fix: improve timeline UX - channel badges, breadcrumbs, default view

- Replace confusing colored left border with readable channel badge pills
- Add breadcrumb navigation across all reader views
- Default to timeline view when clicking Reader in sidebar
- Remove redundant back-link from channel view (breadcrumbs handle it)

assets/styles.css

@@ -1015,6 +1015,49 @@
   color: #7c3aed;
 }
 
+/* ==========================================================================
+   Breadcrumbs
+   ========================================================================== */
+
+.breadcrumbs {
+  margin-bottom: var(--space-xs);
+}
+
+.breadcrumbs__list {
+  align-items: center;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  font-size: var(--font-size-small);
+  gap: 0;
+  list-style: none;
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 0;
+}
+
+.breadcrumbs__item::before {
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  content: "/";
+  margin: 0 var(--space-xs);
+}
+
+.breadcrumbs__item:first-child::before {
+  content: none;
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+.breadcrumbs__link {
+  color: var(--color-primary);
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+
+.breadcrumbs__link:hover {
+  text-decoration: underline;
+}
+
+.breadcrumbs__current {
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+}
+
 /* ==========================================================================
    View Switcher
    ========================================================================== */
@@ -1072,19 +1115,20 @@
 }
 
 .timeline-view__item {
-  border-radius: var(--border-radius);
   position: relative;
 }
 
-.timeline-view__item .item-card {
-  border-left: none;
-}
-
-.timeline-view__channel-label {
-  display: block;
-  font-size: 0.75rem;
+.timeline-view__channel-badge {
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  color: #fff;
+  display: inline-block;
+  font-size: 0.6875rem;
   font-weight: 600;
-  padding: 0 var(--space-s) var(--space-xs);
+  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
+  line-height: 1;
+  margin-bottom: var(--space-xs);
+  padding: 3px 8px;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
 .timeline-view__filter {

lib/controllers/reader.js

@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ import { getDeckConfig, saveDeckConfig } from "../storage/deck.js";
  * @param {object} response - Express response
  */
 export async function index(request, response) {
-  const lastView = request.session?.microsubView || "channels";
+  const lastView = request.session?.microsubView || "timeline";
   const validViews = ["channels", "deck", "timeline"];
-  const view = validViews.includes(lastView) ? lastView : "channels";
+  const view = validViews.includes(lastView) ? lastView : "timeline";
   response.redirect(`${request.baseUrl}/${view}`);
 }
 
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ export async function channels(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Channels" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -85,6 +89,11 @@ export async function newChannel(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Channels", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels` },
+      { text: request.__("microsub.channels.new") },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -157,6 +166,11 @@ export async function channel(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Channels", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels` },
+      { text: channelDocument.name },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -184,6 +198,12 @@ export async function settings(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Channels", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels` },
+      { text: channelDocument.name, href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels/${uid}` },
+      { text: "Settings" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -273,6 +293,12 @@ export async function feeds(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Channels", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels` },
+      { text: channelDocument.name, href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels/${uid}` },
+      { text: "Feeds" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -354,6 +380,17 @@ export async function item(request, response) {
     channel = await channelsCollection.findOne({ _id: itemDocument.channelId });
   }
 
+  const itemBreadcrumbs = [
+    { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+  ];
+  if (channel) {
+    itemBreadcrumbs.push(
+      { text: "Channels", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels` },
+      { text: channel.name, href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels/${channel.uid}` },
+    );
+  }
+  itemBreadcrumbs.push({ text: itemDocument.name || "Item" });
+
   response.render("item", {
     title: itemDocument.name || "Item",
     item: itemDocument,
@@ -361,6 +398,7 @@ export async function item(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: itemBreadcrumbs,
   });
 }
 
@@ -473,6 +511,10 @@ export async function compose(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Compose" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -648,6 +690,10 @@ export async function searchPage(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Search" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -686,6 +732,10 @@ export async function searchFeeds(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Search" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -719,6 +769,10 @@ export async function subscribe(request, response) {
         baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
         readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
         activeView: "channels",
+        breadcrumbs: [
+          { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+          { text: "Search" },
+        ],
       });
     }
 
@@ -811,6 +865,13 @@ export async function editFeedForm(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "channels",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Channels", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels` },
+      { text: channelDocument.name, href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels/${uid}` },
+      { text: "Feeds", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels/${uid}/feeds` },
+      { text: "Edit" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -848,6 +909,13 @@ export async function updateFeedUrl(request, response) {
       baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
       readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
       activeView: "channels",
+      breadcrumbs: [
+        { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+        { text: "Channels", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels` },
+        { text: channelDocument.name, href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels/${uid}` },
+        { text: "Feeds", href: `${request.baseUrl}/channels/${uid}/feeds` },
+        { text: "Edit" },
+      ],
     });
   }
 
@@ -1029,6 +1097,10 @@ export async function actorProfile(request, response) {
       baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
       readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
       activeView: "channels",
+      breadcrumbs: [
+        { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+        { text: actor.name || "Actor" },
+      ],
     });
   } catch (error) {
     console.error(`[Microsub] Actor profile fetch failed: ${error.message}`);
@@ -1043,6 +1115,10 @@ export async function actorProfile(request, response) {
       readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
       activeView: "channels",
       error: "Could not fetch this actor's profile. They may have restricted access.",
+      breadcrumbs: [
+        { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+        { text: "Actor" },
+      ],
     });
   }
 }
@@ -1163,6 +1239,10 @@ export async function timeline(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "timeline",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Timeline" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -1223,6 +1303,10 @@ export async function deck(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "deck",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Deck" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 
@@ -1249,6 +1333,11 @@ export async function deckSettings(request, response) {
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     readerBaseUrl: request.baseUrl,
     activeView: "deck",
+    breadcrumbs: [
+      { text: "Reader", href: request.baseUrl },
+      { text: "Deck", href: `${request.baseUrl}/deck` },
+      { text: "Settings" },
+    ],
   });
 }
 

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@rmdes/indiekit-endpoint-microsub",
-  "version": "1.0.38",
+  "version": "1.0.39",
   "description": "Microsub endpoint for Indiekit. Enables subscribing to feeds and reading content using the Microsub protocol.",
   "keywords": [
     "indiekit",

views/channel.njk

@@ -3,9 +3,7 @@
 {% block reader %}
   <div class="channel">
     <header class="channel__header">
-      <a href="{{ baseUrl }}/channels" class="back-link">
-        {{ icon("previous") }} {{ __("microsub.channels.title") }}
-      </a>
+      <h1>{{ channel.name }}</h1>
       <div class="channel__actions">
         {% if not showRead and items.length > 0 %}
         <form action="{{ baseUrl }}/api/mark-read" method="POST" style="display: inline;">

views/layouts/reader.njk

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 {% block content %}
 <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/@rmdes-indiekit-endpoint-microsub/styles.css">
+{% include "partials/breadcrumbs.njk" %}
 {% include "partials/view-switcher.njk" %}
 {% block reader %}{% endblock %}
 {% endblock %}

views/partials/breadcrumbs.njk

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{# Breadcrumb navigation #}
+{% if breadcrumbs and breadcrumbs.length > 0 %}
+<nav class="breadcrumbs" aria-label="Breadcrumb">
+  <ol class="breadcrumbs__list">
+    {% for crumb in breadcrumbs %}
+    <li class="breadcrumbs__item">
+      {% if crumb.href %}
+      <a href="{{ crumb.href }}" class="breadcrumbs__link">{{ crumb.text }}</a>
+      {% else %}
+      <span class="breadcrumbs__current" aria-current="page">{{ crumb.text }}</span>
+      {% endif %}
+    </li>
+    {% endfor %}
+  </ol>
+</nav>
+{% endif %}

views/timeline.njk

@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@
     {% if items.length > 0 %}
     <div class="timeline" id="timeline">
       {% for item in items %}
-      <div class="timeline-view__item" style="border-left: 4px solid {{ item._channelColor or '#ccc' }}">
-        {% include "partials/item-card.njk" %}
+      <div class="timeline-view__item">
         {% if item._channelName %}
-        <span class="timeline-view__channel-label" style="color: {{ item._channelColor or '#888' }}">
+        <span class="timeline-view__channel-badge" style="background: {{ item._channelColor or '#888' }}">
           {{ item._channelName }}
         </span>
         {% endif %}
+        {% include "partials/item-card.njk" %}
       </div>
       {% endfor %}
     </div>