Robrix's second beta release is here, with some big new features: voice dictation (native speech-to-text), a new login screen designed from scratch, collapsible summarized groups of state events, panes that show room members, pinned messages, threads, and lots more! We also spent a lot of time polishing the UI and fixing bugs everywhere, in Robrix, Makepad, and the Matrix SDK itself.
Highlights from this release
- A new room action bar that offers quick access to the list of Room Members, Pinned Messages, and Threads
- You can resize panes, move them to any side, or pop them out into their own tab or full-screen view
- Dictate messages with your voice! Try it out by pressing the new mic button in the message text input (and other places)
- This uses the native speech-to-text recognition provided by the underlying OS, via our new
robius-speechcrate - Fully redesigned the login screen to show only the login methods supported by your homeserver
- Explicit support for browser login (OAuth 2.0), MAS, and the legacy SSO providers, including creating a new account
- Groups of state events in a room are auto-collapsed into a summary (yes, finally!)
- You can expand/collapse them, and your scroll position in the room won't jump around (we promise)
- Groups can also span any time period, so we can neatly collapse state events across many days or even months
- Proper support for backing up and restoring your encryption keys
- See and manage the users you've blocked/ignored in the settings screen
- Completely rewrote the image viewer with super smooth pinch-to-zoom gestures
- Now you get the native feel of Android or iOS gestures, plus Android's double-tap-then-drag gesture to zoom
- Big performance improvements on Linux and Android (yes, it was already fast but is now even faster)
- Thanks to Vulkan support newly added in Makepad, which is now the default with proper runtime discovery and fallback
There are tons of other UI & platform improvements too, click to expand!
* Sleek scroll bars that fade out and are always properly positioned * "Cancel" gestures (pressing Escape or the Back button) now only close or stop what's in front or is most recently active (like speech recognition) * The invite screen shows more details and offers a "reject and block" button * Tooltips were redesigned to be flawless, even on touch screens * Jumping to an older message now always works even when you're locked to the bottom of the timeline * Redesigned the dropdown menus in the settings page to work properly on touch screens and keyboard nav * Text within a user or room pill now lines up perfectly with the surrounding text * Status and error messages are shown in full instead of being truncated with an ellipsis * Picking someone from the `@mention` popup no longer closes your on-screen keyboard * Tapping a link on a touchscreen no longer leaves it hovered * Robrix remembers your window's normal size even if you quit while it's maximized (or on macOS, while it's fullscreen) * Loading older messages is more reliable: the "Loading earlier messages..." notice stays up until those messages actually show up, and Robrix continues back paginating until there's actually messages added. * Sending a message with Enter (or Cmd/Ctrl+Enter) now keeps your cursor in the message box, so you can start typing the next one right away * Complete rework of the mobile view mode "stack" UI, where selecting a room or going back will slide in and out very smoothly, like native Android animationsFixes to the Matrix SDK
We've also been busy testing and fixing the Matrix Rust SDK, and have updated Robrix to the latest version with our various improvements.
Click here to view the full list of our Matrix SDK improvements
* [#6934 avoid panics/underflow due to subtraction in space member calculations](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-rust-sdk/pull/6934) * [#6935 fix issues with latest event handling/updating](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-rust-sdk/pull/6935) * [#6956 Don't assume a known room is joined just because it has no invite state](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-rust-sdk/pull/6956) * [#6967 Add cheap, efficient functions to query the parent/ancestor spaces of a space or room](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-rust-sdk/pull/6967) * [#7114 Don't reload all pinned events every time a room's info changes](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-rust-sdk/pull/7114) We also have lots of other fixes to the Matrix SDK that haven't been upstreamed yet (but will be soon): * A deleted thread reply is cleared from its thread and isn't reflected in the reply count or latest reply shown under the root message. * The latest reply shown under a thread's first message is no longer that same message, which could happen in encrypted rooms after you opened a thread whose replies couldn't be decrypted. * In a thread, Robrix now stops loading older messages as soon as it reaches the message that started the thread. * Back pagination is way faster now, and also more clear. The loading indicator stays on screen until the room timeline actually shows the older message history it fetched.Downloading and Installing Robrix
macOS
Download and open the .dmg, then drag Robrix to your Applications folder as normal.
- Apple Silicon (M1 and later):
Robrix_1.0.0-beta.2_aarch64.dmg(github.com) - Intel (x86_64):
Robrix_1.0.0-beta.2_x64.dmg(github.com)
iOS and iPadOS
Join the TestFlight beta at https://testflight.apple.com/join/cQPRgdVY.
Android
Download and then sideload Robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-android-aarch64.apk (github.com). You'll need to allow installing from unknown sources.
Windows 10 and 11
Download and run the installer robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-windows-x86_64.exe (github.com).
Linux
Ubuntu or Debian (and similar) distros.
Pick the proper version for your distro and CPU architecture:
| Your system | File |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04+, x86_64 (Intel/AMD) | robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-ubuntu-24.04-x86_64.deb (github.com) |
| Ubuntu 24.04+, aarch64 (ARM) | robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-ubuntu-24.04-arm-aarch64.deb (github.com) |
| Ubuntu 22.04, x86_64 (Intel/AMD) | robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-ubuntu-22.04-x86_64.deb (github.com) |
| Ubuntu 22.04, aarch64 (ARM) | robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-ubuntu-22.04-arm-aarch64.deb (github.com) |
Download and open that file in the Software Center (or App Center), or run this in your terminal:
:::sh
sudo apt install ./robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-ubuntu-24.04-x86_64.deb ## the ./ part is required
Arch Linux.
Download robrix-1.0.0beta.2-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst (github.com) on x86_64 or robrix-1.0.0beta.2-1-aarch64.pkg.tar.zst (github.com) on ARM, then run:
:::sh
sudo pacman -U robrix-1.0.0beta.2-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst ## x86_64
sudo pacman -U robrix-1.0.0beta.2-1-aarch64.pkg.tar.zst ## Arch Linux ARM and Asahi
Note that the robrix_1.0.0-beta.2_x86_64.tar.gz and robrix_1.0.0-beta.2_aarch64.tar.gz files are just published for use with community-maintained AUR packages (see robrix-bin and robrix-git in that package manager). We can't guarantee they are correct or up-to-date.
AppImage (for any Linux).
Download robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-x86_64.AppImage (github.com) on x86_64 or robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-aarch64.AppImage (github.com) on ARM, and then run:
:::sh
chmod +x robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-x86_64.AppImage
./robrix-1.0.0-beta.2-x86_64.AppImage
What changed in Robrix since the last release
Click here to view the full list
* Show blocked users in settings, allow reject invite + block action by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1058 * Update to latest matrix sdk version by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1059 * Show an error banner if a failed message is blocking a room's send queue by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1061 * Add native speech-to-text dictation to the message input bar by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1062 * Fix double-escaped links in HTML messages by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1063 * Upgrade htmlize version to reduce duplicate deps by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1064 * Add `SpeechTextInput` for dictation support in any text input by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1066 * Use our new makepad "cancel scopes" for Escape and go-back handling by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1067 * Show "Sent" next to the green status indicator for a sent msg by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1069 * InviteScreen: show room alias, join rule, member count, and topic by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1070 * Add new "room action bar" that shows a strip of buttons within a room by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1073 * Add app settings for sending and showing typing notifications by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1080 * Overhaul login screen: remove SSO buttons, query login methods, prefer oauth by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1081 * fix typos CI, they changed it upstream by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1082 * Refactor password text input into its own widget by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1083 * override more code syntax highlighting colors that makepad now offers by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1084 * Support encryption key backup & recovery, and identity reset by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1085 * Drop bundled fonts Robrix never uses (via makepad) by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1086 * another fix to makepad for minimized macOS apps by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1087 * Remember the window's floating size, not the maximized one by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1088 * Show a loading spinner while a space's rooms are still being fetched by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1089 * Properly implement tooltips in makepad to reposition them after drawing by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1090 * fix tooltip and link hover behavior on touch devices by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1091 * Fix radio button touch, hover, and click-off behavior in makepad by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1092 * Keep the text input focused when selecting a mention popup item by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1093 * Add panes within RoomScreens that can be popped out, plus members pane by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1094 * `RoomPaneKind`: impl Clone, not Copy, so it can hold data by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1095 * Add pinned messages pane, plus resizable dividers between docked panes by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1096 * Process user profile and avatar caches once, then notify widgets of changes by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1097 * Don't truncate status messages (with ellipsis) by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1098 * Properly show scroll bars everywhere that merits them by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1099 * Pill perfect alignment on baseline by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1100 * Add a Threads pane that lists a room's threads (like pinned messages pane) by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1101 * RoomActionBar: make selected/shown buttons clearer, add invite button by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1102 * Update build in structions in README by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1103 * Migrate to the new dropdown2 widget, which we've fixed in makepad by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1104 * ImageViewer: rewrite pinch-to-zoom to behave like Android/iOS by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1105 * Fix the mouse back button on Wayland by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1106 * Use our makepad shader cache, codegen, and repaint fixes by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1107 * Eagerly pre-create the settings screen when the user is about to open it by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1108 * Ignore interactive events when the settings page isn't shown by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1109 * Don't draw the hidden SpacesBar over the nav bar by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1110 * update makepad again for better GL driver logs by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1111 * Support collapsible groups of contiguous state events by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1112 * Ensure media attachment buttons (download/share/etc) wrap properly by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1113 * Fix makepad bug when checking hit tests on a stale area by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1114 * Avoid reloading room panes from scratch every time they're shown by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1115 * Android: better stack nav animation and Android keyboard IME fixes by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1116 * Update matrix sdk; fix thread summaries and threads pane on the new SDK by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1117 * Fix timeline back pagination ordering wrt loading indicator by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1118 * show a more accurate warning about verification vs recovery by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1119 * Fix drag-n-drop on dock in Makepad (mostly windows OS) by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1120 * Keep focus on the text input after sending a message by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1121 * Change zoom kbd shortcut to be 1% granularity by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1122 * Release version 1.0.0-beta-2 by @kevinaboos in https://github.com/project-robius/robrix/pull/1123Changes we made to Makepad since the last release
As always, a significant amount of our effort is spent upstreaming improvements & fixes into Makepad, such that Robrix and everyone else benefits from them.