Ability to send a private message directly on github.com

[prettysync]

It would be nice if we could send private messages to users directly on github.com. With the ability to only allow followers to contact us.

[ghost]

Hi! @wealthysync

1. Here's a ui/ux idea based on your idea...
2. I thought the same thing... about sending messages private in GitHub.
3. Hope to help GitHub and the GitHub community

ui/ux

[ghost]

Hi all!

1. I have this idea to help in this topic... It's just a suggestion I thought: "to avoid spam or bad practices, it would be interesting to have a limit of 1,000 messages per day, I thought of this number of 1,000 messages per day because on Twitter there is this limit" - Direct Messages (daily): The limit is 1,000 messages sent per day. reference here help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies
2. I would like to have some feedback, what do you guys think of the idea?

[prettysync]

Hello! Your idea for the limit of messages to send is interesting.
It can help regulate traffic on the GitHub servers, and limit unwanted messages.

[upintheairsheep]

reduce it to 500 or 250?

[SiddhantTotade]

❤️

[PKulkoRaccoonGang]

It`s good idea 👍

[prettysync]

This could allow above all to be on all social networks: as a company, your presence on social networks conveys:

• Your brand name,
• Your benefits and services,
• Your corporate image (friendly, premium).

Allowing messages to be sent to GitHub accounts would remove the social barrier between companies and developers.

[nicoleCodeGirl]

Yes, I want to be able to message another GitHub user. But, because of spamming, only recieve messeges from people we follow.

[ghost]

Hi everyone!

concept

image description

this image is an idea of this feature

[armanmoztar]

I really like this idea!

[ghost]

@armanmoztar thank you for feedback ;D - I really liked your comment

[mishmanners]

A lot of people have asked about private DMs, however there are many ways to contact people via GitHub. Those who want to be contacted add their Twitter/X links to their profile, and many put social media links and email contact details in their READMEs. If you can't find a way to contact someone, they usually don't want to be contacted. There are a lot of sites where DMs have been allowed, and it has devolved into a mess of criticism and hate speech towards users. I understand the potential benefit of having DMs, but I also think the downsides are much great. See my GitHub profile as an example of someone who wants to/is easily contactable.

[melvincwng]

Great idea! +1 👍🏻

[ghost]

Hi all! The cool thing would be to be able to set a time when the message will be deleted or have the option to delete the private message. Here is an interesting topic that could help this topic here: #16739

[jdevfullstack]

I answered here, so I'm sharing it

https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/17888

[ghost]

@jdevstatic true!

[MeesJ]

This would be great and very helpful for collaboration with other developers. GitHub should definitely consider adding this feature.

[prettysync]

agree!

[upintheairsheep]

me too! user issues would also be nice

[upintheairsheep]

I am sometimes forced to write unrelated issues on projects or unrelated comments on issues to get in touch. Most workplaces block social media platforms to prevent distractions so this would be helpful. Right now, I try to find the code of their github site or user info page and issue there.

[prettysync]

I am sometimes forced to write unrelated issues on projects or unrelated comments on issues to get in touch. Most workplaces block social media platforms to prevent distractions so this would be helpful. Right now, I try to find the code of their github site or user info page and issue there.

agree!

[prettysync]

great idea!

[ntimasa]

Hi,
Thanks
Regards
Santho

[prettysync]

❤️

[mjovanc]

I like the idea! Sometimes you want to ask a question directly to a developer instead of writing an issue to get in contact. Sometimes email or other kinds of ways are not possible since they do not share it.

[rubaiyet-anjum]

This post on stackoverflow from 2012 says Github used to have a private messaging function. Wonder why they removed it.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12686545/how-to-leave-a-message-for-a-github-com-user

[MeesJ]

That's interesting!

[filipatbnp]

spamming?

[lukaseder]

I would be interested in this feature purely on a per-issue basis. E.g. if someone comments on an issue, I would like to be able to provide some additional information to that person in the context of the issue. It could go both ways, e.g. to post sensitive additional information. No need to contact that person outside of the issue (for me).

In other words, when an issue has a list of participants, it should be possible to add comments visible only to a selection of the participants (plus official team members of the project)

[AlexSkrypnyk]

The use case is - discussing sponsorship of a specific issue. People do not want to have money conversations in public.

[CatsMiaow]

If GitHub Discussions adds the ability to create private discussion that can only be viewed by the owner or member of the repository, I think it could be a good replacement.

If so, you could create discussions in your personal profile repository and use them for personal use.

[Tornadoalley]

I am shocked this still isn't a feature!

[ryszardep]

Same here, I wonder why this isn't up and running yet!

[ginjo]

I've had a need to contact someone privately (non-public) on Github a number of times over the years, for discussing issues that aren't the public's concern, or for discussing topics that are not specific to any one repository. And sometimes, I want others to be able to contact ME on Github – and I don't follow them or even know their accounts.

But most glaringly, there's no way to take a public conversation private between consenting members, without exposing sensitive information in a public forum. Here's something I've wanted many times:

Hey [other user], we've been wracking our brains on this issue for days. I'll bet we can clear this up in 10 minutes with a phone/zoom/skype call. If interested, PM me and I'll send my digits.

I understand the potential for abuse with any kind of direct messaging, and the can of worms opened to manage such a feature, but there must be some way to minimize the downside with filters, permissions, or some kind of intelligent logic. Hoping this gets more attention.