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gridpilot.gg/docs/concept/SOCIAL.md
2025-12-01 22:01:58 +01:00

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# GridPilot — Social Features
*The social layer that connects drivers, admins, teams, and leagues in one unified platform.*
---
## 1. The Purpose of GridPilot Social
Sim racers today are split across:
- Discord servers
- Reddit threads
- scattered DMs
- league-specific chats
- spreadsheets with usernames
There is **no central place** where drivers, admins, and teams discover each other or keep in touch.
GridPilot adds a lightweight, modern social layer designed specifically for the league racing world.
Not a full “social network,” not noisy, not chaotic —
just the tools needed to help people connect efficiently and meaningfully.
---
## 2. Unified User Identity
Every user has one identity across the entire platform:
- profile picture
- username
- country & time zone
- teams
- leagues they race in
- bio (optional)
- links (Twitch / YouTube / Discord / social media)
- availability preferences (days/times they race)
**Admins, drivers, team captains — all the same user type.**
There are no separate accounts or roles.
Roles are permissions, not different identities.
---
## 3. Messaging (Lightweight)
A minimal message system designed for utility, not noise.
### **Driver ↔ Driver**
- send quick messages (questions, coordination, friendly chatter)
### **Driver ↔ Admin**
- ask about sign-ups
- clarify rules
- discuss incidents (if needed)
- handle roster or team questions
### **Team Messaging**
- team chat for coordination
- optional channel for setup sharing or strategy
- not meant to replace Discord, but acts as a unified fallback
### **League Announcements**
- admins can broadcast updates
- drivers receive notifications (web/mobile)
This is *not* a Discord replacement — it fills the gaps Discord cannot cover.
---
## 4. Discoverability Between Users
GridPilot makes it easy for users to find the right people.
### **Find Drivers**
Admins or team captains can filter by:
- region
- time zone
- car classes driven
- experience level
- incident trends
- availability
- open-to-team-invite flag
### **Find Leagues**
Drivers can filter by:
- region
- event time
- car class
- competition level
- team / solo format
### **Find Teams**
Drivers can see:
- teams recruiting
- team bios
- roster
- history
- available seats
This enables a healthy “social marketplace” inside the platform — not chaos, but structure.
---
## 5. Social Timeline (v1: Very Light)
A simple, platform-wide activity feed such as:
- “User X joined League Y”
- “Team Z registered for the new season”
- “Driver A scored P1 in Race 3”
- “Season standings updated”
No memes, no fluff, no spam — just relevant racing activity.
---
## 6. Profiles for Leagues & Teams (Social Extension)
### **League Profiles**
- followers
- announcements
- pinned messages
- season previews
- open sign-ups
- links to streams
### **Team Profiles**
- roster
- captain
- recruiting status
- achievements
- highlights
- invites/private chat
This creates a natural social ecosystem around competition.
---
## 7. Notifications (Non-Intrusive)
Users get updates for:
- sign-up confirmations
- race day reminders
- new messages
- new followers
- schedule changes
- penalties published
- standings updates
Always optional.
Always configurable.
---
## 8. Social Safety Features
GridPilot avoids drama-heavy social problems:
- block/mute user
- report message or behavior
- admin moderation tools inside a league
- no open global chat (avoids toxicity)
- no group spam
- no public “wall posts”
The platform focuses on **purposeful** communication only.
---
## 9. Why GridPilots Social Layer Is Unique
Current tools:
- Discord: chaotic, messy, isolated per league
- Reddit: fragmented
- Forums: outdated
- DMs: unstructured
- iRacing: no social features at all
GridPilot combines the best parts of community interaction:
- discoverability
- messaging
- profiles
- recruitment
- structured announcements
- identity across leagues
…without becoming a noisy distraction.
---
## 10. Summary
GridPilots social features give sim racers what theyre missing:
- a unified identity
- simple ways to connect
- ways for leagues to find drivers
- ways for drivers to find leagues
- team coordination tools
- non-chaotic messaging
- structured community activity
Its the **social layer that sim racing has always lacked**
lightweight, purposeful, and deeply integrated into competition.