The topic drifts away
A month later no one knows which outlet was meant. 'OK' records nothing, and a new person rebuilds the context.
TOPIC BY POINTresolved
Studyoutlet
Living roomoutlet
TOPIC BY POINT
Check the outlet by the desk?
Accepted: the point stays in the study.
Zulip-style discussions for projects
A discussion stays where the decision is made.
A question about a record, diagram, task, or document opens in its own topic. Participants see context, outcome, and history instead of searching through chats.
Base recordField value, link, row status, and specification stay in the record context.
Diagram pointCoordinates, label, room, and connection do not get lost outside the sheet.
ResolvedThere is a result for everyone: which option was accepted and what is correct.
Grew from Zulip
Topics and streams, next to the project object
We took Zulip's topic and stream model and tied it to the work: records, diagrams, tasks, and documents keep the discussion, access, and outcome together.
Source model
Zulip
SHD version
Discussions
From Zulip to project context
A topic must lead back to the work
Zulip organizes conversations well. SHD connects a topic to the project object, its access rules, and the next action.
The decision remains
The place, history, answer author, and accepted option are visible. The link opens from the record and the tree.
Check the point by the desk: the diagram says study, but the table says dressing room. Which one is correct?
Where a topic lives
The conversation is tied to a place
When the object is known, open the topic from it. A free topic is for places with no record or point yet.
01
Base record
Field value, link, row status, and specification stay in the record context.
02
Diagram point
Coordinates, label, room, and connection do not get lost outside the sheet.
03
PDF canvas
The topic appears on the sheet even when there is no separate point yet.
04
Specification text
The wording and scope are discussed beside the original requirement.
05
Task
Execution details and verification stay with the task, not in a parallel conversation.
06
Finance and documents
Amount, delivery, version, and next contact are visible where the object lives.
A topic without an object is the exception. When the place is known, start there.
How a question closes
Close it and leave the result
A status helps the list, but the decision must be written in words and available to everyone in the topic.
01
Resolved
There is a result for everyone: which option was accepted and what is correct.
02
Pin the result
In a long topic, the decision moves to the top instead of hiding in the feed.
03
Archive
The topic leaves the working list while its history remains available.
04
Hide
It removes the topic only for you. The team can still see and discuss it.
05
Unsubscribe
It removes the topic from your inbox without closing it for the team.
A question cannot be closed without a result message. Archive does not replace a decision.
Inbox
A work list, not a feed of noise
Mentions, new messages, and reminders gather in one place. A star stores personal decisions and notifies nobody.
Work inbox · 3 new
- New thread by the outletReply in place and record the result
- Project mentionAn engineer's answer is needed before the check
- ReminderReturn to the question after delivery
- Passport fragmentSave the wording in the object notes
☆ personal · remind later · Mention only the person who is needed
A conversation does not widen access
A discussion has the same boundaries as its object. When an owner and deadline are needed, pass the decision to a task.
- Object access — Start with the boundaryA general topic page does not open a private base or diagram.
- Need a deadline and owner — Then make a taskA comment does not replace an assignment. The topic keeps a link to the decision.
Before a discussion
The boundaries in brief
A discussion keeps context and decisions, but does not replace an object, task, or access rule.
Is this just a project chat?
No. A topic is tied to the place of work: a record, point, task, or document. A free topic is for work that has no object yet.
Why cannot a colleague see the topic?
They do not have access to the object. Access comes before a mention.
Can I write a free topic?
Yes, when there is no object. If there is a record or point, write there instead.
Does a hidden topic close for everyone?
No. Hide removes it only for you. Everyone needs a result and resolved status.
Does deleting a discussion delete the record?
No. The object remains. If the object is deleted, its topic goes with it.
How is this different from regular Zulip?
Topics and streams remain, but a working topic can link to a record, diagram, task, or document. Access follows the object, and the outcome stays in its history.
Decision context
Keep decisions where the team does the work.
We will find where your team needs threads: logs, diagrams, tasks, and documents.
We will start with the places where questions, versions, and accepted options disappear today.