Add "what's new in iD" notification on new versions

[Stalfur]

I've started work on this, basically a modal window that announces changes from last major version.

Originally spurred by changes in 1.2 which changed shortcuts (orthogonalize now also straightens lines, shortcut changed from Q to S) and usage (adding a line to a line did not continue it anymore, instead use A from endpoint) I thought this needed to be communicated better to users who do not read the version changes on github.

However looking at all that this entails I'm beginning to have doubts. This is due to translations, I'm sure the majority of users use English but the translations into various languages are probably not without any userbase behind them.

What each (major update) would require then is to write down key changes (like in shortcuts and usability, minor error fixes might be too much information to be of use to casual users) in English and have translated into each language. Or completely ignore the extra languages and only display this in English (sort of defeats purpose for non-English speakers admittedly).

Thoughts on this?

[Zverik]

Why a modal window, when, if I remember correctly, there was a decision to move as much as possible to non-modal sidebar?

As for translations, just keep changelogs in transifex and notify translation teams beforehand. Even being on it, I still find out of new versions only the next day they are out.

[Stalfur]

It would have saved 2 issues here and lots of confusion for me, personally, if a modal window had appeared with 1.2 update telling me that Q was now S and I had to use A to extend a line. Giving an option to turn off these announcements is of course on the list, you see it first time, say "No thanks, I don't want to see these messages" and you never see it again.

I think it would be too much to display every single bug-fix but major features integrated or changed definitely belong there.

[jfirebaugh]

I'm not too worried about translations. The way this should work is that when a relevant change in functionality is made it should include an update to this changelog in the same commit. Translators can start right away. This also implies that the changelog needs to be broken down into individual items -- it shouldn't just be a big blob of markdown text.

[lxbarth]

I think this is a great addition. Trick is going to be to find an unobtrusive, but visible way to present this to the user. This is how helpscout does it.

[lxbarth]

I like how they use casual language and occasional links.