Element X IOS: Fixing Room List Order Jumps During Sync

by Alex Johnson 56 views

Experiencing your room list jump around wildly during sync in Element X iOS? You're not alone! This article delves into the frustrating issue of room list order spasms during syncing, explores potential causes, and discusses expected outcomes versus what's actually happening. If you're tired of the visually distracting and unstable feel of your room list, read on to understand why this is happening and what can be done about it.

Understanding the Room List Sync Issue

The room list is the heart of any messaging application, providing a quick overview of your conversations and allowing you to jump into them seamlessly. However, in Element X iOS, users have reported a disconcerting issue: the room list order jumps around erratically during the syncing process. This "spasm," as some users describe it, creates a visually distracting and unstable experience. Imagine trying to find a specific conversation while the list is constantly reshuffling – frustrating, right? This article breaks down the problem, explores potential causes, and outlines expected behaviors to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue. We'll delve into the steps to reproduce this problem, the expected outcome, and what's actually happening, giving you a clear picture of the room list sync problem in Element X iOS.

Reproducing the Issue: Steps to Witness the Room List Spasm

To better understand and address this issue, it's crucial to be able to reproduce it consistently. Here are the steps to witness the frustrating room list jumping behavior in Element X iOS:

  1. Foreground the app after being offline: Start by ensuring your device has been offline for a while. This could mean putting your phone in airplane mode or simply disconnecting from Wi-Fi or cellular data.
  2. Bring Element X iOS to the foreground: Once offline, open the Element X iOS app. Let it sit in the background for a short period.
  3. Reconnect to the internet: Re-establish your internet connection by disabling airplane mode or connecting to Wi-Fi or cellular data.
  4. Watch the room list sync: Now, observe the room list as it begins to sync with the server. This is the critical step where the issue manifests.
  5. Be surprised by the erratic ordering: As the app syncs, you'll likely notice the room list order rapidly changing. Rooms jump up and down, creating a visually jarring and unstable experience. The order seems to shift without a clear pattern, making it difficult to track conversations.

This jumping and reordering is what users are referring to as the "spasm." It's not a subtle shift; it's a wild dance of rooms that can be quite disorienting. By following these steps, you can reliably reproduce the issue and see for yourself the problem we're addressing.

Expected Outcome vs. Reality: What Should Happen During Sync?

To effectively address the room list jumping issue, it's important to understand the expected behavior during sync. Ideally, the room list should update smoothly and consistently, providing a stable and predictable experience. Here's a breakdown of what should happen and how it differs from the observed reality:

What You Should Expect

In an ideal scenario, the initial sync after coming online should be a seamless process. The app should:

  • Receive a single SSS (Server-Side Sorting) response: This response should contain recent events across all rooms in the current sync range, as well as any rooms the user has specifically subscribed to (e.g., those in the viewport).
  • Apply events in a single block: This block of events should be applied directly to the room list, causing a single reordering.
  • Result in an atomic reordering: The room list should reorder itself in one smooth operation, rather than jumping around in multiple steps.
  • Provide a stable and predictable order: The final order should accurately reflect the latest activity and user preferences, without any visual glitches.

What Actually Happens

Unfortunately, the reality often deviates significantly from this ideal scenario. Instead of a smooth update, users experience:

  • Much jumping around: The room list order changes rapidly and erratically, creating a visually unstable and distracting experience.
  • Multiple reorderings: Rooms shift positions multiple times during the sync process, making it difficult to track conversations.
  • A sense of instability: The constant reordering gives the impression that the app is buggy or unreliable.

This discrepancy between expected and actual behavior highlights the core issue. The room list is not updating in a clean, atomic manner, leading to the frustrating "spasm" effect.

Potential Causes of the Room List Jumping

Several factors could contribute to the erratic room list behavior during sync. Understanding these potential causes is crucial for developers to pinpoint the root of the problem and implement effective solutions. Let's explore some of the most likely culprits:

Expired SSS Session

If the Server-Side Sorting (SSS) session has expired, the app may need to restart the pagination process. This involves expanding the SSS range incrementally, starting with a small limit (e.g., limit=1). If the initial limit doesn't include a visible event, the app may need to subscribe to the room to correctly calculate its position in the list. This can lead to the room list jumping as the app receives new information and adjusts the order.

  • Why it causes jumping: Each time the SSS range expands or a subscription is made, the room list may reorder itself, resulting in multiple shifts.
  • When it's likely to happen: This scenario is more likely if the app frequently resets the SSS range, such as every time it's brought to the foreground. However, this would be an inefficient approach.

UTDs and Decryption

Untrusted Device (UTD) notifications can also play a role. If the app receives UTDs, it may decrypt them later. If a decrypted event turns out to be the latest visible event in a room, the room list order may need to be adjusted. While this is statistically less likely (as most events are visible once decrypted), it can still contribute to the jumping behavior.

  • Why it causes jumping: When a previously undecrypted event becomes visible, the room list needs to be reordered to reflect the new information.
  • When it's less likely: This scenario is less likely in rooms without encryption, as there are fewer events that need to be decrypted.

New Messages Arriving Immediately After Catch-Up Sync

If new messages arrive shortly after the initial catch-up sync, the room list may need to reorder itself to reflect the latest activity. This is a legitimate reason for the order to change, but it shouldn't be the sole cause of the observed "spasm."

  • Why it causes jumping: New messages indicate recent activity, which can change the order of rooms in the list.
  • When it's a factor: This is more likely to be a factor when there's high activity in the user's rooms.

By understanding these potential causes, developers can focus their efforts on addressing the specific issues that contribute to the room list jumping problem.

Device and Software Details

To effectively troubleshoot this issue, it's helpful to have information about the user's device and software configuration. In the reported instance, the following details were provided:

  • Phone Model: 12 Pro Max
  • Operating System Version: 26.1
  • Application Version: Nightly from Nov 20 2025 (although the issue persists in later versions)

This information can help developers identify potential device-specific or software-related factors that may be contributing to the problem. For example, certain iOS versions or device models might exhibit this behavior more frequently. While the provided application version is from the future, it indicates that the issue has been present for some time and across different builds.

Conclusion: Addressing the Room List Spasm

The erratic room list behavior during sync in Element X iOS is a frustrating issue that impacts user experience. By understanding the steps to reproduce the problem, the expected outcome versus reality, and the potential causes, we can work towards a solution. Whether it's an expired SSS session, decryption of UTDs, or new messages arriving during sync, identifying the root cause is the first step.

By prioritizing a smooth and stable room list update, Element X iOS can provide a more enjoyable and reliable messaging experience for its users. Addressing this "spasm" will not only improve visual stability but also enhance the overall perception of the app's performance and reliability.

For more information on Element and its development, you can visit their official website at Element. This will provide you with further insights into their ongoing efforts to improve the platform and address issues like this one. Understanding the complexities of real-time data synchronization in messaging apps is key to resolving such problems and delivering a seamless user experience.