Cross-platform check changes

Feedback
1

In the Edge extension, I can manually check changes for local monitors, but not for Cloud monitors.

It is not very convenient for users to always open a new tab, log in, and check changes. I hope I can run checks for Cloud monitors in the Edge extension. Just like the iOS App.

As said, in the iOS App, I can manually check changes for Cloud monitors, but not for (computer) local monitors. I hope this can also be allowed, as long as the relevant computer is online at that time.

2

@hanghangtpc Thank you very much for the thoughtful feedback — this is a very valid usability point. You are absolutely right in your observation.

This difference exists because:

  • Local monitors run directly inside the browser/device where the extension is installed. So the extension can immediately trigger a check.

  • Cloud monitors run on our remote servers. The extension does not directly control those servers, which is why manual triggering is currently handled from the web app.

  • For local monitors on desktop, the iOS app cannot trigger them because they depend on that specific machine being online and running.

That said, your suggestion makes a lot of sense from a user experience standpoint. I’ll forward this feedback to our product team.
We really appreciate you taking the time to explain this clearly — feedback like this helps us improve the product in meaningful ways.

3

@srijith You are welcome. Glad to help as a frequent user. I want to explain a bit more why I think those features are workable.

To start with, I observed three premises:

  1. Whenever a Cloud monitor detects a change, I can see it on the Edge extension and the iOS App. It means that the Distill server could send messages to the Edge extension and the iOS App.
  2. I can manually run checks for a Cloud monitor or delete a Cloud monitor in the iOS App. It means that the iOS App could send messages to the Distill server.
  3. I can delete a Cloud monitor in the Edge extension. It means that the Edge extension could send messages to the Distill server.

So:

While I totally understand that the extension cannot directly control Distill servers, it should be able to send a message to the server to trigger a check – just like it sends a message to the server to delete a monitor, and just like the iOS App sends a message to the server to trigger a check. After all, the iOS App does not directly control those servers, but it can check changes for Cloud monitors, right?

If the specific machine is not running or online, of course, a check cannot be triggered. But if it is running and online (I have a computer running 24/7, 365 with Internet connection), based on the premises above, the iOS App should be able to send a message to the server, which sends another message to the Edge extension, so that a check could be triggered.

4

@hanghangtpc thanks for sharing thoughts. what you describe is the sync which is slightly different from commands which require a request and response cycle. so it is slightly more involved. that being said, it is definitely technically feasible to build such a remote control system that can let one device control checks on another device in the account. we will analyze scope and feasibility of this feature request and add a support for it once it is done.

cheers!

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