In the world of software, evolution is key to meeting user needs and staying ahead of the curve. It is not just about innovating features or enhancing performance; it's equally about refining user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). These elements are key elements of modern software, serving as the bridge between powerful technology and the people who use it daily.

Table of contents:

• Launch Week - Day 2
• What’s New with Galaxy 2.0
• Next Steps

Launch Week - Day 2

We're excited to introduce Galaxy version 2.0 today!

Galaxy 2.0 represents a significant leap forward, combining what were once two separate applications—Galaxy and Dashboard—into a single, streamlined interface. The upgrades of Galaxy 2.0 focus on simplifying operations and improving the user experience.

Historically, Galaxy users had to toggle between two distinct applications, depending on their operational needs—Galaxy for backend settings and the Dashboard for front-end interactions. This could lead to inefficiency, especially when managing multiple organizations or navigating different regions. Galaxy 2.0 resolves these challenges by integrating these functionalities into a single, intuitive platform, enhancing accessibility and ease of use.

What’s New with Galaxy 2.0?

Galaxy 2.0 merges the best of both worlds into one cohesive platform. This unification reduces users' cognitive load and creates a more intuitive workflow. Galaxy 2.0 aims to enhance productivity and user satisfaction by streamlining access and visibility.

Detailed Comparison and Enhancements

Light Mode and Dark Mode

• The legacy Dashboard and Galaxy UIs were limited to only offering a Light Mode, which could be straining on the eyes during long periods of use or in low-light environments. Recognizing the need for a more comfortable and customizable user experience, Galaxy 2.0 introduces both Light Mode and Dark Mode. This new feature allows users to switch between modes depending on their preference or ambient lighting conditions, reducing eye strain and improving usability.

Easier Account Switching

• Old UI: Users often had difficulty understanding which account they were using.
• New UI: Galaxy 2.0 introduces a dropdown menu for quick switching, vastly reducing the steps needed to navigate between accounts.

Easier Region Switching

• Old UI: Users often had log-in issues and spent a lot of time changing regions, which was time-consuming.
• New UI: Galaxy 2.0 introduces a dropdown menu for quick switching, vastly reducing the steps needed to navigate between regions.

Logs and Container Metrics

• Old UI: Managing containerized applications can be challenging, especially when accessing and interpreting the metrics and logs. The sheer volume of data often makes it difficult to filter out the needed information. This can lead to confusion and inefficiencies in troubleshooting and optimizing the application's performance.
• New UI: Galaxy 2.0 has made monitoring and troubleshooting much easier than ever before. With its intuitive interface, users can now easily access and analyze data in real time, identifying and rectifying issues quickly. The enhanced visualization tools also provide a more comprehensive overview of the system's performance, enabling users to make more informed decisions.

Push to Deploy Flow

• Old UI: The deployment process involved multiple stages and screens, complicating what should be a straightforward task.
• New UI: The 'Push to Deploy' feature is now more accessible and streamlined, with fewer clicks and a cleaner interface to guide users through deployment.

Enhanced Filters on Apps List Page

• Old UI: Navigating through the apps list could be cumbersome, with limited filtering options that made it difficult to locate specific applications quickly.
• New UI: Galaxy 2.0 introduces advanced filtering capabilities on the apps list page, enabling users to efficiently sort and find applications based on multiple criteria such as status, plans, or name. This improvement significantly reduces the time spent searching for apps, streamlining the management process and enhancing user productivity.

The current state of the migration

While Galaxy 2.0 successfully integrates many core functionalities of the legacy Galaxy and Dashboard UIs, certain features have not yet transitioned to the new platform. Currently, the App Settings such as Domains & HTTPS, Scaling and Auto-Scaling, Security, Start/Stop App, and Delete App are still managed through the original interfaces. Additionally, the 'Push to Deploy' functionality for Bitbucket and GitLab remains on the older platforms. These elements are crucial for many users, and their migration is a priority for the next updates.

Next Steps

In the next few days, we'll start giving some users access to the new version, and by the end of the week, we aim to have it available for everyone. Once you log into Galaxy, you'll see a message asking if you'd like to try out Galaxy 2.0!

Looking forward, Galaxy 2.0 plans to expand its capabilities and user support. The forthcoming updates are set to include:

• Migration of Remaining Features: Essential tools like Domains & HTTPS settings and advanced app management options will be integrated into Galaxy 2.0 to offer a unified experience.
• New Billing Page: A redesigned billing interface will provide detailed insights into app usage and costs, helping users manage their resources more effectively.
• Extended Database Support: Additional database technologies will be supported to cater to diverse development needs, enhancing the platform's versatility.
• Node.js, Python, and Additional Language Support: By incorporating support for Node.js and Python and planning to include additional platforms, Galaxy 2.0 will broaden its appeal to a broader segment of developers. This expansion facilitates the development of a diverse range of applications, accommodating a variety of programming languages and enhancing the platform's versatility. This strategic enhancement ensures Galaxy 2.0 remains adaptable and appealing to a global developer community.

The introduction of Galaxy 2.0 marks a new chapter in user interface design for Galaxy apps. By listening to user feedback and studying usage patterns, Galaxy has successfully merged two platforms into one robust application. We expect further enhancements and refinements as more users adopt this new version.