Your ALR Account Just Got an Upgrade!
Big changes are coming to how the ALR community interacts! To prepare for future features like comments, reactions and member badges, I've completely redesigned the Account page, introducing profile pictures, custom display names, bios and improved account management.
I've got some exciting plans for making ALR a more interactive place for the community, including comments and reactions on Updates, member recognition and more ways to get involved.
But before introducing those features, there's something important I wanted to improve first: your ALR account.
As ALR grows, I want accounts to become more than just a way to sign in and request renders. I want members to have their own identity on the website, so when you're eventually leaving comments, reacting to announcements or participating in community features, your profile actually feels like yours.
That's why I've just launched a completely redesigned Account page!
🎨 Make Your Profile Your Own
You now have more control over how your account appears on ALR.
Here's what's new:
- Custom profile pictures: Upload your own image, crop it and change or remove it whenever you like.
- Display names: Choose the name displayed on your ALR account.
- Profile bios: Add a short description about yourself, up to 160 characters.
- A completely redesigned account page: Cleaner navigation, improved layouts and a better experience on desktop and mobile.
These might seem like relatively small additions right now, but they'll become much more useful as new community features arrive.
For example, when comments are introduced, I'd like members to be able to recognise who's taking part through their display names and profile pictures.
🔐 Everything in One Place
Alongside profile customisation, I've reorganised the entire Account page to make managing your information easier.
You can now find:
- Security: Manage passwords, connected login methods and account sessions.
- Preferences: Access your email update preferences.
- Render requests: Check your submitted requests and their progress.
- Membership: View your supporter information and manage your Patreon connection.
Everything has been brought together into one cleaner, more organised experience.
💬 What's Coming Next?
This update is only the beginning of what I'd like to do with ALR accounts.
There are a few features I'm particularly excited about:
Comments & Reactions
I'd like members to be able to leave comments and react to ALR Updates, making announcements more interactive and giving everyone another way to share their thoughts.
Profile Badges
I'm also exploring badges that members could earn through community participation, supporting ALR, winning competitions and contributing to the project.
More Community Features
Over time, I'd love to find more ways for members to interact with ALR and have their contributions recognised.
These features are still in development or planning, so they're not available just yet. The new account system is an important first step towards making them possible.
🧡 Give Your Account a Refresh!
The redesigned Account page is live now, and I'd love for you to check it out!
Whether you've been using ALR for a while or have only recently joined, you can now upload a profile picture, customise your display name and make your account a little more personal.
Manage your ALR account (opens in a new tab)
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions over in the ALR Discord.
Thank you for continuing to support ALR and everything I'm building.
This is just the beginning of making ALR a more connected community! 🧡