Also email room subscribers on the first unread message, not just mentions (#67)

The previous pass only emailed on a mention. Corrected scope: the
room's first unread message triggers one debounced email (same shape
as #66), and every mention additionally emails regardless of that
debounce, since a mention shouldn't get silently absorbed by an
earlier plain message's already-sent notification.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

backend/app/models/membership.py

@@ -42,10 +42,11 @@ class RoomMembership(Base):
     # arrives in the room, or when find_or_create_dm resolves back to it --
     # both count as the conversation being active again.
     hidden_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True))
-    # #67: opt-in, per-member -- email when a message in this room mentions
+    # #67: opt-in, per-member -- email while offline on the room's first
-    # them while they're offline. Deliberately separate from #66's DM
+    # unread message, plus every mention regardless of that debounce (see
-    # emails (always-on, no toggle) rather than a shared flag, since DMs
+    # message_events.py's _maybe_email_room_notifications). Deliberately
-    # are explicitly out of scope for this setting (see message_events.py).
+    # separate from #66's DM emails (always-on, no toggle) rather than a
+    # shared flag, since DMs are explicitly out of scope for this setting.
     email_notifications: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(
         Boolean, default=False, server_default="false", nullable=False
     )

backend/app/schemas/room.py

@@ -63,9 +63,11 @@ class MyRoomItem(RoomRead):
     # avatar, not this room's internal `name`) without a second fetch per
     # row. None for a regular room.
     dm_partner: DmPartnerInfo | None = None
-    # #67: this viewer's own opt-in for "email me when mentioned here while
+    # #67: this viewer's own opt-in for email while offline -- the room's
-    # offline" -- always false for a DM (see message_events.py, deliberately
+    # first unread message plus every mention (see message_events.py's
-    # out of scope; DMs already get #66's automatic offline email).
+    # _maybe_email_room_notifications for the exact debounce shape). Always
+    # false for a DM, deliberately out of scope -- DMs already get #66's
+    # automatic offline email.
     email_notifications: bool = False
 
 

backend/app/services/message_events.py

@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ async def _maybe_email_dm_notification(
     )
 
 
-async def _maybe_email_room_mention_notifications(
+async def _maybe_email_room_notifications(
     db: AsyncSession,
     global_presence: GlobalPresence,
     base_url: str,
@@ -257,11 +257,16 @@ async def _maybe_email_room_mention_notifications(
     sender: User,
     message: Message,
 ) -> None:
-    """#67: opt-in, per-room email on mention -- deliberately scoped to
+    """#67: opt-in, per-room email -- deliberately scoped to regular rooms
-    regular rooms only (see set_room_email_notifications: DMs already get
+    only (see set_room_email_notifications: DMs already get #66's
-    #66's always-on offline email, no separate toggle). Debounced the same
+    always-on offline email, no separate toggle).
-    shape as #66 -- only the first unread mention in this room emails, not
+
-    one per mention while the recipient is away.
+    Two triggers, not one: the room's first unread message debounces the
+    same way #66 does (one email per unread burst, not one per message),
+    but a mention always emails regardless of that debounce -- a mention
+    is a stronger, individually-addressed signal that shouldn't get
+    silently swallowed just because an earlier plain message in the same
+    burst already used up the "first unread" email.
     """
     room = await db.get(Room, room_id)
     if room is None or room.is_dm:
@@ -270,20 +275,21 @@ async def _maybe_email_room_mention_notifications(
     result = await db.execute(
         select(MessageMention.user_id).where(MessageMention.message_id == message.id)
     )
-    mentioned_ids = {row[0] for row in result.all()} - {sender.id}
+    mentioned_ids = {row[0] for row in result.all()}
-    if not mentioned_ids:
+
+    result = await db.execute(
+        select(RoomMembership).where(
+            RoomMembership.room_id == room_id,
+            RoomMembership.user_id != sender.id,
+            RoomMembership.email_notifications.is_(True),
+        )
+    )
+    subscribed_memberships = result.scalars().all()
+    if not subscribed_memberships:
         return
 
-    for user_id in mentioned_ids:
+    for membership in subscribed_memberships:
-        membership_result = await db.execute(
+        user_id = membership.user_id
-            select(RoomMembership).where(
-                RoomMembership.room_id == room_id, RoomMembership.user_id == user_id
-            )
-        )
-        membership = membership_result.scalar_one_or_none()
-        if membership is None or not membership.email_notifications:
-            continue
-
         recipient = await db.get(User, user_id)
         if recipient is None:
             continue
@@ -291,30 +297,41 @@ async def _maybe_email_room_mention_notifications(
         if not recipient.appear_offline and await global_presence.is_online(recipient.id):
             continue
 
-        already_unread_mention = await db.execute(
+        mentioned = user_id in mentioned_ids
-            select(Message.id)
+        if not mentioned:
-            .join(MessageMention, MessageMention.message_id == Message.id)
+            already_unread = await db.execute(
-            .where(
+                select(Message.id)
-                MessageMention.user_id == user_id,
+                .where(
-                Message.room_id == room_id,
+                    Message.room_id == room_id,
-                Message.id != message.id,
+                    Message.id != message.id,
-                Message.created_at > membership.last_read_at,
+                    Message.created_at > membership.last_read_at,
+                )
+                .limit(1)
             )
-            .limit(1)
+            if already_unread.scalar_one_or_none() is not None:
-        )
+                continue
-        if already_unread_mention.scalar_one_or_none() is not None:
+
-            continue
+        if mentioned:
+            subject = f"New mention in #{room.name}"
+            body_line = (
+                f"{sender.username} mentioned you: {message.content[:200]}"
+                if message.content
+                else f"{sender.username} mentioned you"
+            )
+        else:
+            subject = f"New message in #{room.name}"
+            if message.content:
+                body_line = f"{sender.username}: {message.content[:200]}"
+            elif message.file_id:
+                body_line = f"{sender.username} sent a file"
+            else:
+                body_line = f"{sender.username} sent an image"
 
-        body_line = (
-            f"{sender.username} mentioned you: {message.content[:200]}"
-            if message.content
-            else f"{sender.username} mentioned you"
-        )
         link = f"{base_url.rstrip('/')}/rooms/{room_id}"
         await send_email(
             db,
             recipient.email,
-            f"New mention in #{room.name}",
+            subject,
             [body_line],
             cta_label="Open room",
             cta_url=link,
@@ -361,7 +378,7 @@ async def broadcast_new_message(
         )
     await _notify_offline_members(db, broadcaster, presence, focus_presence, room_id, sender, message)
     await _maybe_email_dm_notification(db, global_presence, base_url, room_id, sender, message)
-    await _maybe_email_room_mention_notifications(db, global_presence, base_url, room_id, sender, message)
+    await _maybe_email_room_notifications(db, global_presence, base_url, room_id, sender, message)
     await dispatch_event(db, "message.created", room_id, payload)
     _maybe_fetch_link_preview(broadcaster, room_id, message)
 

backend/tests/test_room_mention_email_notifications.py

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def _subscribe(ws_client, room_id: str, username: str, password: str = "password
     assert resp.status_code == 204, resp.text
 
 
-def test_room_mention_emails_offline_subscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
+def test_room_first_message_emails_offline_subscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
     calls = _fake_smtp(monkeypatch)
     instance1 = ws_client_factory()
     instance2 = ws_client_factory()
@@ -88,18 +88,18 @@ def test_room_mention_emails_offline_subscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monkey
     with instance1.websocket_connect("/ws/chat") as alice_ws:
         alice_ws.send_json({"type": "join", "room_id": room["id"]})
         assert alice_ws.receive_json()["type"] == "joined"
-        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], f"hey @{bob['username']}, look at this")
+        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], "no mention here, just a plain message")
 
     assert len(calls) == 1
     email = calls[0]["message"]
     assert email["To"] == bob["email"]
-    assert f"New mention in #{room['name']}" in email["Subject"]
+    assert f"New message in #{room['name']}" in email["Subject"]
     body = email.get_body(preferencelist=("plain",)).get_content()
     assert alice["username"] in body
     assert f"/rooms/{room['id']}" in body
 
 
-def test_room_message_without_mention_does_not_email_subscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
+def test_room_second_plain_message_does_not_reemail_before_read(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
     calls = _fake_smtp(monkeypatch)
     instance1 = ws_client_factory()
     instance2 = ws_client_factory()
@@ -113,9 +113,45 @@ def test_room_message_without_mention_does_not_email_subscribed_member(ws_client
     with instance1.websocket_connect("/ws/chat") as alice_ws:
         alice_ws.send_json({"type": "join", "room_id": room["id"]})
         assert alice_ws.receive_json()["type"] == "joined"
-        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], "hello room, no mention here")
 
-    assert calls == []
+        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], "message one")
+        assert len(calls) == 1
+
+        # A second plain message while bob still hasn't read the first --
+        # no second email for the same unread burst.
+        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], "message two")
+        assert len(calls) == 1
+
+
+def test_room_mention_always_emails_even_mid_unread_burst(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
+    calls = _fake_smtp(monkeypatch)
+    instance1 = ws_client_factory()
+    instance2 = ws_client_factory()
+
+    alice = _register_ws(instance1, _unique("alice"))
+    bob = _register_ws(instance2, _unique("bob"))
+    room = instance1.post("/api/rooms", json={"name": _unique("general")}).json()
+    instance2.post(f"/api/rooms/{room['id']}/join")
+    _subscribe(instance2, room["id"], bob["username"])
+
+    with instance1.websocket_connect("/ws/chat") as alice_ws:
+        alice_ws.send_json({"type": "join", "room_id": room["id"]})
+        assert alice_ws.receive_json()["type"] == "joined"
+
+        # First unread message (plain) -- emails once, uses up the debounce.
+        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], "hey everyone")
+        assert len(calls) == 1
+
+        # A mention arriving while that first message is still unread --
+        # must email anyway, unlike a second plain message.
+        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], f"@{bob['username']} specifically you")
+        assert len(calls) == 2
+
+    mention_email = calls[1]["message"]
+    assert mention_email["To"] == bob["email"]
+    assert f"New mention in #{room['name']}" in mention_email["Subject"]
+    body = mention_email.get_body(preferencelist=("plain",)).get_content()
+    assert f"{alice['username']} mentioned you" in body
 
 
 def test_room_mention_does_not_email_unsubscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
@@ -123,7 +159,7 @@ def test_room_mention_does_not_email_unsubscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monk
     instance1 = ws_client_factory()
     instance2 = ws_client_factory()
 
-    alice = _register_ws(instance1, _unique("alice"))
+    _register_ws(instance1, _unique("alice"))
     bob = _register_ws(instance2, _unique("bob"))
     room = instance1.post("/api/rooms", json={"name": _unique("general")}).json()
     instance2.post(f"/api/rooms/{room['id']}/join")
@@ -137,7 +173,7 @@ def test_room_mention_does_not_email_unsubscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monk
     assert calls == []
 
 
-def test_room_mention_does_not_email_online_subscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
+def test_room_message_does_not_email_online_subscribed_member(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
     calls = _fake_smtp(monkeypatch)
     instance1 = ws_client_factory()
     instance2 = ws_client_factory()
@@ -159,7 +195,7 @@ def test_room_mention_does_not_email_online_subscribed_member(ws_client_factory,
     assert calls == []
 
 
-def test_room_mention_email_debounced_to_first_unread_then_resets_after_read(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
+def test_room_notifications_reset_after_read(ws_client_factory, monkeypatch):
     calls = _fake_smtp(monkeypatch)
     instance1 = ws_client_factory()
     instance2 = ws_client_factory()
@@ -173,13 +209,7 @@ def test_room_mention_email_debounced_to_first_unread_then_resets_after_read(ws_
     with instance1.websocket_connect("/ws/chat") as alice_ws:
         alice_ws.send_json({"type": "join", "room_id": room["id"]})
         assert alice_ws.receive_json()["type"] == "joined"
-
+        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], "message one")
-        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], f"@{bob['username']} first mention")
-        assert len(calls) == 1
-
-        # A second mention while bob still hasn't read the first -- no
-        # second email for the same burst.
-        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], f"@{bob['username']} second mention")
         assert len(calls) == 1
 
     instance2.post(
@@ -191,7 +221,7 @@ def test_room_mention_email_debounced_to_first_unread_then_resets_after_read(ws_
     with instance1.websocket_connect("/ws/chat") as alice_ws:
         alice_ws.send_json({"type": "join", "room_id": room["id"]})
         assert alice_ws.receive_json()["type"] == "joined"
-        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], f"@{bob['username']} third mention")
+        _send_and_sync(alice_ws, room["id"], "message two")
 
     assert len(calls) == 2
 

frontend/src/api/rooms.ts

@@ -68,9 +68,10 @@ export function hideDm(roomId: string): Promise<void> {
   return apiFetch<void>(`/api/rooms/${roomId}/hide`, { method: 'POST' })
 }
 
-// #67: per-viewer opt-in for email-on-mention in this room. 400s for a DM
+// #67: per-viewer opt-in for email on this room's first unread message
-// (backend rejects it -- see set_room_email_notifications), so callers
+// and every mention. 400s for a DM (backend rejects it -- see
-// should only expose the toggle for a non-DM room.
+// set_room_email_notifications), so callers should only expose the
+// toggle for a non-DM room.
 export function updateRoomNotifications(roomId: string, emailNotifications: boolean): Promise<void> {
   return apiFetch<void>(`/api/rooms/${roomId}/notifications`, {
     method: 'PATCH',

frontend/src/components/RoomInfoPanel.tsx

@@ -398,8 +398,8 @@ export function RoomInfoPanel({
         <div className="room-info-section">
           <div className="toggle-row">
             <div className="toggle-label">
-              <span className="t">Email me on mentions</span>
+              <span className="t">Email notifications</span>
-              <span className="d">Sent only while you're offline</span>
+              <span className="d">New messages and mentions, while you're offline</span>
             </div>
             <label className="switch">
               <input

frontend/src/types.ts

@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ export interface MyRoomItem extends Room {
   // #52: the other participant, only for is_dm rooms -- see backend
   // schemas/room.py's MyRoomItem for why this is precomputed server-side.
   dm_partner: DmPartnerInfo | null
-  // #67: this viewer's own opt-in for "email me when mentioned here while
+  // #67: this viewer's own opt-in for email while offline -- the room's
-  // offline" -- always false for a DM (see backend's message_events.py).
+  // first unread message plus every mention (see backend's
+  // message_events.py). Always false for a DM.
   email_notifications: boolean
 }