Improve Stacks Explorer: Display More Transaction History

When exploring a Stacks address on the explorer, the current display of only the last three transactions often feels insufficient. This limited view can be frustrating for users who need a more comprehensive understanding of the address's activity. Why is the transaction history so limited, and what can be done to improve it?

The Problem: Limited Transaction Visibility

The current Stacks explorer's overview page shows a mere three transactions. This scarcity of information means users get only a glimpse of the address's activity, which can be particularly problematic when trying to trace transaction flows or understand historical interactions. For example, if a user has made several transactions, only the most recent three are immediately visible, potentially obscuring earlier or more significant activities. This limitation leads to a less informative user experience and may require users to navigate to other sections of the explorer to get a complete picture.

Moreover, this limited display can hinder new users who are trying to understand how a Stacks address interacts within the network. When key transactions are hidden from the initial view, it makes it harder to grasp the address's overall activity and participation in the Stacks ecosystem. Improving the visibility of transaction history is crucial for enhancing user engagement and providing a clearer view of blockchain activities. A more extensive transaction history on the overview page would significantly aid in user comprehension and streamline the process of tracking and analyzing transactions.

Furthermore, displaying a more comprehensive history on the overview page can reduce the need for users to navigate to other tabs or sections, creating a more seamless and efficient experience. This enhancement is particularly valuable for those who frequently use the explorer to monitor transaction activity or audit their interactions on the Stacks blockchain. By making more information readily available, the explorer becomes a more powerful tool for both novice and experienced users alike.

Proposed Solutions: More Transactions and Clear Navigation

To address the issue of limited transaction visibility, several solutions can be implemented. One straightforward approach is to increase the default number of transactions displayed on the overview page. Instead of just three, showing a more substantial number, such as 20, would provide a much better overview of the address's activity. This change alone would significantly enhance the user experience, allowing for a quicker and more complete understanding of the address's transaction history. Better transaction visibility can greatly improve user experience.

Another effective solution is to incorporate a “reveal more” or “reveal all” button. These buttons would allow users to expand the transaction history displayed on the overview page without cluttering the initial view. Clicking “reveal more” could load an additional set of transactions, while “reveal all” would display the entire transaction history. Alternatively, these buttons could redirect users to the “Transactions” tab, providing a clear pathway to a comprehensive transaction list. This approach ensures that users can easily access all transaction information while keeping the initial view uncluttered.

Integrating pending transactions into the overview page is another critical improvement. Displaying pending transactions alongside confirmed ones gives users a real-time view of their address's activity. This feature is particularly useful for tracking transactions that are in progress, providing immediate feedback on recent activity and reducing uncertainty. By including pending transactions, the overview page becomes a more dynamic and informative dashboard for monitoring Stacks address activity.

Streamlining Navigation and User Experience

In addition to displaying more transaction history, improving navigation within the Stacks explorer is essential. One common complaint is that clicking on different tabs does not change the URL, making it difficult to directly link to specific views or share them with others. Enhancing user experience can help users see the need of explorer page.

To resolve this, each tab should have a unique URL that reflects the current view. This change would allow users to bookmark specific pages, share links with others, and easily return to their desired view. For example, clicking on the “Transactions” tab should update the URL to include a parameter that indicates the user is viewing the transaction history, such as /address/{address}/transactions. This simple modification would significantly improve the usability of the explorer.

Furthermore, ensuring that the “Transactions” tab loads reliably is crucial. A known bug prevents the tab from loading consistently, which can be frustrating for users trying to access detailed transaction information. Addressing this bug is essential to providing a smooth and reliable user experience. By fixing the loading issue and making the tab easily accessible, the explorer becomes a more dependable tool for tracking and analyzing Stacks transactions.

Alternative Solutions and Considerations

While the primary focus is on enhancing the overview page, other alternatives have been considered to address the limited transaction visibility. One alternative is to improve the search functionality within the explorer. A more robust search tool would allow users to quickly find specific transactions or filter activities based on various criteria, such as date, amount, or transaction type. This would provide a more targeted approach to finding information, especially for users dealing with a high volume of transactions.

Another alternative is to create a customizable dashboard where users can choose which information to display on the overview page. This would allow users to tailor their experience to their specific needs, showing only the most relevant data. For example, a user might choose to display a larger transaction history, pending transactions, and specific types of activities, such as token transfers or contract interactions. A customizable dashboard would provide a highly personalized experience, catering to a wide range of user preferences and use cases.

However, these alternatives should complement, not replace, the core improvements to the overview page. The overview page serves as the first point of contact for many users, so it is crucial to make it as informative and user-friendly as possible. By increasing the default number of transactions displayed and adding clear navigation options, the overview page can become a more powerful tool for understanding Stacks address activity. The focus on key features can greatly enhance functionality.

Conclusion: A More Informative Explorer Experience

In conclusion, enhancing the Stacks explorer by displaying more transaction history on the overview page is crucial for improving user experience and providing a clearer understanding of blockchain activities. The current limitation of showing only three transactions is insufficient for most users, and implementing solutions such as increasing the default number of displayed transactions, adding “reveal more” or “reveal all” buttons, and including pending transactions would significantly enhance the explorer's utility.

Additionally, improving navigation by ensuring each tab has a unique URL and addressing the loading issues with the “Transactions” tab are essential steps. While alternative solutions like a more robust search functionality or a customizable dashboard have been considered, the primary focus should remain on making the overview page as informative and user-friendly as possible. By implementing these changes, the Stacks explorer can become a more powerful and reliable tool for both novice and experienced users, fostering greater engagement with the Stacks ecosystem.

For further information on blockchain explorers and best practices, you can visit Blockchain Council.