One of the most powerful features in modern apps, especially social media platforms or internal communication tools, is the ability to create comment threads. These threads allow users to reply to comments in an organized manner, making communication more effective and user-friendly.
In this article, we’ll walk through how to build a thread feature inside your Glide app, including how to set up nested comments, link them to rooms or users, and organize them for easy viewing and management.
For a full step-by-step tutorial, make sure to check out the video below:
In Glide, building features like comment threads can significantly enhance the user experience. If you’re creating a community app, project management tool, or chat app, threads can help organize communication by allowing users to comment on specific messages, posts, or even other comments.
By adding thread functionality, you make it easier for users to follow specific conversations, keep track of responses, and ensure that each comment is properly connected to the right message or post. Glide’s ability to set up dynamic, filterable data makes this an intuitive feature to implement.
The key to creating comment threads in Glide is using Row IDs. Here’s a simple breakdown of how to set it up:
Create a Table for Rooms or Users
Start by setting up your Glide table to house the rooms or user-specific chats. Each room will have its unique Row ID that connects users to the chat or thread.
Use the Comment Component
Glide’s built-in comment component is the starting point. This component allows users to add comments, but to enable threaded comments, you’ll need to use the Row ID to link replies to their respective comments.
Add Actions for Comment Threads
The magic happens when you add an action that allows users to comment directly within a thread. This action should open a new screen or a specific comment section where the conversation continues, filtering out unrelated comments.
Using actions like “Comment in thread”, you can direct the user to a dedicated area where only replies to that comment are displayed.
Linking Thread Data
To create the connection between the comments and the threads, you’ll need to link the Row ID of the comment to the thread. This ensures that when a user replies, it’s stored as part of that specific thread. You can also count how many threads each comment has, using Glide’s roll-up actions.
Customize the Display
You can enhance the user interface by making your threads filterable or creating a separate page for threads where users can see all comments associated with a specific topic. You can use Glide’s custom components to show the thread in a table format, allowing users to see the comment and its replies clearly.
Notifications and Tagging
Don’t forget about notifications. Glide allows you to tag users when replying, ensuring that they get a notification when there’s an update to the thread they’re involved in. This is a critical feature in community or team-based applications.
Once you’ve set up basic comment threading, there are several advanced features you can add:
Thread Visibility: Make it so users only see comments within the threads they are subscribed to, or only show threads that are active.
Nested Replies: Allow users to reply not just to a main comment, but also to other replies, creating a nested comment structure.
Real-time Updates: Integrate Glide with tools like Make.com or Zapier for real-time updates, ensuring users always see the latest responses.
Thread Analytics: You can also track how many comments or threads a post has, and use Glide’s roll-up features to analyze thread activity.
Building comment threads in Glide is an excellent way to enhance communication within your app, especially if you’re building a platform that involves community engagement, support, or project management. Glide’s flexibility and ease of use make it simple to integrate, even without coding knowledge.
I hope you found this guide helpful! If you have any questions or need assistance with your Glide app, feel free to reach out or join our Glide School Facebook Group. We’re all about helping no-code enthusiasts like you master Glide and build powerful apps.
With the right guidance, you can turn your vision into a real, working app — no code needed.
