What’s the best way to get attention of the Plex Devs?
I know this may seem annoying to ask, but there’s a certain feature I really think would improve a certain section of Plex drastically, and I’ve seen countless threads and suggestions raised for it over the years - but they all seem separated and in isolation from each other, so they probably don’t seem important.
This isn’t a thread to discuss that particular feature request, but it’s a thread so I can learn if there is a better way to get such a discussion going (and even be on hand to do some vigorous testing if need be).
As someone who has worked in various product teams and has had decision-making authority over product features, I can tell you that the attention is usually there. It’s not a question of whether you have the attention of the developers or not but you have to make your case. Explain to those responsible why you believe that your feature provides added value and why, in particular, other features provide less added value. Especially in view of current implementations such as Plex itself becoming more and more of a streaming service, there will probably be a big focus on this. So your feature must deliver even greater added value. Either Plex can make even more money with it or they can, for example, better defend their market share. And be prepared not to be proven right. Even if you have a good argument, it may be that another case is better.
Thanks. I too have worked in development teams and have had design authority in my professional career. So I do agree with what you’re saying and take your point.
The feature in question won’t be a revenue maker, but it is a basic feature that I am a little baffled has not been implemented… or actually only half implemented (if that).
It would, however, stop people suggesting to me “Plex won’t ever give users what they want, use Emby or Jellyfin”.
It is hard because Plex has perfect for 99% of my use cases and I’d hate to go somewhere else.
I agree. It seems to me that some features would be so simple to implement that even I could hack something together if given some time (and a book on coding). It does often feel like we are shouting into the void, so some feedback from devs on an idea would be handy.
But I think these devs feel that ANY comment from them would be an endorsement of the plan, and they do not wish to give false hopes to an idea they’d look into but eventually disgard as unfeasible.
Anyone who’s had decision-making power in a product job also knows that there are a lot of competing priorities.
I’ve never worked in a product job where I felt the team was out of touch with what people wanted, but we usually had good reasons for building things in the order that we did… Even if that order seemed stupid to the users.
Not always, but usually!
I am sure the Plex crew knows what we want, especially if there are multiple threads about it.
But they are going to do what they are going to do and there is no one weird trick for getting an idea to the top of the list.
Thanks. I have proposed my feature here and have tried to explain the tech case. Business case is a little generic though, based on the fact I think it would make people consider Plex an option for watching their TV services.
Hopefully this will catch the attention of someone in the Live TV/DVR team (if that’s even a thing) for consideration. Can offer UAT too.
