element-web/docs/labs.md

Labs features

If Labs is enabled in the Riot config, you can enable some of these features by going to Settings->Labs. This list is non-exhaustive and subject to change, chat in #riot-web:matrix.org for more information.

Be warned! Labs features are not finalised, they may be fragile, they may change, they may be dropped. Ask in the room if you are unclear about any details here.

Font scaling (feature_font_scaling)

Enables font scaling options for accessibility. To alter the scale check the appearance tab in settings.

Alternate message layouts (feature_alternate_message_layouts)

Enables options in appearance settings to switch between message layouts such as the default and "irc-like" layouts.

Message pinning (feature_pinning)

Allows you to pin messages in the room. To pin a message, use the 3 dots to the right of the message and select "Pin".

Custom status (feature_custom_status)

An experimental approach for supporting custom status messages across DMs. To set a status, click on your avatar next to the message composer.

Custom tags (feature_custom_tags)

An experimental approach for dealing with custom tags. Custom tags will appear in the bottom portion of the community filter panel.

Setting custom tags is not supported by Riot.

Render simple counters in room header (feature_state_counters)

Allows rendering of labelled counters above the message list.

Once enabled, send a custom state event to a room to set values:

1. In a room, type /devtools to bring up the devtools interface
2. Click "Send Custom Event"
3. Toggle from "Event" to "State Event"
4. Set the event type to: re.jki.counter and give it a unique key
5. Specify the content in the following format:

{
    "link": "",
    "severity": "normal",
    "title": "my counter",
    "value": 0
}

That's it. Now should see your new counter under the header.

Multiple integration managers (feature_many_integration_managers)

Exposes a way to access all the integration managers known to Riot. This is an implementation of MSC1957.

New ways to ignore people (feature_mjolnir)

When enabled, a new settings tab appears for users to be able to manage their ban lists. This is a different kind of ignoring where the ignored user's messages still get rendered, but are hidden by default.

Ban lists are rooms within Matrix, proposed as MSC2313. Mjolnir is a set of moderation tools which support ban lists.

Verifications in DMs (feature_dm_verification)

An implementation of MSC2241. When enabled, verification might not work with devices which don't support MSC2241.

This also includes a new implementation of the user & member info panel, designed to share more code between showing community members & room members. Built on top of this new panel is also a new UX for verification from the member panel.

Cross-signing

Cross-signing (MSC1756) improves the device verification experience by allowing you to verify a user instead of verifying each of their devices.

The feature is enabled by default and does not follow a traditional labs flag at the moment. If something goes wrong, add this to your config to disable it:

{
  "settingDefaults": {
    "feature_cross_signing": false  
  }
}

The setting will be removed in a future release, enabling it non-optionally for all users.

Event indexing and E2EE search support using Seshat (feature_event_indexing)

Adds support for search in E2E encrypted rooms. This enables an event indexer that downloads, stores, and indexes room messages for E2E encrypted rooms.

The existing search will transparently work for encrypted rooms just like it does for non-encrypted.

Bridge info tab (feature_bridge_state)

Adds a "Bridge Info" tab to the Room Settings dialog, if a compatible bridge is present in the room. The Bridge info tab pulls information from the m.bridge state event (MSC2346). Since the feature is based upon a MSC, most bridges are not expected to be compatible, and users should not rely on this tab as the single source of truth just yet.

Presence indicator in room list (feature_presence_in_room_list)

This adds a presence indicator in the room list next to DM rooms where the other person is online.

Show padlocks on invite only rooms (feature_invite_only_padlocks)

This adds padlocks to room list tiles and room header for invite only rooms. This feature flag (unlike most) is enabled by default.

Custom themes (feature_custom_themes)

Custom themes are possible through Riot's theme support, though normally these themes need to be defined in the config for Riot. This labs flag adds an ability for end users to add themes themselves by using a URL to the JSON theme definition.

For some sample themes, check out aaronraimist/riot-web-themes.