Skip to main content

Notification Style

HausFlow notifications are part of the product's operating layer. They are not supposed to feel like a second parent, an angry roommate, or a pressure machine.

The goal is simple: make the next action clearer without adding emotional drag.

What good prompts do​

A good household prompt should:

  • appear at the right moment
  • explain what needs attention
  • stay calm and readable
  • reduce the need for person-to-person chasing
  • help people re-enter the system when they drift

Shared principles​

Across editions, HausFlow notifications should follow a few stable rules:

  • clarity over vagueness
  • support over shame
  • structure over pressure
  • next steps over emotional commentary
  • recoverability over perfection

Family tone​

In Family, prompts can feel warm, encouraging, and supportive.

That does not mean childish or noisy. It means:

  • use language that helps people feel capable
  • recognize effort without overdoing it
  • keep reminders gentle
  • make redo requests specific and calm

Family prompts should support learning, participation, and household rhythm.

Roommate tone​

In Roommate, prompts should feel neutral, direct, respectful, and boundary-aware.

That means:

  • avoid guilt, accusation, or passive-aggressive wording
  • avoid parental or hierarchical language
  • focus on facts and next actions
  • respect adult equality

Roommate prompts should help people coordinate without turning the app into a personality in the conflict.

Examples of the difference​

Family-style:

  • "Friendly reminder: your helper task is waiting for you."
  • "Great start. Want to try that one more time?"

Roommate-style:

  • "The kitchen cleanup task is due tonight."
  • "Agreement acknowledgment is still pending."

Both styles can be clear. They simply fit different household contexts.

What to avoid​

Notifications should avoid:

  • "you forgot"
  • "you never"
  • "you need to grow up"
  • "someone has to do it"
  • "you are letting everyone down"

These phrases turn a coordination system into a shame loop.

Designed prompts, not random interruptions​

The best prompts are not just words. They also carry recognizable context.

That can include:

  • clear task labels
  • flow state cues
  • progress signals
  • repeat-loop timing
  • obvious next steps

The point is not to make notifications louder. It is to make them easier to understand and easier to trust.