Messaging & Chat — 3Bids Screen Review

Section 1 — Inbox

Conversations List POSTER

9:41

Messages

Search conversations...

All

Unread

Active Jobs

Martinez Home Services 2m ago

We can start the kitchen remodel next Monday...

Kitchen Remodel

Ohio Premier Plumbing 1h ago

The bathroom fixtures have been ordered and should...

Bathroom Renovation

Akron Landscape Co 3h ago

I've attached the updated layout for your backyard...

Backyard Landscaping

Summit Roofing LLC Yesterday

Thanks for the review! Let us know if you need...

Roof Repair

Cuyahoga Electric Feb 20

The panel upgrade is complete. Please check and...

Electrical Panel

Home

Jobs

Messages 4

Profile

PosterMessages screen. Uses useQuery(api.poster.jobs.getMyJobs) and useQuery(api.messaging.messages.getUnreadCount). Filter tabs, SearchBar, ConversationItem cards with Avatar, unread badges, job tags.

Empty State POSTER

9:41

Messages

No Messages Yet

Messages will appear here when you connect with contractors on your jobs.

Home

Jobs

Messages

Profile

EmptyState with IconCircle style C (hero), deepBlue CTA. Shown when jobsWithContractors.length === 0.

Conversations List CONTRACTOR

9:41

Search messages...

All

DMs

Q&A

4 conversations · 2 unread

James Wilson 5m ago

Hi, I'd like to discuss the timeline for the deck...

Deck Construction DM

Sarah Parker 20m ago

What type of materials do you use for the siding?

Siding Replacement Q&A

Rachel Miller 2h ago

Perfect, see you tomorrow at 9am for the inspection.

HVAC Installation DM

Tom Kennedy Yesterday

Thanks for the great work on the basement finish!

Basement Finishing DM

Home

Jobs

Messages 3

Profile

ContractorMessagesScreen. Uses useQuery(api.contractor.messages.listUnifiedInbox). Terracotta header, DM/Q&A type badges, AI Chat button, filter pills (All/DMs/Q&A), unread counts.

Section 2 — Chat Thread

Chat Thread POSTER

9:41

Martinez Home Services

Kitchen Remodel · Akron, OH

Kitchen Remodel — Full Renovation In Progress

Today

Hi Sarah! I wanted to let you know the cabinets arrived this morning. We're on track to begin installation tomorrow.

Here's a photo of the cabinets unpacked and ready to go.

That's great news! They look perfect. Will you need me to clear the countertops before you start?

Yes, if you could clear the countertops by tonight, we can start at 8am sharp. The crew will handle everything else.

Contract signed by both parties

Done! Countertops are cleared. See you at 8am.

Type a message...

PosterConversationScreen. Uses useQuery(api.messaging.messages.listForJob), useMutation(api.messaging.messages.send). DeepBlue sent bubbles, Avatar+online dot, job context bar, system pill, read receipts.

Chat Thread CONTRACTOR

9:41

James Wilson

Deck Construction · Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Deck Construction — Composite Deck Open

Yesterday

Hi, I saw your bid and I'm really interested. Can you tell me more about the materials you'd use?

Bid Estimate

$8,450

Composite deck, 400 sq ft, Trex Select, includes railing and stairs

Today

That looks great! When would you be available to come take measurements?

Site Visit Scheduled

I can come by Wednesday, Feb 26 at 10:00 AM to take measurements and finalize the details.

Wednesday works perfectly. See you then!

Type a message...

ContractorConversationScreen. Terracotta sent bubbles, quote/bid card (special formatted message with amount), scheduling message with calendar icon, IconCircle style D for attachment.

Attachments & Actions POSTER

9:41

Martinez Home Services

Today

Let me know if you need anything else before we start.

Camera

Photo Library

Document

Send Quote

Schedule Visit

Location

Bottom sheet overlay triggered by attachment button. Uses IconCircle styles C, I, A, H, J, K for each action type. Camera and Photo Library use expo-image-picker.

Section 3 — Special States

AI Assistant POSTER

9:41

Kitchen Remodel

Martinez Home Services

Kitchen Remodel · In Progress

3Bids AI Assistant is available to help

3Bids Assistant

Hi Sarah! I'm the 3Bids AI assistant. I can help you with scheduling, project FAQs, and communication with your contractor. What can I help you with?

This is an automated response

When is my contractor scheduled to arrive today?

3Bids Assistant

Based on your project schedule, Martinez Home Services is scheduled to arrive at 8:00 AM today for cabinet installation. They typically work until 4:00 PM. Would you like me to send them a reminder?

This is an automated response

Yes, send a reminder

What's the project timeline?

Message my contractor

Ask the AI assistant...

AI messages use MessageBubble with distinct ai style (lightInfo bg), IconCircle style K (robot icon). Quick reply chips below AI messages. Disclaimer text on every AI response. Uses api.ai.chat endpoint.

Typing & Notifications CONTRACTOR

9:41

3Bids

Rachel Miller

Just sent you a photo of the furnace. Can you take a look?

now

James Wilson

Deck Construction

Today

I'll bring the composite samples so you can see the color options in person.

Read 8:47 AM

Also, did you want to add lighting to the deck? I can include it in the final quote.

Delivered

Message Status Icons

Delivered

Delivered (double check)

Read

Type a message...

TypingIndicator component (3 animated dots). Push notification preview overlay at top. Read receipt states: single check (delivered), double check gray (delivered), double check blue (read). Uses Convex real-time subscriptions for live updates.

Data Architecture

Schema: messages

messages: defineTable({
  jobId: v.id("jobs"),
  senderId: v.string(),          // posterUsers | contractorUsers | adminUsers ID
  senderType: v.string(),        // "poster" | "contractor" | "admin"
  receiverId: v.string(),
  receiverType: v.string(),
  content: v.string(),
  isRead: v.boolean(),
  isDeleted: v.optional(v.boolean()),
  attachmentUrl: v.optional(v.string()),
  attachmentName: v.optional(v.string()),
  editedAt: v.optional(v.number()),
  createdAt: v.number(),
})
  .index("by_job_id", ["jobId"])
  .index("by_receiver_unread", ["receiverId", "isRead"])

Real-Time: Convex Subscriptions

// Messages update in real-time via Convex reactive queries.
// useQuery() auto-subscribes to changes on the messages table.
// When a new message is inserted, all subscribed clients
// receive the update instantly — no polling needed.

Hooks & Queries

// Poster
useQuery(api.poster.jobs.getMyJobs)            // Inbox: jobs with contractors
useQuery(api.messaging.messages.getUnreadCount) // Unread badge count
useQuery(api.messaging.messages.listForJob)     // Thread: messages for a job

// Contractor
useQuery(api.contractor.messages.listUnifiedInbox) // Unified DM + Q&A inbox
useQuery(api.messaging.messages.listForJob)         // Thread: messages for a job

// Shared
useMutation(api.messaging.messages.send)       // Send a message
useMutation(api.messaging.messages.markRead)    // Mark conversation as read
useMutation(api.features.storage.generateUploadUrl) // File upload URL

Components

components/messaging/
  MessageBubble.tsx       // Sent/received/system bubble with read receipts
  MessageInput.tsx        // Input bar with attachment, quick replies, send
  ConversationHeader.tsx  // Chat header with avatar, job context, actions
  ConversationItem.tsx    // Inbox list card with unread badge, preview
  DateSeparator.tsx       // "Today", "Yesterday" date dividers
  TypingIndicator.tsx     // Animated 3-dot typing indicator
  index.ts               // Barrel exports

Message Types

text          Standard text message
image         Photo attachment (via expo-image-picker)
video         Video attachment (max 60s)
document      File attachment
quote         Bid/estimate card (structured: amount + description)
system        "Contract signed", "Payment received" etc.
ai_response   AI assistant response (distinct styling)

Screens

app/(poster)/messages/index.tsx          // Poster inbox
app/(poster)/messages/[id].tsx           // Poster chat thread
app/(contractor)/(tabs)/messages/index.tsx // Contractor unified inbox
app/(contractor)/(tabs)/messages/[id].tsx  // Contractor chat thread
app/messages/[jobId].tsx                  // Shared job chat (generic)

Inbox & Threads

9:41

Inbox & Threads

Conversations

Jennifer Adams

Thanks for the estimate! When can you start?

Robert Chen

Can we reschedule to Thursday?

Maria Lopez

Photos attached of the basement

Active Chat — Jennifer Adams

Thanks for the estimate! When can you start?

We can start next Monday. I'll send over the contract.

Type a message...

Chat & Actions

9:41

Chat & Actions

Quick Actions

Send Estimate

Share pricing with homeowner

Schedule Visit

Book consultation time

Share Photos

Send project photos

Conversation Preview

Detailed view with all project information, photos, and metadata.

Notification Preferences

Push notifications

Email digest

Sound alerts

No Messages Yet

Data Architecture

Schema: messages

Real-Time: Convex Subscriptions

Hooks & Queries

Components

Message Types

Screens

Messaging Center