MeBook

Overview

The MeBook is a personal interaction manual -- a structured way for users to share how they prefer to communicate, what topics they are open to, and how others can best connect with them. Rather than a traditional bio, the MeBook uses guided questions with various input types to help users articulate their social preferences in a thoughtful, low-pressure way.

The MeBook serves a dual purpose: it helps the user reflect on their own communication style, and it provides visitors to their HomeRoom with actionable context about how to interact with them. This aligns with CommonPlace's philosophy that social connection should be intentional and informed rather than guesswork.

The MeBook supports multiple pacing modes for filling it out (Ripple, Map, Surprise, Freeform), allowing users to approach the process in whatever way feels most natural. Questions use a variety of input types including single select, multi select, card select, spectrum sliders, drag-to-arrange, toggles, and free text.

Relevant Invariants

• Invariant #1: "Participation Is Always Voluntary" -- Users can skip the MeBook entirely or fill in only what they choose. No pressure to complete all questions.
• Invariant #19: "Complexity Must Be Earned" -- The MeBook flow introduces complexity gradually through pacing modes rather than presenting everything at once.
• Invariant #15: "Non-Interaction Is Valid" -- A user's MeBook can express preferences like "I prefer not to respond to most things" and this is treated as valid.

User Experience

User Flow

1. Starting the MeBook: Navigate to /mebook/create. First-time users see a welcome screen explaining the concept.
2. Choosing a pacing mode: The pacing screen offers four approaches:
   • Ripple: Start with one question, expanding outward
   • Map: See all sections, choose your path
   • Surprise: Random questions, one at a time
   • Freeform: Browse and answer anything
3. Answering questions: Each question is rendered with the appropriate input type. Responses are saved as the user progresses.
4. Completion: When done, a completion screen offers to finalize the MeBook.
5. Viewing: The MeBook is viewable at /mebook/view/:userId and can be embedded as a module in the HomeRoom.

Input Types

Input Type	Component	Description
Single Select	SingleSelect	Choose one option from a list
Multi Select	MultiSelect	Choose multiple options
Card Select	CardSelect	Visual cards for selection
Spectrum	Spectrum	Slider for numeric/range values
Drag Arrange	DragArrange	Reorder items by priority
Toggle	Toggle	Boolean yes/no toggle
Free Text	FreeText	Open-ended text input

Technical Implementation

Key Files

File	Purpose
src/hooks/useMeBookQuestion.js	Hook for managing individual question state: value, options, selection, spectrum, toggle, and drag-arrange operations
src/contexts/MeBookContext.jsx	React context providing responses, options, setResponse, pacingMode, finishMeBook, hasCompletedMeBook, and loading state
src/components/mebook/MeBookFlow.jsx	Main flow controller with step management (welcome > pacing > questions > complete)
src/components/mebook/MeBookViewer.jsx	Read-only viewer that fetches and displays a user's MeBook via get_user_mebook RPC
src/components/mebook/MeBookCard.jsx	Card component for displaying MeBook data
src/components/mebook/QuestionRenderer.jsx	Renders the appropriate input component for each question type
src/components/mebook/QuestionCard.jsx	Wrapper card for individual questions
src/components/mebook/SectionSummary.jsx	Summary display for a section's responses
src/components/mebook/screens/WelcomeScreen.jsx	Introduction screen for new MeBook users
src/components/mebook/screens/PacingScreen.jsx	Pacing mode selection screen
src/components/mebook/screens/RippleFlow.jsx	Ripple pacing implementation
src/components/mebook/screens/MapFlow.jsx	Map pacing implementation
src/components/mebook/screens/SurpriseFlow.jsx	Surprise (random) pacing implementation
src/components/mebook/screens/FreeformFlow.jsx	Freeform browsing implementation
src/components/mebook/screens/CompletionScreen.jsx	Completion and finalization screen
src/components/mebook/inputs/	Input components: SingleSelect, MultiSelect, CardSelect, Spectrum, DragArrange, Toggle, FreeText
src/components/mebook/MeBookViewPage.jsx	Full-page MeBook view
src/components/modules/MeBookModule.jsx	HomeRoom module that embeds the MeBook viewer
src/components/settings/MeBookPreferencesPanel.jsx	Settings panel for MeBook visibility preferences

useMeBookQuestion(questionId) Hook

Provides a complete API for managing a single question's state:

Returns:

• options -- Available options for this question
• value -- Current response value
• customText -- Free-text addition to a response
• hasResponse -- Whether a response has been set
• setValue(value) -- Set the response value
• setCustomText(text) -- Set custom text
• toggleOption(optionValue) -- Toggle a multi-select option
• isSelected(optionValue) -- Check if an option is selected
• setSpectrumValue(numericValue) -- Set a spectrum/slider value
• toggleValue() -- Toggle a boolean value
• setOrderedValues(orderedArray) -- Set drag-arrange order

MeBook Viewer

The MeBookViewer component fetches a user's MeBook via the get_user_mebook RPC function, which takes target_user_id and viewer_user_id parameters. This allows for visibility controls where some responses may only be visible to friends or specific audiences.

Database Tables

Table	Purpose
mebook_sections	Defines sections/categories of questions
mebook_questions	Individual questions with type, text, and section association
mebook_question_options	Predefined options for select-type questions
mebook_responses	User responses to questions
mebook_creation_progress	Tracks completion state and pacing mode per user
mebook_section_skips	Tracks which sections a user has skipped
mebook_visibility	Controls visibility settings for MeBook sections

Edge Cases

Scenario	Behavior
User has no MeBook	Viewer shows "You haven't created your MeBook yet" with CTA link (own profile) or "This person's MeBook is not available" (other profiles)
MeBook with no sections	Shows appropriate empty state
Returning user with existing responses	Skips welcome screen and goes directly to questions step
User exits mid-flow	Progress is saved in the context; they can resume later
Viewing someone else's MeBook	Uses RPC function that respects visibility settings

Related

• HomeRoom -- MeBook can be displayed as a HomeRoom module
• Friends -- MeBook visibility may depend on friendship status

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Last updated: 2026-02-07