The discussion revolves around the absence of a “Create Topic” button on the category index page for admins. downey initiates the conversation, expressing their desire to create a topic while viewing the /categories listing page. whatrevolution shares their surprise and frustration about the omission.
It is revealed that the “Create Topic” button is hidden on /categories for admins to make space for the “Create Category” button. However, whatrevolution argues that this is a poor UX decision, as category creation is a rare event and admins are likely to navigate to the admin panel to perform such actions.
@codinghorror suggests adding a “Create Topic” button for non-admin users, while downey questions why admins shouldn’t see both buttons. neil resolves the issue by implementing a solution, where the “Create Topic” button will be visible if a user has the ability to create topics and the “Create Category” button is not shown.
As a user, I want to create a topic while viewing the /categories listing page so I can start writing without having to go back to the latest topics page. Right now, I can only “Create Category” (or maybe not even this since I’m actually logged in as an admin).
IMHO the “Create Topic” button should be visible both on /latest and on /categories.
Hadn’t noticed. Now I can’t unsee it, and went through all stages of loss and grief trying for reasons that someone would intentionally omit the button. Y u do dis?
Ah, right. “Create Topic” goes away on /categories because “Create Category” needs that space when an admin user is viewing it. I was judging this as a normal user, on meta.discourse.org, without looking at my own instance.
While it contextually makes sense to do that (you’re an admin, on /categories, and you want to make a category, not a topic), it’s actually a fairly bad UX move. Admin or developer chauvinism, really. Besides, category creation is such a rare event that it’s not even convenient. You have to remember that it’s possible, and go there. If I’m looking for that ability as an admin, I’m going to click “Admin” first.
I don’t see a create topic button here on /categories for regular users. @neil can you add that to your list – we should have a create topic button here for non-admin users.
I continue to believe that admin users should get a create category button here instead. Sorry.
Is there any valid reason why an admin shouldn’t see both buttons?
I added this today. The Create Topic button will show if you can create topics and the Create Category button isn’t being shown.