mobile by Nicole [#8563]
• Fixed iOS push notifications to show the correct shorter title and subtitle formatting by Tristan with assistance from Aapeli [#8495]
• Fixed a mobile app bug where going back from a profile now restores your previous search results page and scroll position by Nicole [#8488]
• Fixed several mobile app bugs to make navigation more reliable, improve back navigation from search results, and fix sign-up links and editing layout issues by Nicole [#8485]
• Mobile fixes v1.1.16 - signup confirmation and staging asset links by Nicole with assistance from Aapeli [#8162]
• Fixed a mobile logout issue that could leave people stuck in an in-between logged-in state by Nicole [#8260]
• Fixed mobile authentication flow issues that could prevent signup and password reset from completing properly by Nicole [#8253]
• Fixed a mobile signup/login issue that could redirect people to the login page at the wrong time in the app by Nicole [#8249]
• Fixed a mobile app login issue that could cause confusing screen flashes after signing up or resetting a password by Nicole [#8189]
• Fixed the mobile app menu staying open after switching tabs by Nicole [#8126]
• Fixed several mobile app navigation issues, including tab switching behavior and menus staying open unexpectedly by Nicole [#8120]
• Fixed several mobile app bugs including unexpected logouts, message button routing issues, incorrect tab highlighting, and image uploads being forced to square by Nicole [#7982]
• Fixed multiple mobile app issues including caching problems that caused stale content, full-screen menu display, and save button positioning by Nicole with assistance from Aapeli [#7972]
• Added bottom navigation bar for mobile browser users and fixed several mobile app issues including dark mode flash on Android and app detection on Samsung devices by Nicole [#7911]
• Fixed dark mode flash and navigation issues on Android mobile app by Nicole [#7894]
• Fixed multiple mobile app issues including comment form input erasing on dark mode toggle, double spinner when uploading photos, and improved camera permission flow by Nicole [#7879]
• Improved password reset flow to automatically log users in after resetting their password, eliminating the need to log in manually by Aapeli with assistance from Tristan [#7305]
• Mobile fixes v1.1.8 by Nicole [#7751]
• Fixed profile photo uploads on mobile by implementing native camera and photo library integration by Nicole [#7779]
• Added universal linking support so Couchers links in emails and elsewhere now open directly in the mobile app when installed by Nicole [#7755]

Have an old iPhone or Android? Donate devices for mobile testing

We could use a few devices to help our mobile developers with QA testing. Most of us only have an iPhone or Android which makes it difficult to test across different devices.

Do you have an old phone that is:

• Not older than 3 years
• In good working condition

Note: If you're in the US, you can deduct the fair market value of your donated device from your taxes!

Let us know if you have a device to donate by filling out this short form

New Features in the Spring Release (v1.3)

Dashboard 2.0

We've improved the dashboard to highlight your most important reminders and add some widgets that make it easier to interact with your communities. More improvements to come.

• Added a dashboard widget showing discussions in your communities so you can quickly catch up on community conversations by Nicole with assistance from Aapeli [#8580]
• Added dismissible dashboard reminders so you can hide reminders you’ve already dealt with for one week by Darren with assistance from Nicole [#8679]
• Improved the dashboard events section by separating your upcoming events from events in your communities and making event listings more compact and easier to scan by Nicole with assistance from Tristan and Jesse [#8427]

Messages Overhaul

We've made it easier to filter messages to find what you're looking for. There is now an unread filter and you can sort by hosting, surfing, chats and archive and unarchive messages to clean up your inbox.

• feat: Unread messages filter by Darren with assistance from Nicole [#8400]
• fix: show create message modal on all message filter tabs by Jesse [#8018]
• Added message archiving feature and redesigned messaging tabs with a new unified view and filter pills for easier navigation by Nicole with assistance from Aapeli and Jesse [#7941]

Events

We've made some improvements to the events page including the ability to copy an event link to make it easier to share with friends, and browse attendees.

• Added a copy link option and streamlined event management actions on event pages to make sharing and editing events easier by Nicole with assistance from Jesse [#8524]
• Improved event pages by making attendee lists wrap directly on the page and adding pagination to browse more attendees more easily by Valeria with assistance from Jesse, Tristan and Nicole [#8232]

Profiles

You now must complete your profile in order to send a friend request. We've also added the abilty to send a first message directly from a user's profile and increased profile gallery photo limits so non-strong verified users can upload 2 photos and strongly verified users can upload 5.

• Increased profile gallery photo limits so non-verified users can upload 2 photos and strongly verified users can upload 5 photos by Aapeli with assistance from Jesse [#8502]
• Web/profile: One-shot message form on user profile by Aapeli with assistance from Jesse and Nicole [#8452]
• Required users to complete their profile before sending friend requests by Aapeli with assistance from Nicole and Tristan [#8520]

Communities

We've added a "My communities" section to the communities page to make it easier to access your commuhities. We've also improved the recently created communities to be more accurate.

• Added a My communities section to the Communities page so you can quickly see and access the communities you’ve joined by Nicole [#8394]
• Fixed the new communities list to show the most recently created communities more accurately and reliably by Aapeli with assistance from Alexey and Nicole [#8347]
• Add node_type enum to Node model and only notify cities or lower communities by Aapeli [#7907]

UI and Platform Dynamics Improvements

There have been many smaller UI and user flow improvements to improve user experience on the Couchers website, from clearer prompts and error messages, better strong verification instructions, cleaner push notification titles and smoother password reset flow.

• Improved friend requests by showing a clear prompt to complete your profile before sending one by Aapeli with assistance from Tristan [#8521]
• Removed the strong verification reminder from the dashboard by Aapeli with assistance from Jesse [#8512]
• Added show/hide password buttons to password reset, change email, and change password forms to make entering passwords easier and reduce mistakes by Valeria with assistance from Nicole [#8412]
• Improved strong verification instructions with clearer NFC scanning tips and troubleshooting help to make passport verification easier by Nicole [#8334]
• Fixed the mobile password reset flow so users are asked to log in again instead of being sent to a broken app state by Nicole [#8263]
• Add validation to display name input by Andy with assistance from Nicole [#7822]
• Fixed notification feed menu to show both title and body text, making notifications more informative and easier to understand by Tristan with assistance from Aapeli [#7999]
• Fixed bottom navigation bar covering the message input box on mobile web view by Nicole with assistance from Jesse and Aapeli [#7942]
• Fixed image upload to show a clear error message when files exceed 20MB, instead of failing silently by Nicole with assistance from Aapeli [#7918]
• Implement signup intents by Aapeli [#7550]

Localization

Our volunteer Tristan has been hard at work on the trickier aspects of localization, specifically date and time localization improvements.

• Frontend/i18n: Localize date/time picker formats by Tristan with assistance from Nicole [#8309]
• Frontend/i18n: Localize dates and times by Tristan with assistance from Nicole [#8019]
• Backend/i18n: Localize date/times with Babel by Tristan with assistance from Aapeli [#7884]
• Localized event date and time formatting to display in users' preferred language instead of English-only by Tristan with assistance from Aapeli [#7985]

Bug Fixes

There have been many bug fixes behind the scenes, too many to name here, see below!

• Fixed a bug that prevented cancelled host requests from being properly removed from Google Calendar by Tristan with assistance from Christian [#8646]
• Fixed a bug that could post the closed host request helper text into conversations as if it were a real message by Aapeli with assistance from Jesse [#8604]
• Fixed a dashboard bug that kept reminding hosts to respond to a request even after they had already replied by Aapeli with assistance from Tristan [#8515]
• Fixed the cookie and push notification banners so they no longer block important buttons and search controls by Nicole with assistance from Jesse [#8537]
• Fixed a bug that could create duplicate active friend requests between the same two users and cause broken friendship behavior by Aapeli [#8398]
• Fixed a bug that sent event reminder notifications for cancelled or deleted events by Aapeli with assistance from Tristan [#8399]
• Fixed a bug that could show the wrong dates on host requests in some timezones by Tristan with assistance from Aapeli [#8329]
• Fixed a bug that could show the wrong dates on host requests in some timezones by Tristan with assistance from Aapeli [#8282]
• Fixed a bug that sent duplicate notifications for new host requests by Aapeli with assistance from Tristan [#8248]
• Fixed missing Save button on profile edit page that prevented users from saving their changes by Aapeli with assistance from Nicole [#7951]
• Fixed a dashboard bug that kept reminding hosts to respond to a request even after they had already replied by Aapeli with assistance from Tristan [#8515]
• Fixed the cookie and push notification banners so they no longer block important buttons and search controls by Nicole with assistance from Jesse [#8537]

Preparation for future features

Not visible yet, but we're always working on the next features behind the scenes, laying the groundwork for what's next!

• Fixed a bug that prevented cancelled host requests from being properly removed from Google Calendar by Tristan with assistance from Alexey [#8635]
• Added calendar invite attachments to host request emails so accepted, confirmed, and cancelled stays can be easily added to calendar apps by Tristan with assistance from Aapeli [#8471]
• Backend: Public trips visibility & prevent dupe offers by Nicole with assistance from Tristan and Aapeli [#8414]
• Added the ability to reopen closed public trips as long as the trip has not started yet by Nicole with assistance from Aapeli [#8393]
• Fixed public trip date validation to use the trip location's timezone so international trips are checked correctly. by Aapeli with assistance from Nicole [#8364]
• Added the ability to edit public trip dates and descriptions before a trip ends, and allowed posting public trips in more specific regional communities by Nicole [#8339]
• Added support for public trips, including creating and browsing trips and showing upcoming trips on user profiles by Nicole with assistance from Tristan [#8336]
• Add postcard sending by Aapeli [#8107]

Backend Improvements

Our volunteers, especially Tristan, Aapeli and Alexey have worked behind the scenes to make sure Couchers security, speed and general infrastructure is on point!

• Improved login security by showing a generic error message for incorrect usernames, emails, or passwords by Kevin with assistance from Tristan [#8602]
• Fixed a bug where the cookie banner could cover the profile save button while editing your profile by Nicole [#8575]
• Fixed profile travel maps not showing up when using Couchers in languages other than English by Nicole with assistance from Chris [#8573]
• Improved site reliability by preventing unnecessary certificate renewals during deploys that could briefly take the site offline by Aapeli with assistance from Alexey [#8517]
• Fixed an issue where the site could get stuck on a loading spinner if an external service was unavailable by Aapeli [#8247]
• Fixed a push notification issue that could cause delivery failures for some browsers by rejecting invalid notification subscriptions by Aapeli with assistance from Tristan and Alexey [#8212]
• Backend speedups by Aapeli [#8203]

Moderation

Our volunteers Aapeli and Jesse have been working hard on moderation and safety systems to ensure we can sustainably scale to a higher user count. Moderation tooling has been improved. Our moderation system is able to catch an estimated 95% of scams before they even reach users.

Donations

• Added IRS-required tax acknowledgment text to donation receipt emails so donors can use them for tax-deductible charitable contributions by Aapeli with assistance from Tristan [#8365]

Translations

In the past 6 months the number of available languages increased from 4 to 12! Shoutout to our many amazing translators for this!

Current Volunteer Needs at Couchers

Want to help us make Couchers thrive? We especially need:

• Senior Mobile Developers with Expo and React Native experience Now that the app is out, we could really use some support with bug fixes and refactoring away from webviews to more native features in React Native with Expo.
• Mid and Senior Backend Python Developers who are able to specifically do feature work, coding the backend of features to prepare for the frontend work. Some upcoming backend features you could work on: Improving message notification frequency, public events, recurring events, leading creation of a feature request board, overhauling our location architecture to prepare for more community features.
• Mid and Senior Frontend Developers with familiarity with Typescript and React. Especially people who feel capable of owning a whole feature and/or are willing to help with package upgrades so not only one volunteer gets stuck with them!
• Journalists who can pitch us to relevant media outlets If you understand the vibe of the couch surfing community and are interested in brainstorming ideas including Couchers and pitching to appropriate publications and media outlets, we'd love your help!
• Marketers and Social Media people with couch surfing experience If you understand the couch surfing ethos and have experience leading things like ad campaigns, coming up with social media post ideas on Instagram, TikTok, organizing couch crashes, improving our signup email flow, etc. we could really use help with this! We're specifically looking for people who have ideas and could lead these pushes.
• Grant Writers Do you have experience with grant writing for non-profits? We'd love to chat even if it's just a single call or a referral as we help orient ourselves with this process so we can grow and improve Couchers.org even faster with additional resources.
• Translators Especially French, but we can always use more translations in every language. Check our translation progress page here to see where we stand, and where you can pitch in!

Interested? Apply here!