Further Development of Scheduling Functionality for Graphical Elements in the Content Management System Contentful : Development of custom applications using Contentful SDK

Sammanfattning: This thesis aims to improve a scheduling application’s usability and accessibility by redesigning its interface and implementing it using the Contentful App framework. The application is being used by employees at the company Aktiebolaget Trav Galopp. The existing application is described as difficult and time consuming to use. The Contentful App Framework enables developers to build custom applications and integrations on top of the Contentful content platform. It empowers them to extend content workflows, automate tasks, and enhance collaboration with features like UI extensions and Application Programming Interfaces (API). A heuristic evaluation identifies key areas for improvement, focusing on memorization of dates and times. Three design proposals are developed. Design 1 aims to create a centralized view of dates and times, but implementation limitations prevent its realization. Design 2 introduces a custom component within the Hero Container, providing a practical solution for viewing and editing dates and times. Design 3 represents recreating the existing application in the app framework. Evaluation of the implemented application reveals positive aspects, such as clear presentation of relevant information. Limitations are identified, including the inability to restrict referenced component types and inflexibility in rearranging item order. An automatic unlinking mechanism is implemented to mitigate errors in component linking. Significant improvements are achieved in usability and accessibility. Valuable insights are gained through the heuristic evaluation, emphasizing the benefits of the Contentful App framework. The importance of designing with flexibility in mind and addressing limitations during design and implementation is highlighted. Future work recommendations include exploring alternative designs within Contentful SDK limitations, addressing restrictions on referenced component types, and introducing flexibility in rearranging item order. User testing and feedback collection will further refine usability and address remaining issues. This thesis contributes to improving scheduling application usability, providing insights for future research and development efforts.