Meshtastic-Android/conductor/product-guidelines.md

Product Guidelines

Brand Voice and Tone

• Technical yet Accessible: Communicate complex networking and hardware concepts clearly without being overly academic.
• Reliable and Authoritative: The app is a utility for critical, off-grid communication. Language should convey stability and safety.
• Community-Oriented: Encourage open-source participation and community support.

UX Principles

• Offline-First: Assume the user has no cellular or Wi-Fi connection. All core functions must work locally via the mesh network.
• Adaptive Layouts: Support multiple form factors seamlessly (phones, tablets, desktop) using Material 3 Adaptive Scaffold principles.
• Information Density: Give power users access to detailed metrics (SNR, battery, hop limits) without overwhelming beginners. Use progressive disclosure.

Prose Style

• Clarity over cleverness: Use plain English.
• Action-oriented: Button labels and prompts should start with strong verbs (e.g., "Send", "Connect", "Export").
• Consistent Terminology:
  • Use "Node" for devices on the network.
  • Use "Channel" for communication groups.
  • Use "Direct Message" for 1-to-1 communication.