Add `[cmd] + [t]` as shortcut to DM an individual in native chat desktop app

Problem

On the web app and desktop app, the keyboard shortcut to DM a user is [cmd] + [k].

While this has worked well for our v1 so far, I’d like to propose adding a new command to DM individuals within the desktop app. Personally I’ve always used [cmd] + [k] to hyperlink text, and cmd + [t] to DM people in Slack.

Solution:

For the desktop app only, can we add cmd + [t] as a keyboard shortcut to DM individuals? I feel like this is more intuitive and a 1:1 experience with what users expect from using the Slack desktop app.

As a note, this same command won’t work on our web app because cmd + [t] is the browser shortcut to open a new tab.

Do others agree with this, or am I mainly alone in using cmd + [t] this way in the desktop app?

[jboniface]

I don’t feel super strongly, but in hindsight, I do think we should consider switching this shortcut to the proposed shortcut in the doc (CMD + G), because CMD + K is so commonly used for hyperlinking. I don’t think there’s a strong argument against CMD + G, but CMD + T and CMD + K conflict with other functionality/user expectations.

[sakluger]

Agree that Slack is the leading app and copying their shortcuts will help people with familiarity.

That being said, I think it would actually be wise for us to move away from using CMD + K for switching chats so that we can use CMD + K for hyperlinking. Slack kind of screwed themselves over by using cmd+k for such a common thing, because now they have the weird CMD + SHIFT + U for hyperlinking, and I always find it a pretty annoying to have to think about what application I’m in when hyperlinking.

I’m down to add CMD+T as a chat switcher for desktop only, but I think that we should pick a cross-platform chat switching shortcut that doesn’t share any other common uses.