Simple Chat

Control Center Activity Log Auto-Refresh

Control Center Activity Log Auto-Refresh

Fixed/Implemented in version: 0.241.028

Overview and Purpose

The Control Center Activity Logs tab now lets admins enable browser-side auto-refresh while they monitor recent activity. The control is designed for live operations views where admins previously stayed on the page and repeatedly clicked Reload.

Dependencies: application/single_app/templates/control_center.html, application/single_app/static/js/control-center.js, browser localStorage, Bootstrap form controls, and the existing Activity Logs API.

Technical Specifications

Architecture overview:

  • The Activity Logs tab exposes an Auto-refresh switch, interval slider, seconds input, and quick interval presets.
  • The interval range is 1 to 300 seconds with a 30-second default.
  • The browser stores the enabled state and interval in localStorage using simplechat_activityLogsAutoRefreshEnabled and simplechat_activityLogsAutoRefreshIntervalSeconds.
  • Auto-refresh only schedules while the Activity Logs tab is active and the document is visible.
  • Auto-refresh pauses after authorization failures or repeated refresh errors to avoid noisy background polling.

Configuration options:

  • Minimum interval: 1 second
  • Maximum interval: 300 seconds
  • Default interval: 30 seconds
  • Quick presets: 1s, 10s, 30s, 60s, 5m

File structure:

  • application/single_app/templates/control_center.html - Activity Logs auto-refresh toolbar and responsive styling.
  • application/single_app/static/js/control-center.js - persisted auto-refresh state, interval controls, timer scheduling, and failure handling.
  • functional_tests/test_control_center_activity_logs_auto_refresh.py - source-level regression coverage.
  • ui_tests/test_control_center_activity_logs_auto_refresh.py - browser workflow and persistence validation.
  • application/single_app/config.py - version updated to 0.241.028 for this feature.

Usage Instructions

  1. Open Control Center.
  2. Select Activity Logs.
  3. Turn on Auto-refresh.
  4. Set the interval with a quick preset, slider, or seconds input.

Integration points:

  • Manual Reload still works and resets the next auto-refresh timer.
  • Search, activity type, and per-page changes continue to reload immediately and then resume the configured interval.
  • Interval choices persist per browser and device.

Testing and Validation

Test coverage:

  • functional_tests/test_control_center_activity_logs_auto_refresh.py
  • ui_tests/test_control_center_activity_logs_auto_refresh.py

Validation highlights:

  • Confirms the template exposes the switch, range control, seconds input, presets, status region, and responsive toolbar styling.
  • Confirms the JavaScript persists the enabled state and interval, schedules with setTimeout, pauses while hidden, and stops after auth or repeated failures.
  • Confirms the browser workflow can enable auto-refresh, change intervals, persist settings, and trigger repeated Activity Logs API requests.

Known limitations:

  • Auto-refresh is a per-browser preference, not an administrator-wide server setting.
  • The timer refreshes the current Activity Logs page and filters; it does not force a metrics recalculation.