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Browser's Hints and Tips

Browser the Cat uses a smart hint system to help you discover BookWish features at the perfect moment. This guide explains how hints work and what you can expect.

How Hints Work​

One-Time Display​

Each hint appears only once. Browser tracks which tips you've seen and won't show them again. This ensures:

  • You're not repeatedly shown the same information
  • Hints stay fresh and relevant
  • Browser doesn't become annoying or intrusive

Contextual Timing​

Hints appear when they're most relevant:

  • First visits: When you open a tab or feature for the first time
  • Before actions: Right before you perform an important action
  • Empty states: When there's no content yet and you might wonder what to do
  • New features: When BookWish adds new capabilities

Auto-Dismiss​

Most Browser hints automatically disappear after 5 seconds. You can also:

  • Tap on Browser's message to dismiss it immediately
  • Continue using the app—the hint won't block your interaction
  • Ignore it completely—it will fade away on its own

Common Hints​

Here are some of the hints you might see from Browser:

First-Time Tab Visits​

Wish Tab​

Hint key: wish_tab_first When: First time visiting the Wish tab Message: "Welcome to Wish! Search for books, explore new releases, and build your wishlist of books you want to read." Purpose: Introduces the primary features of the Wish tab

Share Tab​

Hint key: share_tab_first When: First time visiting the Share tab Message: "This is Share, where you can connect with fellow readers! Post your favorite lines, reviews, and reading updates." Purpose: Explains the social features available

Read Tab​

Hint key: read_tab_first When: First time visiting the Read tab Message: "Welcome to Read! Join book clubs, participate in reading challenges, and track your reading journey." Purpose: Highlights community and tracking features

First Actions​

Adding to Wishlist​

Hint key: first_wishlist_add When: About to add your first book to wishlist Message: "Great choice! Books in your wishlist are easy to find later, and you can set up stock alerts to know when they're available." Purpose: Explains wishlist benefits and related features

Pre-Purchase​

Hint key: pre_purchase When: Before making your first purchase Message: "You're about to support a local bookstore! Make sure your shipping address is correct, and keep an eye out for order updates." Purpose: Reminds about important checkout details

Hint Categories​

Browser's hints fall into several categories:

Welcome Hints​

Introduce you to major sections of the app:

  • Main tab explanations
  • Feature overviews
  • Navigation tips
  • What you can do in each area

Characteristics:

  • Appear on first visit
  • Brief and encouraging
  • Focus on possibilities
  • Waving or speaking animation

Action Hints​

Provide guidance before important actions:

  • First purchase
  • First wishlist add
  • Setting up profile
  • Making first post

Characteristics:

  • Appear just before the action
  • Include helpful reminders
  • Prevent common mistakes
  • Thinking or speaking animation

Discovery Hints​

Help you find features you might not notice:

  • Hidden features
  • Shortcuts
  • Tips and tricks
  • Power user features

Characteristics:

  • Appear contextually
  • Based on your usage patterns
  • Highlight lesser-known capabilities
  • Speaking animation

Situational Hints​

Respond to specific situations:

  • Empty states (no content yet)
  • Loading states (waiting for data)
  • Error recovery
  • Feature suggestions

Characteristics:

  • Highly contextual
  • Provide next steps
  • Helpful rather than instructional
  • Varies by animation based on context

Hint Lifecycle​

When Browser Appears​

  1. Trigger event occurs (e.g., you visit a new tab)
  2. Browser checks if you've seen this hint before
  3. If not seen, Browser appears with the hint
  4. Message displays with appropriate animation
  5. Auto-dismiss timer starts (usually 5 seconds)
  6. Hint is marked as seen in local storage

When Browser Doesn't Appear​

Browser skips showing a hint if:

  • You've seen this specific hint before
  • Browser is disabled in settings
  • A higher-priority notification is showing
  • You're in the middle of a critical workflow
  • The context is no longer relevant

Managing Hints​

Viewing Active Hints​

Currently, you can't see a list of all available hints. Hints appear naturally as you use BookWish. This design is intentional—hints are meant to be discovered, not studied in advance.

Resetting Hints​

If you want to see Browser's hints again (perhaps to remember something or after teaching a friend to use your account):

Current method: This feature is coming in a future update

Planned approach:

  1. Go to Settings > Preferences
  2. Scroll to the Helper section
  3. Tap "Reset Browser Hints"
  4. Confirm the reset
  5. All hints will show again as if you're a new user

Clearing Individual Hints​

Currently, you cannot clear individual hints. It's an all-or-nothing reset. This may change in future updates based on user feedback.

Hint Storage​

Where Hints Are Stored​

Browser tracks seen hints using local device storage:

  • Storage method: Hive local database
  • Storage location: browser_hints box on your device
  • Persistence: Remains until you reset or uninstall

What's Tracked​

For each hint, Browser stores:

  • Hint key: Unique identifier (e.g., wish_tab_first)
  • Seen status: Boolean true/false
  • No timestamp: When you saw it isn't tracked
  • No content: The hint message itself isn't stored

Privacy​

Hint data is:

  • Local only: Never sent to BookWish servers
  • Not synced: Won't carry over to other devices
  • Not shared: Completely private to your device
  • Deletable: Removed when you uninstall BookWish or reset hints

Hint Best Practices​

For New Users​

When you're new to BookWish:

  • Read each hint: They contain valuable information
  • Don't rush: Take a moment to understand each tip
  • Explore: Browser hints point you to features worth trying
  • Keep Browser enabled: At least until you're comfortable with the app

For Experienced Users​

Once you know your way around:

  • Dismiss quickly: Tap hints you don't need
  • Look for new hints: When features update
  • Consider disabling: If Browser becomes unnecessary (see Turning Off Browser)
  • Reset hints: If helping a friend learn BookWish on your device

For Teaching Others​

If showing BookWish to someone:

  • Keep Browser on: Let them learn from the hints
  • Don't dismiss too quickly: Give them time to read
  • Point out Browser: Some users might not notice
  • Reset hints afterward: So you can see them again if needed (when feature is available)

Hint Timing Examples​

Immediate Hints​

Some hints appear instantly:

You open Wish tab for the first time
→ Browser appears immediately
→ "Welcome to Wish! Search for books..."

Delayed Hints​

Some hints wait for the right moment:

You browse books for a while
→ You tap "Add to Wishlist" for the first time
→ Browser appears
→ "Great choice! Books in your wishlist..."

Conditional Hints​

Some hints only appear if conditions are met:

You visit a book page
→ Book is out of stock at your home store
→ You haven't set up a stock alert before
→ Browser might suggest setting up alerts

Future Hint Features​

Planned enhancements to Browser's hint system:

Smart Hints​

  • Usage-based: Hints tailored to how you use BookWish
  • Progressive: More advanced tips as you gain experience
  • Contextual: Based on your reading interests

Hint Management​

  • Hint library: View all available hints
  • Selective reset: Re-enable specific hints
  • Hint search: Find hints about specific features

Hint Customization​

  • Frequency control: How often Browser appears
  • Hint categories: Enable/disable categories of hints
  • Learning pace: Faster or slower hint progression

Troubleshooting Hints​

Not Seeing Any Hints​

If Browser never appears:

  1. Check if Browser is enabled:

    • Settings > Preferences > Helper
    • "Show Browser" should be toggled ON

  2. Check if you're new:

    • Hints mostly appear for first-time actions
    • Experienced users see fewer hints

  3. Try new features:

    • Visit tabs you haven't explored
    • Try actions you haven't done before

Seeing Too Many Hints​

If Browser appears too often:

  • This is unusual—hints show only once each
  • You might be exploring many new features
  • Consider temporarily disabling Browser
  • Report excessive hints to support

Missing a Hint​

If you dismissed a hint too quickly:

  • Wait for the hint reset feature (coming soon)
  • Check documentation for that feature
  • Contact support if you need specific information

Hints Not Auto-Dismissing​

If Browser's messages stay on screen:

  • Try tapping the message to dismiss manually
  • Check for app updates
  • Restart the app if the issue persists
  • Report the bug to support

Getting More Help​

While Browser provides contextual hints, you might need more information:

In-App Help​

  • Documentation: Access full guides (like this one)
  • Feature tooltips: Tap info icons throughout the app
  • Settings explanations: Descriptions for each setting

Support Resources​

  • Help center: Comprehensive articles and FAQs
  • Community forums: Ask other BookWish users
  • Support team: Contact for personalized help
  • Tutorial videos: Visual guides for complex features

Learning Path​

Recommended progression:

  1. Let Browser guide you: Follow hints as you explore
  2. Experiment: Try features Browser introduces
  3. Read documentation: For deeper understanding
  4. Ask questions: Community or support team
  5. Master features: Become a BookWish power user

Hint Philosophy​

Browser's hint system is designed around these principles:

Non-Intrusive​

  • Appears only when helpful
  • Never blocks your workflow
  • Auto-dismisses to stay out of your way
  • Can be disabled completely

Educational​

  • Teaches through use, not lectures
  • Just-in-time learning
  • Builds from basics to advanced
  • Empowers you to discover features

Respectful​

  • Shows once, then trusts you learned
  • Respects your time and attention
  • Assumes you're capable
  • Doesn't talk down or over-explain

Delightful​

  • Friendly and warm tone
  • Adds personality to the app
  • Makes learning enjoyable
  • Celebrates your progress

Browser's hints are here to help you get the most out of BookWish. Whether you're just starting or looking to discover hidden features, Browser's got your back!