September 2023 Summaries

Knock has released version 2.0 of its notification design kit on Figma, which has been utilized by over 7,500 designers since its initial release. This updated kit includes new mobile in-app feed designs, enhanced component property controls, and retains features from the previous version, such as dark mode support and in-app cell component variants. The design kit aims to help teams quickly implement in-app notification feeds, which allow users to view relevant product activity within the application itself. The new version introduces mobile-specific designs, including swipe actions and varied layouts for mobile apps, while also improving component property controls using the latest Figma features. Knock’s focus is on enabling teams to deploy effective notification systems rapidly, with no need for extensive infrastructure setup or development of APIs and UI, thereby allowing them to concentrate on their product's unique features.

Knock provides a set of APIs and a dashboard for developers to introduce transactional notifications into their products efficiently, emphasizing the importance of observability in maintaining a robust notification system. A failure in notifications can lead to missed opportunities and customer churn, making observability crucial as it helps identify and rectify errors, ensuring smooth communication between a product and its users. Observability in notifications involves using logs, traces, and metrics to diagnose and address issues, allowing engineering teams to understand and improve system performance actively. By using tools that output these observability pillars, developers can pinpoint anomalies and optimize service delivery, while also empowering customer service teams with valuable insights to better assist users. Metrics derived from observability not only assist in troubleshooting but also provide actionable insights into user preferences and behaviors, helping to tailor notification strategies for improved engagement. Knock's solution integrates observability features like debugging capabilities, webhooks, and real-time metrics streaming, offering developers comprehensive tools to enhance their notification systems' reliability and effectiveness.

Knock has released a major update to its workflow builder, introducing significant enhancements such as the ability to create if-else and multi-branch workflows using a new branch function. This update includes a more intuitive user experience with drag-and-drop capabilities, pan-and-zoom controls, and keyboard shortcuts for easier navigation within the workflow canvas. The workflow debugger has been improved to offer detailed insights into branch execution and expression evaluations, facilitating more granular debugging. Additional features include a throttle function to manage workflow execution frequency, an overhauled event trigger configuration, and enhanced conditions debugging. The updated Knock workflow builder is now available to all customers, providing an advanced and flexible platform for building complex messaging workflows.